Papal States Coat of Arms and Keys of St. Peter

Papal States · 1852 · 5 bajocchi

This definitive stamp from the Papal States features the coat of arms of the Holy See, prominently displaying the crossed Keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara. The denomination, '5 BAJOCCHI', is inscribed below the central design, framed by an ornate border. The stamp is printed in a distinctive rose or pink shade on handmade paper.

Issued in 1852, this was one of the first postage stamps from the Papal States, which began issuing its own stamps that year. These stamps were used for postage within the territories ruled by the Pope until they were annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.