To celebrate Christmas 2007, Royal Mail commissioned Italian illustrator Marco Ventura to create a set of four beautiful renaissance style angel illustrations. This Christmas issue is completed by two stamps featuring classic and highly individual Madonna and Child paintings
1st Class – The Angel of Goodwill
2nd Class – The Angel of Peace
78p – The Angel of Joy
£1.24 – The Angel of Glory
1st Class – Madonna and Child by Lippo di Dalmasio
2nd Class – Madonna and Child by William Dyce
1st Class – The Angel of GoodwillDefinitive sized designs, available in large letter format, these stamps depict a seated Angel of Goodwill playing a lute, set against a snowy backdrop with winter foliage.
2nd Class – The Angel of PeaceDefinitive sized designs, available in large letter format, these stamps feature the Angel of Peace playing a trumpet, set against a wintry, festive landscape.
78p – The Angel of JoyIn standard definitive size, the Angel of Joy stamp features a winged heavenly messenger playing the flute in a traditional Christmas setting.
£1.24 – The Angel of GloryIn standard definitive size, this stamp features Marco Ventura’s illustration of the Angel of Glory with wings outstretched. The angel is shown playing a tambourine amidst falling snow.
1st Class – Madonna and Child by Lippo di DalmasioIn standard definitive size, this First Class stamp is a cropped reproduction of the original Lippo di Dalmasio painting that is believed to have been painted between 1390 and 1400.
2nd Class – Madonna and Child by William DyceThis standard definitive size stamp depicts Dyce’s highly individual Madonna and Child. It is believed to have been modelled on Raphael's 'Madonna and Child' subjects of the early 1500s. Through this sort of painting, Dyce emerged as a precursor of the Pre-Raphaelites.
| Feature | Type/Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps | Six |
| Formatting | Rose Design |
| Typography | Rose Degisn |
| Stamp Format | Standard: portrait Large: landscape |
| Stamp Size | Standard: 20mm x 24mm Large: 30mm x 24mm |
| Printer | De la Rue Security Print |
| Print Process | Gravure |
| Number per Sheet | 50 |
| Perforations | Kiss die-cut simulated perforations |
| Phosphor | bars |
| Gum | Self adhesive |
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