Vatican City - Other Collectors Here?

I have an intermediate-level collection of Vatican City, now branching away from largely MNH stamps (Spock...don't be alarmed - I will not abandon them) into various other pursuits, like postcards, aerogrammes, FDCs/special commemoratve cancels and true postal history. I plan to avoid "first flights" since I find them to be rather contrived...there is no airport in Vatican City.

Who else collects Vatican here? I'm bound to hit my 50 legitimate posts before too long, then can engage in some trading and buying.

All for now,

Peter

You may wish to view the late Mette Heindorff's pages
on the Vatican Peter.
Containing a wonderful engraving of the Pope by Slania.
http://www.slaniastamps-heindorffhu...atican01.htm

I'll use this as an excuse to slip in some postage dues
by the artist Corrado Mezzana





May be of interest regarding stamp tradition:

Vatican to Issue Stamp in Pope's Memory

Sunday April 3, 2005 10:46 AM

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican post office said it will issue a
special stamp honoring Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday. The stamp
can only be used until a new pope is elected.

According to tradition, the ``vacant See'' stamp will carry an image
of two crossed keys but no papal headgear. The traditional image on
Vatican stamps issued while a pope is alive has the keys and the
headgear.

The stamps are valid for the so-called ``interregnum,'' the timespan
that begins with the death of the pope and ends when a new one is
elected, but other Vatican stamps also will be valid in that period.

The last time the Vatican post office issued vacant seat stamps was
1978, when John Paul I died.

The Guardian (UK)

I think Bobgggg delves into Vatican City...i am so old I have seen the rise and fall of hot areas like Ghana,Vatican City, Israel and Germany..but its wise to get into an area when prices are dropping or before it becomes HOT !

Thanks rod222 and philb.

I have seen that news piece before. It's only partially correct. The "sede vacante" stamps of the Vatican in no way honour the previous (or any) Pope. The rest of the article is about right. With the head of state dead, the state issues stamps and money that are to be used in the period between the reigns of the recently deceased and soon-to-be-elected Popes. Getting those stamps used commercially is a bit of a feat. There are always lots of FDCs around, though.

I have read much about the times when Vatican was a "hot" area. Of course, there are tens of thousands of FDCs and special event covers and postmarks which attest to the often speculative nature of this (and most?) hobby pursuits. One just has to look at ebay to see the glut of stamps from the 50's, 60's and 70's to get a sense of the huge quantities hoarded away waiting for their values to rise. The 90's and 00's much less so, since the higher Lire values made buying even at face a challenge for many, coupled with more reasonable quantities of issue, values have risen again in a more sensible way. Still not an area where I'd put any of my retirement savings, except for the truly spectacular errors and limited issues (airmails and overprints)

Peter

G'Day Peter,I do have some Vatican FDC mate,I was going to start a collection on this but put it on hold while I complete my U.S. collection.
When you reach your 50 post I'll trade U.S. ,Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or Ecuadorian stamps with you for the Vatican FDCs if you like.
regards Harry.

I started collecting Vatican City back in the early 70's ... as it was becoming more and more popular. Over the years, I've put together a reasonably nice mint collection - missing only a few of the most expensive sets. I collect a few Vatican FDCs, postal cards and aerogrammes as well. Looking forward to checking out other material for sale after my required posts are completed.
Wishing all a good evening. Lou.

when I was stationed in Italy I went to Rome and the Vatican..sent a couple of covers to myself from their post office..when I was there it was busy..tourists buying stamps for souvineers..i saw the jewelled crowns and swords etc..could those stones be real ???? Being about 15 feet away from the Pope when they carried him in was a trip..seems like I was being crushed by a crowd of teenage girls..terrible !!

Nice post Peter. Quality posts always bring up the rodster

My grandmother focused on Vatican stamps. She collected stamps or series of stamps on the popes and saints. I do remember her having the stamp of the Black Madonna. That's a collection that I would like to reprise if just to see how many I could remember to collect myself.

Donna

Nice to read that lightly used verb Donna!

The Black Madonnas of Montserrat:

Petermac... yes Phil is correct, I do dabble with the Vatican... Are you David Giles cohort in Crime ???? If So, I will send some FDC in my next package to Giles...

Bobgggg - I neither confirm nor deny any involvement in David Giles' crimes and misdemeanors. ;-) He and I are due to have coffee soon...

By chance, are you a collector of Vatican maximum cards? I may be able to help out when the time is right.

Peter

Misdemeanors perhaps..i dont think David is cut out to do any serious jail !! Well mabe if they let him swap stanps by mail !

Hey Al was an American success story...by the time he was 30 he was making 3 million a month when beer in Chicago was 5 cents a glass !