British Virgin Islands Premier, Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith is pictured here receiving a truly unique Vatican City Philatelic Miniature Sheet inscribed with his name to attest that proceeds contributed to the restoration of the Bernini Colonnade in St. Peter’s Square, Rome.
The Miniature Sheet, signed by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of the Vatican, was presented by the President of the BVI Philatelic Society, Dr. Giorgio Migliavacca, who explained that this is one in a series of presentations to show gratitude to the Society’s sponsors and supporting entities from both the public and private sectors.
The presentation took place earlier this month at the Old Government House Museum and offered the opportunity for presenting similar unique Miniature Sheets to Fanny Evans, Manager Morgan and Morgan BVI, and Declan Cassidy, Chief Executive Officer, Digicel.
Established in 1985, the Society has organised various activities including ten successful stamp exhibitions (1990-2002) that received very impressive headlines in the London Times and all major stamp magazines in three continents. The last exhibition in 2002 saw the historic participation of Her Majesty’s Stamp Collection in conjunction with the quadrennial Caribbean kermesse of the British Caribbean Philatelic Study Group.
These ten exhibitions, together with other initiatives and the creation of the Stamp Room
at Old Government House in 2006, were made possible by the invaluable moral and financial support of the BVI Government and its agencies and the BVI private sector. Most importantly, members of the public were very supportive and quite instrumental in participating and generating interest in the wider community.
The Stamp Room features a remarkable philatelic collection of British Virgin Islands stamps and Postal History. From the first stamps issued in 1866 to date, including covers, varieties, elusive errors and specialised items. This collection is a major exhibit on permanent loan from the British Virgin Islands Philatelic Society.
The Bernini Colonnade surrounding St. Peter’s Square is undergoing a four-year long restoration, as well as all the statues of the saints and figures that crown the two arms of the colonnade. The colonnade was created by sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1657 and was approved by Pope Alexander VII.
The huge monument, in travertine, is now being restored to its original splendour for Rome and the world. It is one of the most important Baroque symbols, outstanding not only in the context of architecture and urban planning — as a space for public religious celebrations — but also as a highly allegorical work of art, suggesting the ecumenical embrace of all peoples by the universal Church.
The purpose of this immense undertaking is to restore all the architectural and decorative elements in the square.
PHOTOGRAPH: L to r: Morgan & Morgan, BVI, Manager Fanny Evans, BVI Philatelic Society President Dr. Giorgio Migliavacca, BVIPS Director Astrid Wenzke, BVI Premier Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Digicel CEO, Declan Cassidy, Jillian Dunlop of the Old Government House Museum Board . [Photograph by Walter Tan]
Article submitted by Dr. Migliavacca.
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