Vatican Stamps Uganda Martyrs – Vintage

Description

Vatican City released a set of six stamps on March 16| 1965| commemorating twenty-two Ugandans martyred for their Catholic faith in 1885-1887. The set includes 15-lire (turquoise)| 20-lire (brown)| 30-lire (ultramarine)| 75-lire| (black)| 100-lire (scarlet)| and 160-lire (violet) values. A portrayal of each of the martyrs| the individual’s name| and years of martyrdom appear on the stamps. The vertical stamps depict the martyrs in groups of two to seven. The inscription “SS MARTYRES UGANDENES” (Saints & Martyrs of Uganda) appears at the top of the stamp. Poste Vaticane and the stamp’s value appear at the bottom.The acts of martyrdom| reminiscent of Christian persecutions in the early Roman Empire| occurred against a background of erratic rule by Mwanga II| Kabaka (king) of Buganda (Uganda) (1884-1888; 1889-1897). He played Christians and others against each other in an era of significant Christian conversions and disputed Anglo-French control of this East African area.The Ugandan martyrs ranged in age from 13 to 25 years. Historians sometimes refer to them as “Charles Lwanga and Companions.” Lwanga| who appears on the 20-lire stamp| was in charge of the royal pages| some of whom he baptized. Another martyr| Joseph Mkasa| criticized Mwanga for acts of debauchery and murder. Mkasa| beheaded in 1886| appears on the 15-lire stamp. In 1886| a group of thirty Roman Catholics and Anglicans were wrapped in straw mats and burned alive at Namugongo. The Vatican canonized the martyrs in 1964. Buganda (Uganda) became a British protectorate in the 1890s| and Mwanga fled to exile in the Seychelles after 1897.The vertical stamps measure 4 x 3 cm and have the Crossed Keys of St. Peter watermark. Perforations are 13 x 14. C. Dabrowska designed the 15-lire stamp| which E. Donnini engraved. Other designers included M. Colombati (20-lire)| V. Nicastro (30-lire)| S. Vana (75-lire)| F. G. Pagani (100-lire)| and T. Mele (160-lire) values. The Italian State Printing Works| Rome| produced the stamps using the recess process. The Vatican issued 1|885|300 sets| which remained available until December 31| 1965.