On the occasion of the issue of four postage stamps, three of which collected in sheets, dedicated to the Holy Christmas, the Poste Magistrali counter located inside the Magistral Palace in Rome, with public entrance from Via delle Carrozze 79, will use the special postmark on 24 November 2023.

The postmark, created by Giancarlo Federico, depicts a detail of Giorgione’s painting Madonna and Child Enthroned and Saints Nicasio and Francesco, also known as the Castelfranco Altarpiece, commissioned by the Knight of Rhodes and commander of the Venetian Republic Tuzio Costanzo for the family chapel in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Liberale in Castelfranco Veneto, and still kept there.

The postmark is completed by the inscriptions “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA” and “POSTE MAGISTRALI”, “GIORNO DI EMISSIONE”,“IL SANTO NATALE” and the date “24.XI.2023”.

Items for reposting, individually franked by the sender with stamps belonging to the relevant set, must reach the Poste Magistrali office by 24 January 2024. A suitable self-addressed envelope, bearing the Order of Malta stamps corresponding to the ordinary (Posta4) or priority (Posta1) postal rate in force in Italy, must be enclosed for the postmarked items to be returned under cover. For any return by registered mail, please contact Poste Magistrali in advance.

Items to be returned uncovered must reach Poste Magistrali by 11 December 2023 and must be individually marked as “Corrispondenza filatelica” (Philatelic correspondence) on the address side in indelible ink. Should this indication be missing, it will be applied by Poste Magistrali.