(ANS - Rome) - The issue of special stamps and postmarks has been a hallmark of this Year of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco (1815-2015). Now that the calendar year 2015 nears its end, we recall some of the numerous initiatives taken worldwide.

To open the year, in January, there was the issuance by Israel Post of a sheet containing 12 stamps for internal use, to which were added other 12 souvenir stamps. The stamps carried the logo of the Bicentenary (one in English and one in Arabic), the emblem of the Past Pupils, and an image and icon of Don Bosco, in recognition of the Salesian schools in Nazareth and Bethlehem.

Later, on 1 February, just after the feast of Don Bosco, at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Nairobi, the Kenyan Post Office issued a stamp to the Saint of Youth in a print of one million copies. They sold out immediately, bought by philatelists and ordinary people.

On 19 May there was a common issue from Italy and the Vatican to mark 200 years since the birth of St John Bosco, also carrying the logo of the bicentenary.

The Post Office of Paraguay issued a series of commemorative stamps, on 12 August. Even closer to the great celebration of the 200th birthday of the Saint of Youth (16 August 2015) came a philatelic tribute from the Slovak Post Office, through a stamp with a picture of Don Bosco and a cross, in recognition "not only of Don Bosco in his jubilee year and his work for young people, but also of the Salesians who continue his work” as explained by the promoters of the initiative.

On 29 August in Salvador, Brazil, there was the launch of the postage stamp issued by the Brazilian Post Office. On 3 September it was the turn of the Post Office of Portugal CTT, with a stamp issue consisting of a stamp print of 155,000 copies and a stamp block with a print run of 40,000 copies.  Uruguayan Post issued a stamp in honour of Don Bosco on 9 September, in the presence of the Councillor for the American Southern Cone, Fr Natale Vitali.

Finally, on 23 October the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Republic of San Marino issued in honour of Don Bosco two stamps of different values, for a total circulation of 40,000 copies.

A special case, was the postmark promoted by the "Religious Philately Group" (started in Valdocco by a Salesian) during the pastoral visit of the Pope to Turin (21-22 June), a visit motivated by the Bicentenary of Don Bosco and the Special Exhibition of the Shroud related thereto.

Published 15/12/2015