MALTAPOST TO ISSUE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS FOR PAPAL VISIT

On the occasion of Pope John Paul II's forthcoming visit to Malta in May, Maltapost plc will be issuing a set of two commemorative stamps and a miniature sheet.

In order to afford philatelists and the general public the opportunity to attend the Beatification Ceremony on the 9^th May without having to queue at post offices to acquire First Day Covers and other philatelic material, it has been decided that this set commemorating the Pope's visit will be issued in Friday 4^th May.

The set will consist of two stamps featuring Dun Gorg Preca (6c) and the Pope and St Paul (16c), together with a miniature sheet featuring the Pope and Dun Gorg Preca against a background of the 1990 Papal Visit (75c).

The stamps have been designed by graphic artist Joseph Mizzi, and are being printed in Germany by Bundesdruckerei GmbH. The stamps will be printed in sheets of ten.

In order to further highlight the Pope's visit, a number of special handstamps relating to the visit are being prepared. These are expected to commemorate the Pope's intended visit to Dun Gorg Preca's tomb at Blata l-Bajda, his meeting, at the Palace in Valletta, with President Guido de Marco, the Temporary Branch Post Office, and possibly, depending on the number of persons to be beatified, other localities as well.

All these special postmarks will be available from the Temporary Branch Post Office at Floriana Granaries on the 9^th May, and from all Maltapost Branches in Malta and Gozo on the 10^th and subsequent days also, following the visit.

To enable Maltapost to cope with the expected high demand from philatelists, philatelic material with stamps affixed and addressed may be submitted to the Philatelic Bureau at 305, Qormi Road, Marsa, with detailed instructions regarding the type of cancellation required.

Besides the First Day Cover envelope to be used on the First Day of Issue, the Philatelic Department is also preparing a special envelope for use in conjunction with the commemorative handstamps for this occasion. The Philatelic Department will also be offering a special Occasion Card bearing an imprint of the 16c stamp from the Papal issue. This card will be on sale at 16c from all Branch Post Offices from the 4^th May.

Philatelists and members of the public requiring additional information may contact the Maltapost Philatelic Bureau on telephone 239153, fax 220789 or e-mail info@maltapost.com.