Niue: Christmas, 1979

Niue is an island nation located somewhat near New Zealand in the South Pacific. That nation issued a set of four stamps for Christmas in 1979 featuring various paintings (Scott 258-261). They also issued a set of 4 semi-postal mini-sheets (Scott B12-B15) of a single stamp each, of the same designs as the regular postage stamps. While the regular postage stamps show a portion of the original paintings, the mini-sheets depict the entire painting. The regular postage stamps are variously denominated (20c, 25c, 30c, 50c) but the semi-postals are all denominated 85c + 5c. The low value stamp show a painting by Pere Serra, Virgin and Child ("Virgin of Tortosa"); the corresponding semi-postal shows the whole painting when the selvage is accounted. In the LL is an angel playing a portatif organ. This painting (tempura and gold leaf on wood), now in the Catalonian National Museum of Art, was presumably part of an altarpiece created for the Tortosa Cathedral in the late 14th century. In cathedral architecture at the east end of the building one often finds an apse; very often it is possible to circumnavigate the chancel area via an ambulatory, the perimeter of the apse. Too one might find attached to that ambulatory any number of chapel areas. Museum curators believe this piece was for one such chapel at Tortosa. In additional to the organ-playing angel, others play two lute-type instruments, a lyre, a harp, and a flute.