Vatican City: Euphrasian Basilica

Vatican City issued this set of three stamps (Scott 960-962) in 1994 to mark the 13th International Convention of Christian Archeology, which was held in Split, Croatia. The images on the stamps are details from the Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, Croatia. The mosaics depicted are located in the east-end apse of the basilica, and are indeed quite dramatic. The 700 lira stamp shows Bishop Euphrasius, Archdeacon Claudius, and Claudius' son; the 1500 lira stamp shows the Madonna and Child with two angels; the 3000 lira stamp shows Christ and the Apostles Peter and Paul. In addition to the persons on the stamps, the overall mosaic includes all twelve of the disciples of Jesus, plus numerous saints. When this set was recommended to me, I inquired as to the organ "tie-in." I was told that while an organ is not present on any of these stamps, there is an organ visible elsewhere in the mosaic. I have searched for a couple of years now and have yet to find any hint of an instrument, nor pipes, nor even anything like a pan-flute within the mosaic. I am including this post for the sake of completeness, but I am not convinced that there are any pipes, let alone an entire instrument, present in the mosaic. I will be happy to be corrected by anyone who knows better. I have included a couple of detailed photographs of the mosaic for any who wish to explore and seek to discern a pipe or two! I do note that Euphrasius is holding a church building, which may be a representation of the basilica; within the basilica there may be an organ (I have not found information about one yet), and by extension the Bishop is holding a representation of an organ?

Vatican: Europa 2014

Vatican City, seat of the Roman Catholic church and located entirely withing the city of Rome, Italy issued two Europa Stamps in 2014. The pair feature organs in Vatican churches. These two stamps were a gift from my friend Mark Jameson in Reading, GB. I don't have Scott catalog numbers as my set goes only through 2009.

St John Lateran organ (.70 Euro)
The St John Lateran instrument was begun in the late 1500's and intended to be of the finest and largest in Europe. Biagi built the instrument though the casework was designed and executed by others. Like any prestigious instrument this one went through, or endured, or indeed suffered, from various repairs replacements and enhancements over the years. While some original pipework exists in the instrument, it's very different from the original, though it is now usable by modern musicians in a contemporary worship setting. The most recent extensive work was completed in 1989 with lesser work done in 2002-2003. Four (!) other instruments exist in St John Lateran, an organ for both the Epistle and Gospel transcepts, a very small choir organ and an instrument in Corsini chapel. This wiki gives helpful information, though in Italian.

Choir Chapel Organ, St Peter's (.85 Euro)
The second of the stamp pair shows the Chapel Choir organ in St Peter's Basilica. This is a modern instrument built in 1974 by the Tamburini firm. It's a rather modest instrument of two manuals and pedal. This wiki gives information about all the instruments in St Peter's. A whole book has been written, devoted to the 1875 Cavaille-Coll instrument in the basilica.

Vatican: bas-reliefs

In 1966 Vatican City issued a set of 12 stamps. These were all images of bas-relief carvings found in the private chapel of the Pope. The first of the set of 12 is a carving of Pope Paul VI, done by Enrico Manfrini. The other (artists and craftsmen) carvings were executed by Mario Rudelli; they are found on a chair in the chapel. Each of the stamps is a different color. The stamps depict: organist; painter; cartographer; sculptor; bricklayer; printer; farmer; blacksmith; scholar. The organist is seated at a positiv organ, which is equipped with a built-in stand. The organ seems to have a single set of pipes. The organist stamp (Scott 424) is part of a set that includes the regular issues named above, plus two special delivery stamps showing the pope and the papal arms (Scott E17-E18).