Vatican Issues Stamps for the 'Sede Vacante'

The Euronews website reports, "The Pope may have left, but the tourists remain in the Vatican city to get their hands on the hottest souvenir going. A limited edition stamp for the  'sede vacante' has been issued by the Vatican post office."

Reporter Fabien Farge writes, "Marking the first papal resignation in 600 years, the stamp is expected to become especially valuable if postmarked on the first day. Designed by Daniela Longo it depicts an angel with two keys under a canopy. It is the seventh time that a stamp has been issued to mark the vacant see since the tradition began in 1939."

The stamps, shown above, cost the same as regular Vatican postal stamps which come in four denominations.The image on the stamps depicts an angel holding an umbrella and a set of crossed keys, the coat of arms for the Holy See during the Sede Vacante. A total of 200,000 such sets of stamps were printed.

To watch video about the new stamps, click here.