Marian Classification

(From the Catalogue of Marian Stamps, issued under the direction of W. J. Hoffman by the Marian Philatelic Study Group.)

We have included in the Marian Theme only those stamps where the design makes a direct reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are many stamps which could be used in illustrating the “Life of The Blessed Virgin,” such as Israel issue picturing the Sea of Galilee (Sc C10,  Mi. 81, Y-T #10 airmail, Gi. 77), or the stamp of Israel depicting Nazareth (Sc. C25, Mi. 203,  Y-T 1125 airmail, Gi. 185). Nothing in the design of these stamps has a direct reference to the Blessed Virgin, except perhaps that she lived in this area, the reference is by association. We leave these stamps for each individual collector if he wishes to make use of them. A very good illustration of our point can be found in the comprehensive study  by Father Clemens Anheuser in his book “Christmas in Philately." In Part IV,  “The Fulfillment,” he lists such stamps as the 1937 issue of the statue of Caesar Augustus (Sc. 382, Mi. 581, Y-T 401, Ci. C328). In the Christmas Story this stamp can be used to illustrate the edict of the Roman  Emperor “that all must be enrolled in their native city.” By itself, the stamp design shows nothing relating to Christmas. Consequently, we cannot see how it could be listed in a catalogue of Christmas stamps but it does have a proper place in a collection of Christmas stamps, as Father Anheuser uses it.

Because the field of Marian Philately is voluminous, many collectors have specialized in only certain types of stamps that can be included in this topic. Others have  devised a system whereby the “Marian intensity’ can be evaluated and thus they  have assigned a point value to each stamp issued. By “Marian intensity" is understood the degree in which the Blessed Virgin is portrayed on the stamp. Thus the three large stamps of Saar (Sc. 248-250, Mi. 351—353, Gi. 348—350), issued in 1954 to commemorate the Marian Year, would carry a value of the most intensity, while a stamp picturing a Marian Church in the background of the design, such as Belgium SC. 117, Mi. 122, Y-T 143, Gi. 285,  would be of a lower or lowest intensity value.

Our primary concern in listing all stamps under a classification system is to assist the  collector in identifying those stamps which would properly fit into his collection. Thus a collector specializing in Madonna Stamps could readily identify the stamps in this catalogue that he would consider to be Madonna Stamps; or a collector of Marian Churches would have  this information readily available.

In conjunction with Father Ricardo Struve, Bogota, Colombia, and other Marian collectors interested in originating an international catalogue of Marian stamps, we have compiled the following system of classifying Marian Stamps:

1. The Blessed Virgin is the main design of the stamp
   Venezuela, OUR LADY OF COROMOTO.
   Sc. 641 Mi. 1114 Y—T 420 Gi. 1019
2. The Blessed Virgin is a prominent feature of the design.
   Spain, PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
   Sc. 1143 Mi. 1358 Y—T 1137 Ci. 1621
3. Miniatures of Mary On the stamp where she is not the principal object of the design.
   Panama, statue of OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL on church facade.
   Sc. 446 Mi. Y—T 360 CI. 853
4. The design of the stamp includes the name of Mary or one of her titles.
   Venezuela issue for City of Caracas with the inscription “Hail Mary, I4osf Holy ~..“
   Sc. 485 Mi. 838 Y—T 322 Ci. 9651
5. The design includes a Marian symbol, as a monogram or salutation, or an object of Marian devotion such as a rosary, etc.
   Dominican Republic 1954 issue with Monogram AM. Sc. C89 Mi.539 Y—T 94 air Ci. 702
6. Stamps which emphasize or were issued for a Marian event.
   Dominican Republic 1964 issue picturing the Angel of The Annunciation with the inscription “IV Marological Congress and Xl Marian Inter­national”. Sc. 611 Mi. 852, Y-T 627 Gi. 852
7. World renowned Marian Shrines ort Temples
   Spain Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
   Sc. CB17, Mi. 833, Y-T 211 air, Gi 1111
8. Churches dedicated to Mary or named after her.
   Belgium, Notre Dame Cathedral, Tournai.
   Sc. B79 Mi. 245 Y—T 268 Ci. C82
9. Persons related with the Marian Theme, such as artists, Founders of Religious Orders, famous devotees of Our Lady, Saints, the Archangel Gabriel, Pontifical Legates at Marian events, etc.
   Vatican City 1956 issue picturing Archangel Cahri
   Sc. C24 Mi. 241 Y—T 24 air Ci. 226
10. Stamps which make a formal allusion to Mary without a direct identification, such as the Santa Maria Flagship of Columbus on many stamps or the stamps of Czechoslovakia picturing MARIANSKE LAZNE (Mary’s Baths) or the United States 1958 issue picturing the Soo Locks with the name of the city Sault Sainte Marie.
    Spain, Santa Maria Flagship Sc. 1250 Mi. 1485 Y—T 1259 Ci. 175 Y—T 849Ci. 913
11. Czechoslovakia, Marianske Lazne Sc. 741 Mi. 959 Sc. 611 Mi. 852 Y—T 627

It is our opinion that there are many stamps which could be identified within the categories 9 and 10, and feel they could serve a very useful purpose in illustrating a Marian theme in a collection, but by themselves they ought not to be classified

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