Vatican City, Nov 12, 2018 / 11:01 am
The artwork featured on the Vatican's postage stamps for Christmas 2018 were painted by a man serving a life-sentence in a Milanese prison.
The two stamp designs, painted by Marcello D'Agata, depict the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Nativity of Christ.
The postage stamps were unveiled by Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan at a Nov. 9 presentation in the Milan prison and can be purchased at the Vatican City post office. They are available in denominations of 1.15 or 1.10 euro ($1.29, $1.24), which is the postage required to mail directly to Europe and the Mediterranean region.
An Italian journalist had the idea for the Vatican stamps after having followed a philately initiative within the Milan prison for several years.