Australia -

" STAINED - GLASS WINDOWS ~ CHRISTMAS 2014."

MNH ~ Miniature Sheet !

This year's religious stamps are based on stained-glass windows in St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne. This imposing bluestone building is both the tallest and largest church building in Australia and one of the world's largest Gothic revival 19th century churches - only St Patrick's Cathedral in New York is comparable.

As with medieval Gothic churches, St Patrick's is embellished with many beautiful stained-glass windows depicting religious and Biblical scenes. Nearly all the windows were manufactured by the English company Hardman and Co.

The windows depicted on the stamps are in the Ladye Chapel situated in the chevet of the cathedral and show scenes from the Life of the Virgin, including the Nativity of Christ and the Flight into Egypt. The windows were fitted to the chapel in 1892

As an alternative to the religious theme, the festive and colourful contemporary stamps represent the familiar trappings and sentiments of Christmas celebration and recall techniques of paper cut design as well as snow crystals.

Year: 2014.

(AN11) ~ BD1.