The Papal Visit to Ireland 1979. Complete commemorative cover collection marking the historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland, 29 September–1 October 1979. Housed in the publisher’s original black gilt-stamped album, containing a near-complete series of specially produced commemorative envelopes, each bearing the official An Post Papal Visit stamp or Vatican issue with contemporary first day or special commemorative cancellations from every principal stage of the visit.

The collection includes covers commemorating the Papal Flight Rome–Dublin and Shannon–Boston, together with official cancellations from Dublin Airport, Phoenix Park, Maynooth, Drogheda, Galway, Knock, Claremorris, Limerick, Cork, Shannon Airport, and the Knock Centenary celebrations, together with explanatory inserts and a mint block of four of the Irish 12p Papal Visit stamps. The introductory leaf notes that fewer than 1,700 complete collections were issued, this example being individually numbered 1167. The album preserves a remarkable postal record of one of the defining public events in modern Irish history, attended by an estimated 2.7 million people over three days.

4to. Original black padded gilt-lettered album. Complete with printed descriptive inserts. A fine, clean collection with only light external rubbing to the album, the covers and contents exceptionally well preserved.

[Library 3 arch E]