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A Vatican Stamp Collection from the Past 150 Years
Recently, a stamp collector, Christopher Brunner, generously donated his very large collection of Vatican stamps to Father Kunst’s Papal Artifacts’ Collection. An inestimable amount of work went into his collection.
Included are highly documented and cataloged stamps from the last 150 years. Below are pictured just a few of this incredible gift.
We will be showing them from all time periods throughout the year.
Thank you to Christopher Brunner for this memorabilia of such historic significance, adding to the living history and lore of all things papal. —Father Richard Kunst
The president of the Vatican Philatelic Society talks about his collection of Vatican stamps and postal history and what some of those items say about the last three popes.
Collector says Vatican Stamps, Letters Reveal Fascinating Church History
By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News Service
The 25-word message from an Italian prisoner of war to his wife at home in Italy is basic and mundane, almost simplistic. It had to be to get through the censors scanning World War II-era mail. ‘Dearest wife,’ the handwritten correspondence opens, ‘with this message I inform you of my good health as I hope that you, the children, my brother Salvatore are as well.’
It’s the simple stories of everyday life, deep worries and joyful moments such correspondence reveals that Pirozzi says makes his ongoing studies satisfying. ‘You’re holding in your hand a personal piece of information,’ said Pirozzi, 53, who leads the worldwide group of about 300 who collect and study the postage stamps and postal history of the Vatican City State and its predecessor, the Papal States. Pirozzi especially prizes the Fassano document because it reveals a little about the story of one family. He has collected others as well.
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It is a communication from a loved one, individuals who haven’t seen each other or heard from each other for months and months, oftentimes expressing joy in messages of 25 words or less,’ Pirozzi said. ‘You can imagine what that must be like for either a mother or a son receiving a communication after months of hearing nothing and finally experiencing the joy of having a message of wellness. It’s not only the historical aspect (that is interesting), but it’s the personal aspect that draws you into the stories.’
- Pope Francis: Collection of Sedi Vacanti Stamps from 1929-2013
- Pope John Paul I: FDC Stamps of the Consistory of 5 March, 1973
- Pope John Paul II: FDC Stamps as Cardinal, Dated June 26, 1967
- Ballot from the Vatican II Council
- Pope John XXIII: Souvenir Coin Holder With Stamps
- Folder Containing an Image of Pope Pius XII and Five Cancelled Stamps, Dated 1944
- The Stamp Collection of Christopher Brunner: VC Vol 9 Cover Stamps Pius XII
- Pope John XXIII: Souvenir Coin Holder With Stamps
- The Stamp Collection of Christopher Brunner: VC Vol 9 Cover Stamps Paul VI
- The Stamp Collection of Christopher Brunner below The Traveling Trunk: Pope Leo XII, Coat of Arms