Sovereign Military Order of Malta, First Postage Stamp

Sovereign Military Order of Malta · 1966 · 1 Scudo

This stamp features the coat of arms of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which consists of a white Maltese cross on a red field. The design is framed by ornate scrollwork and includes the inscriptions 'SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA' and 'POSTE MAGISTRALI'. This was the first postage stamp issued by the Order, marking the establishment of its independent postal service.

Issued on November 15, 1966, this stamp inaugurated the postal system of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order with a long history of sovereignty and diplomatic relations. The stamps are valid for mail sent from the Order's headquarters in Rome to countries with which it has postal agreements.