The Vatican on Stamps and Postcards

When in Rome, do as the Roman tourists do - send a postcard from Vatican City. These are a favorite souvenir mailed in the yellow Vatican mailboxes. Postal rates are the same as Italy's, but Vatican stamps must be used on mail sent from the Vatican.

Current stamps and postcards are available at the post offices in the museums or at three post offices in St.Peter's Square. While in Vatican City, visit the Stamp and Numismatic Museum located in the Vatican Museums. On display will be every issue of Vatican City State stamps and postcards. Collectors' editions of stamps are also sold at face value from the Philatelic Service in the government office building. Pictures of the Vatican are not as common as pictures of Popes, Saints, or special events, but some do feature important landmarks like St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.

For the collector of postcards not fortunate enough to visit the Vatican, the prospective buyer can search for Vatican City postcards on the Internet, but he should be advised to brush up on his Italian, French, or German before he starts because the descriptions are in Italian and many of the postcards offer the caption also in a choice of either French or German. One website offers a fine selection of rare Vatican cards if you can decipher the names like "Citta' Del Vaticano" or "Roma/Basilica di S. Pietro." These real works of art are usually offered in limited quantities.