On Friday, the Vatican post office released stamps for the Sede Vacante or Vacant See period – the time when there is no Pope. Pope Benedict XVI stepped down on February 28th. Because this period is so short, these stamps are quite the collectors item. Perillo Tours President Steve Perillo has his own collection of Sede Vacante commemorative stamps. The Vatican started issuing such stamps in 1939.
According to France24, “The special postmark for the stamps reads simply Sede Vacante MMXIII.The stamps have a face value of 70 euro cents (about $0.91) for Italy, 85 cents for Europe and the Mediterranean, two euros for Africa, Asia and the United States and 2.50 euros for Australia.”
The Vatican also announced today that the Sistine Chapel (site of the Conclave of Cardinals) is now closed until furthern notice and 110 of the 115 cardinals needed for the conclave are now in Rome.
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Photo by xiquinhosilva, flickr.com
does one have to go to Italy to purchase stamps (new issue) from Vatican