26/11/2002
26/11/2002 The Santa María Cathedral restoration project looks set to become even more internationally famous thanks to the stamp sheets and stamps recently published by the Post Office. As a result, the image of the gothic cathedral will travel all over the world, through the postal network. As of 27 November, 1,200,000 units will be put on sale, with a face value of €0.50.
The stamp is dedicated to the cathedral´s stained glass windows, but the image is expanded in the stamp sheet, which reflects the uniqueness of an architectural restoration project that is open to the general public. This concession is an acknowledgement of the importance of the Old Cathedral project, from the perspective of the recovery of a historically and architecturally valuable building, to the cultural, social, scientific and tourist activities carried out by the Santa María Cathedral Foundation.
This concession is extremely important for the Old Cathedral in two ways. Firstly due to the raising of public awareness. With a face value of €0.50, a single stamp will send a letter to any part of the European Union, and two or more stamps will enable a letter to be sent anywhere in the world. Furthermore, both the stamp sheet and the stamp itself will be published in all the stamp collectors´ magazines throughout the world, in the forthcoming Spain-Andorra 2002 Stamp Yearbook and in leaflets in four languages (Spanish, English, French and German). It is estimated that over 16 million people will see the image.
Secondly, the Post Office receives around one million petitions every year, and only concedes an average of 40 stamps and 5 stamp sheets. This year other stamp sheets have been published dedicated to stamp exhibitions: Philaiberia in Tarazona, Exfilna in Salamanca and the World Youth Stamp Exhibition 2002 in Salamanca.
Since the first emissions were published in Spain in 1850, only 20 stamps
have been conceded with images related to Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava, the
last of these being a stamp dedicated to the founder of the Servants of
Jesus, Saint Josefa of the Secret Heart. The only stamp sheet dedicated
to the region was published in 1996 and featured a view of the capital.
This is why the recent concession is so important for both the Santa María
Cathedral and its restoration process.
The Old Cathedral joins the select series of images that have been immortalised
by the Post Office and turned into a valued collector´s item for
stamp lovers everywhere. Spain has half a million collectors and is third
in the world ranking of philatelists, after the United States and Germany.
The stamp sheet is printed in chalcography and offset on stucco, gummed, matt and phosphorescent paper. It measures 105 mm by 78 mm and features the two central stained-glass windows and a view of the Cathedral from the choir stalls, with the platform and archaeological excavations beneath. The images are accompanied by the following text at the bottom: Santa María Cathedral, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Open Restoration.
On the left-hand side of the stamp sheet is the stamp, with punched holes for easy removal and use. It measures 28.8 mm by 40.9 mm and depicts a section of one of the stained-glass windows in the Cathedral. Specifically, the image is that of Our Lady of the Assumption, from one of the central windows.
Muñoz de Pablos, designer
The design of the stamp was developed by Carlos Muñoz de Pablos,
who also designed the Cathedral´s stained-glass windows during the
previous restoration project during the 1960s. This artist from Segovia,
who has won international acclaim, is, among other things, a member of
the San Quirce Royal Academy of Fine Art History and Art, a corresponding
member of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts and president of
the Spanish Committee of the International Society of Stained Glass Historians.
In addition to working in Vitoria, he has also worked on numerous Spanish
Heritage buildings, as well as public and private buildings both in his
native country and abroad.