Sovereign Military Hospitaller
Order of St John of Jerusalem of
Rhodes and of Malta

First day of issue postmark – The Special Delegate of the Holy Father

A special first day of issue postmark was available for The Special Delegate of the Holy Father, issued on 7 December 2022.

Designed by Giancarlo Federico, it depicts the coat of arms of H. Em. Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, Special Delegate of the Holy Father to the Order of Malta.
The postmark is completed by the inscriptions “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA”, “POSTE MAGISTRALI” and “GIORNO DI EMISSIONE”, the legend “DELEGATO SPECIALE DEL SANTO PADRE” and the date “7.XII.2022”.

Items for reposting, individually franked by the sender with stamps belonging to the relevant set, must reach Poste Magistrali by 7 February 2023. A suitable self-addressed envelope, bearing Order of Malta stamps corresponding to the ordinary (Posta4) or priority (Posta1) mail  rate in force in Italy, must be enclosed for the postmarked items to be returned under cover. For return by registered mail, please contact Poste Magistrali in advance.

Items to be returned uncovered must reach Poste Magistrali by 18 December 2022 and must be individually marked “Corrispondenza filatelica” (Philatelic correspondence) on the address side in indelible ink. In case of missing, it will be automatically applied by Poste Magistrali.