Palestinians issue gold postage stamps to celebrate birth of Jesus

A booklet of three 22-carat gold postage stamps celebrating the birth of Jesus has been issued by the Palestinian Postal Authority.

It contains stamps based on Giotto's The Nativity, issued last December, Giotto's The Crucifixion, issued last Easter, and Madonna of the Star by Fra Angelico, which it was planned to issue this Christmas. That has been delayed by the current crisis in the Middle East.

A special postmark for Christmas Day will be available from the Palestinian Postal Authority.

A copy of the booklet has been presented to Pope John Paul by Mr Peter Jennings of the Royal Philatelic Society in London and Dr Vincent Nichols, the Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham.

Dr Nichols said the stamps were "of rare beauty. In catching the eye they also touch the heart. I hope they will cause many people to ponder the mystery of God taking on our human flesh, in Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago. These stamps recall beautifully the defining moment of human history."

The Archbishop of Westminster, Dr Cormac Murphy O'Connor, said the booklet was a most appropriate way of commemorating the birth of Jesus.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Vatican's Central Committee for the Great Jubilee Year 2000, said "May these outstanding stamps, inspired by the greatest painters and coming to us from Bethlehem, stir tolerance and love of our neighbour in every heart and help us all to live together more successfully in the new millennium."

The booklet is available from Millennium Commemorative Covers Ltd, 47 Regent's Road, Harbourn, Birmingham, B17 9JU. Phone: 00444 121 4284777 or at www.mccovers.co.uk

The cost is £10stg, including postage

The Palestinian Postal Authority also issued a stamp this year to celebrate the visit of Pope John Paul to Bethlehem last March.