Popular Ancient Spots in Rome, Italy thru Vintage Postcards

Popular landmarks in Rome was a favorite theme in many vintage or old postcards issued in Italy. The postcards had a peculiar way of affixing the stamp. The stamp is usually posted at the face of the postcard rather than the back. portion.

Popular Tourists Spot in Rome and Vatican

The postcard seller posted 4-cartes postales anciennes, old-postcards-ITALIE – The first set of landmarks includes includes Tomb of Caecilia Metella, Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square, Forum of Trajan and Colosseum used to be retailed at 3.95 Euro but was on sale for 2.77 Euro ( Php 160.21). The first set was probably issued between 1910 to 1920’s.

The popular landmarks are also some of the ancient landmarks which dates back during the middle or late Roman empire. Some of which are at least hundreds or even at thousand of years -old.

L-R top view Saint Peter’s Basilica and Arch of Titus, Below (L-R) Roman Forum and Trevi Fountain with stamp in front view ( timbre cote vue)

second lot includes Saint Peter Basilica, Arch of Titus, Roman Forum and Trevi Fountain the first set of postcard was on sale for 2.77 Euro about (Php 160.21) but used to be retailed at 3.95 Euro, there was a 29% off on these set of postcard. the shipping is standard Euro 1.75 or about ( Php 101.21) the second set was issued between 1911’s to 1920’s.

(TVC) Timbre Cote Vue

“Timbre Cote Vue” shorter abbreviation for is TVC is a French term for where the stamp then the cancel were placed on the face or picture side of a postcard. The message from the sender is also written on the front of this card and it is dated on the back by the sender.

L-R Santa Maria de Cosmedia, Spanish Steps ( Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) Rome, Saint Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City) and La fontana delle Naiadi . All the four postcards have 5 and 10 centisimi definitive stamp posted from Italy. The stamp were posted in front view.

Lot number 3 originally for sale at 3.95 Euros, but was marked down for just 2.77 Euros ( Php 160.21) with 29% discount. The postcards and stamps are dated between 1910 to early 1920’s. The postcards are between 100 to 110 years-old. Considering the big discount, We lost no time to contact the seller and bought the three lots.

This fad is not just in Europe but also in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, This was the practice by some postal authorities and postcard senders in the late 19th to mid 20th century. A sample timbre cote vue is the Puerta Real postcard featured several months ago.

References, Sources and Bibliographies:

Italy Stamps from 1900 to 1909 Stamp World

Stanley Gibbons- Italy Stamps

Scott’s Publishing Company Catalog- Italy

Further Readings and Related Links:

American Regime Manila thru postcards (part 1)

American Regime Manila thru postcards ( part 2)

American Regime Manila thru postcards (part 3)

American Regime Manila thru postcards ( part 4 )

Chicago Postcard Museum

Herpin, Georges. “Bapteme” in Le Collectionneur de Timbres-Postes, Vol.I, 15 November 1864, p.20.

Sutton, R.J. & K.W. Anthony. The Stamp Collector’s Encyclopaedia. 6th edition. London: Stanley Paul, 1966.

Patrick, Douglas & Mary. The Hodder Stamp Dictionary, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1973, p.261. ISBN 0-340-17183-9.

Philippine Postcards page 130 to 137 Consuming Passions

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Santo Niño de Cebú 1521 to 2021 500th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps issued by PHLPOST

Santo Niño de Cebu and the logo of the 500th anniversary ( quincentennial ) logo with this year’s theme Santo Niño , The Abiding Presence Of the Father In Our Journey of Faith were issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation ( PHLPOST) This also includes a first day cover. The stamp had a face value of Php 12.00 each or Php 24.00 for the se-tenant pair.

This coincided with the commemoration of the first baptism in the country which happened on April 14, 1521.

(a se-tenant pair of stamp with face value of Php 12.00 issued by PHLPOST)

Commemorative Stamps and Launching

Postmaster General Norman “Mr. Postman” Fulgencio together with His Excellency Archbishop Jose Palma of Archdiocese of Cebu unveiled the commemorative stamps to mark the 500^th anniversary of the arrival of the image of Señor Santo Niño and the first baptism that both took place in Cebu.

The launching ceremony of the historic commemorative issuance of postage stamp characterized the expression of faith and deeper devotion among the Filipino Catholic Community to the Holy Child Jesus.

Santo Niño is known for his miracles and people’s devotions that transcend religions. In the words of Pope Francis, the Holy Child is the Protector of the Philippines for half a millennium. This oldest religious icon of the country has been enshrined and widely venerated at the Basilica del Minore del Sto. Nino in Cebu City under the care of the Augustinians of the Province of Sto. Nino de Cebu-Philippines.

The popular image of the Sto. Nino was given by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan to the local queen Humamay (later named Juana), after her baptism on April 14, 1521. On April 28, 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition landed on the island of Cebu. One of his soldiers found an image of the Child Jesus in a hut believed to be the same image Magellan had given the queen of the island forty-four years earlier.

National Cultural Treasure Proclamation

The Minor Basilica of Santo Niño was proclaimed as National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, exactly 500 years after the first Catholic baptism in the Philippines.

Under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, or Republic Act 10066, a national cultural treasure refers to a unique cultural property that possesses “outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”

It was announced on Wednesday that the basilica and the pavilion of the Magellan’s Cross have been declared as NCT.

Dr. Rene Escalante, Chairperson, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Philippine Postal Corporation Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and The Most Reverend Archbishop Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines during the launching of the Commemorative Stamps to mark the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Santo Niño which was held at the historic Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City.

The most familiar religious icon which was featured several times by the postal authorities was also launched by the agency.

Stamps and Official First Day Covers of “Santo Niño at 500 –1521-2021: Santo Niño, the Abiding Presence of the Father in Our Journey of Faith” are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Postal Area 1,Tuguegarao, Postal Area 2, San Fernando, La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 6, Iloilo, Postal Area 7, Davao, Postal Area 8, Cagayan de Oro, and Postal Area 9, Zamboanga.

Photo credit: Philippine Postal Corporation -office of the media affairs and the author for additional article