On the occasion of the issue of two se-tenant stamps dedicated to the journey of the Order of Malta’s flag in space, the Poste Magistrali counter located inside Palazzo Magistrale in Rome, with public entrance from Via delle Carrozze 79, will use the special postmark on 10 July 2024.

The postmark, created by Giancarlo Federico, depicts the flag of the Order of Malta’s activities together with the space shuttle, which, as part of the “Axiom 3” Mission, travelled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to the International Space Station last January 18, returning to Earth on February 9.

The postmark is completed by the inscriptions “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA”, “POSTE MAGISTRALI”, “GIORNO DI EMISSIONE”, “LA BANDIERA DELL’ORDINE DI MALTA NELLO SPAZIO” and the date “10.VII.2024”.

Items for reposting, individually franked by the sender with stamps belonging to the relevant set, must reach the Poste Magistrali office by 10 September 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 24 July 2024 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.