Reissued in 1961
After World War II, Ireland began to print stamps for mail going overseas, being sure to portray images that were clearly Irish in origin and meaning. That being said, there is difference between domestic stamp iconography and airmail iconography. Domestic stamp iconography usually focused on political leaders or aspects relating to the Gaelic past, which gave the stamp a more authentic look. Airmail imagery tended to be more focused on physical Ireland, or the physical landscapes of Ireland, which gave the stamp a more tourist-driven approach. This example combines the two approaches through the incorporation of Gaelic and landscape elements. Here, we see the Angel Victor, who is the Messenger of St. Patrick, carrying a banner that says “Vox Hiberniæ”, Gaelic for “Voice of Hibernia”. Hibernia is the ancient name for what we now know as Ireland, and is usually used by those who want to signal back to a time what Ireland was perceived as being “pure and untainted”. Victor, in this example, is flying over four landmarks, one from each of the four provinces of Ireland.
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*This stamp was reissued in 1961*