1953 Vatican Stamp Peter Lombard

On December 29, 1953 the Vatican issued a single stamp without advance notice, the Pier Lombardo issue. Hundreds of collectors wrote to find out who Pier Lombardo was and why a stamp was issued in his honor.

Peter Lombard (born 1100) is famous for his Sentences, a compilation of earlier theologians, which by the 13th century became the principle theological text in the universities.

The stamp depicts the Episcopal Seal he used as Archbishop of Paris. The seal is of white wax and inscribed "Sigillum Magistri Petri Parisienses Episcopi." The mitre worn by Peter Lombard is the first time the mitre appeared with two horns. The seal preserves the only known image of Peter Lombard and is housed in the archives of Paris.