US Stamps 2020 Our Lady of Guapulo Traditional Christmas Series 5 Sheets of 20

US Stamps 2020 Our Lady of Guapulo Traditional Christmas Series 5 Sheets of 20 Pictures an 18th-century painting from Cuzco, Peru, of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child Continues the popular Traditional Christmas Series Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the painting titled Our Lady of Guápulo and its traditional Christmas themes. About the stamp design: Pictures Our Lady of Guápulo, a painting by an unknown 18th century artist from Cuzco, Peru. The painting is now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It pictured the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, both wearing crowns and adorned with jewels and regal robes. First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The First Day of Issue Cancellation is from New York City, home of The Metropolitan Museum of Art where the original painting is housed. About the Traditional Christmas Series: In 1966, the Post Office issued its first Madonna and Child stamp, a 15th century painting by Flemish painter Hans Memling. The stamp was very popular and over 1.1 billion were printed. This led the Post Office to issue another traditional Christmas stamp in 1968, this time picturing the Angel Gabriel. In 1969, they went back to more contemporary holiday subjects before finally deciding in 1970 to issue one Traditional Christmas stamp and one Contemporary Christmas stamp. Their decision proved popular and theyve continued to issue both Traditional and Contemporary Christmas stamps ever since. History the stamp represents: Guápulo is a city in Ecuador where, on December 30, 1696, it is said a miracle took place. That miracle was performed by the Virgin Mary (called the Lady of the Cloud by certain communities in Ecuador and Peru). The event became an important part of Guápulos culture. In 1696, Bishop Sancho de Andrade y Figueroa had fallen ill, and the people of Guápulo traveled to nearby Quito to see him. They brought an image of the Virgin Mary (taken from the church of Guápulo) with them. As they traveled, the people prayed. Suddenly, the sky opened up and all 500 people saw the Virgin Mary appear within the clouds. Franciscan friars later founded a sanctuary near the site in Azogues. Each year, they celebrate Fiesta de la Virgen de la Nube or Feast of the Virgin of the Cloud. The tradition was taken up by nuns in Lima, Peru, and continued to spread across Peru and Ecuador. Since then, artists throughout history have honored the Lady of the Cloud in their works. In 2020, the USPS featured a painting of Our Lady of Guápulo on a Forever stamp. The painting was completed by an unknown artist in 18th-century Cuzco, Peru. The figures are painted in elaborate royal garments, showing just how important the Virgin Mary is to the people of Peru and Ecuador. The condition of the stamp is as shown in the image and is suitable for paying postage or collecting.