Birth Bimillenary of Virgil (Secondo millenario Virgiliano).

Description: Series of 9 stamps with 9 subjects (Stanza from Virgil with illustration).
Date of issue: October 21, 1930. Valid up to October 15, 1931.

Airmail series

The motives are placed in a gable end in ancient style.

Coat-of-arms with fasces are dipicted in the upper left corner. In lower left corner SECONDO MILENARIO VIRGILIANO.

In the lower right "ANTIQVAM EXQVRITE MATREM". "Seek out your ancient motherland", an extract form the Aenid 3.94-96:

Dardanidae duri, quae vos a stirpe parentum
prima tulit tellus, eadem vos ubere laeto
accipiet reduces. Antiquam exquirite matrem.

Ye long-suffering sons of Dardanus, the land which
bare you first from your parent stock shall welcome you back
to her bosom. Seek out your ancient motherland.

This is Apollon's first prophecies to Aeneas about Italy as the "Motherland". In the bottom panel different texts on each stamp. The frame around the main illustration has the form of a temple. The illustrations are all scenes from Aeneid and Georgics.

Publius Vergilius Maro, called Virgil (70-19 BC) was perhaps the greatest poet of the age, and one of the most influential figures of western literary tradition. His principle work, the Aeneid, an epic poem in 12 books, was commissioned to give the Romans their own national epic. It contains passages of patriotic fervour, recounting the mythical founding of Rome by Aeneas, son of Venus, after he fled from the ruins of Troy. Aeneas was Caesar’s forefather.
Georgics deal with one of the emperor Augustus favourite themes by praising agriculture and the virtues of family life on the farm, as well as including practical advice on farming, forestry, and raising cattle and horses.

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Date created: 22/03/00 11:42:36