World Youth Day philatelic material 2007 & 2008

Contents

World Youth Day stamps
2007 issues
2008 issues
1st gold stamp
Vatican City issues
Wesley covers
Scout covers
Other countries
Comments
References

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1. The World Youth Day stamps

The Catholic Pope Benedict visited Sydney, Australia, from 15 to 20 July 2008 as part of World Youth Day celebrations (abbreviated to WYD/SYD/08). Philatelic items related to the event were released by Australia and the Vatican City, Italy. The official Australia Post material, numbering some thirty items, retailed for $797.65. A stamp collector (philatelist) coming late to the subject of Australia Post souvenir covers will be confused by what they find in regard to this material, including associated promotional items and postmarks. They will find many covers, and lots with coins, but no traditional, low-priced, souvenir covers.

Aside from the items issued at various stages during 2008, there were also a number which appeared on 13 November 2007 in preparation for the July 2008 events. Records of this initial release are difficult to find, and the actual release date of two stamp booklets has still to be confirmed. The latter has proven difficult due to the fact that a number of recent Australian stamp catalogues, both in print and online, and album pages such as those issued by Seven Seas, only refer to the 2008 items. Most of the official Australia Post World Youth Day philatelic material was advertised in the quarterly Stamp Bulletin and annual Impressions catalogues of collectibles during 2007 and 2008. For example, the 24 July 2008 instant sheetlet, which was a print-on-demand (instant stamp sheetlet) item, did have a full back-page story in the Stamp Bulletin prior to its release, but actual images were only seen after the event in the ephemeral September-October issue order form inset.

Advertisement for instant sheetlet, 24 July 2008, Stamp Bulletin, September-October 2008.

The 4 March 2008 general release had a two page spread in the March - April 2008 Stamp Bulletin., presenting a wide variety of material for purchase, including non-philatelic items such as pendants and pens.

Luckily for the present writer, in 2024 much of this material, as described in detail below, can be found through online sale sites such as eBay and dealer websites. The following article attempts to list both the Australian and Vatican City World Youth Day 2008 philatelic material. Whilst postal numismatic material is described, separate numismatic items from both countries are not. The focus of the Australian release was three stamps featuring upper body portraits of Pope Benedict, designed by Gary Domoney of Spark Studio. They were issued in two formats:

Gummed sheets, with a perforation of 13.9 and comprising three different images and denominations - blue 50c, purple $1.35 & teal $2, and
Peel & stick (P&S) booklet and personalised stamp varieties, with perforations of 11.5 x 11.2, and denominations 50c, $1.35 & $2, similar in design to the gummed stamps.

The variety of material offered by Australia Post, numbering some 30 different items at last count, included stamps, stationary (covers) and non-philatelic promotional items (e.g. gold and silver pendants), as follows:

50c 2003 Australia & Globe stamp with WYD/SYD/08 logo design tab (13 November 2007). Only available in souvenir sheetlet form.
50c 2003 Australia & Globe stamp with Virgin Mary icon tab (13 November 2007). Only available in souvenir sheetlet form.
Souvenir stamp sheet (sheetlet) of ten 50c 2003 Australia & Globe stamps with the 2 different tabs, retail $15.95 (13 November 2007)
Postage paid envelope with WYD/SYD/08 logo design printed stamp area, retail $0.60 (13 November 2007)
Booklet pane of 5 self-adhesive International Post $1.35 World Youth Day 08 stamps, retail $6.75 (13 November 2007).
Booklet pane of 5 self-adhesive International Post $2 World Youth Day 08 stamps, retail $10 (13 November 2007)

Gummed foiled World Youth Day 08 stamps, denominations 50c, $1.35 and $2, retail $3.85 (4 March 2008)
Limited edition (5,000) metallic silver 50c stamp on Prestige cover with metallic postmark, retail $29.95 (4 March 2008)
Limited edition (500) metallic 9ct gold 50c stamp on Prestige cover with metallic postmark, retail $129.95 (4 March 2008)
First day cover, design #1 - issued with gummed foiled stamps 50c, $1.35 and $2 stamps, retail $4.15 (4 March 2008) #1567002 (35689)
First day cover, design #2 - printed for the 50c silver and gold stamps (4 March 2008)
First day cover, design #3 / postal numismatic cover (PNC) - issued with a full-colour gold $1 coin + 50c stamp, retail $14.95 (4 March 2008)
Folder (teal) containing uncirculated 20c coin plus $1.35 stamp (4 March 2008)
Folder (purple) containing uncirculated 20c coin plus $2 stamp (4 March 2008)
Stamp pack, retail $4.30 (4 March 2008)
Three maxi cards, retail $6.85 (4 March 2008)
Eight pre-paid postcards in a packet, retail $9.95 (4 March 2008)
50c peel and stick personalized stamp in sheet of 20 + image tab, retail $23 (4 March 2008)
Gold pendant, retail $99.95 (4 March 2008)
Silver pendant, retail $49.95 (4 March 2008)
Stationary set of 4 x prepaid envelope, retail $9.95 (4 March 2008)
Booklet pane of 5 x $1.35 stamps, retail $6.75
Booklet pane of 5 x $2 stamps, retail $10
Cheque books of 20 x 5 x $1.35 stamps, retail $135
Cheque book of 20 x 5 x $2 stamps, retail $200
First day cover, design #4 / medallion cover - limited edition (10,000) with three different bronze medallions, retail $29.95 (30 June 2008)

See-tenant strip of 5 event stamps (24 July 2008)
Instant sheetlet of 2 x 5 event stamps, retail $5 (24 July 2008)
First day cover, 5 event stamps (24 July 2008)
Cover and postmark set x 7, retail $7.60

Of the 30 items listed above, 21 have been identified with official Australia Post order numbers, as provided within the relevant Stamp Bulletins, Impressions catalogues and online. These are listed below:

#1113911 - Souvenir stamp sheet (sheetlet) of ten 50c 2003 Australia & Globe stamps with the 2 different tabs, retail $10 (13 November 2007) $15.95
#1113930 (0305595) - Postage paid envelope with WYD/SYD/08 logo design printed stamp area, retail $0.60 (13 November 2007) Impressions 2007
#1567002 (35689) - First day cover, design #1 - issued with gummed foiled stamps 50c, $1.35 and $2 stamps, retail $4.15 (4 March 2008)
#1567008 - First day cover, design #3 / postal numismatic cover (PNC) - issued with a full-colour gold $1 coin + 50c stamp, retail $14.95 (4 March 2008)
#1567067 - Gummed foiled World Youth Day 08 stamps, denominations 50c, $1.35 and $2, retail $3.85 (4 March 2008)
#1567126 (35690) - Stamp pack, retail $4.30 (4 March 2008)
#1567220 - Three maxi cards, retail $6.85 (4 March 2008)
#1567250 (36571) - booklet pane of 5 self-adhesive International Post $1.35 stamps, retail $6.75 (13 November 2007)
#1567251 - Cheque book of 20 x 5 x $1.35 stamps, retail $135
#1567252 (35672) - booklet pane of 5 self-adhesive International Post $2 stamps, retail $10 (13 November 2007)
#1567253 - Cheque book of 20 x 5 x $2 stamps, retail $200
#1567300 - First day cover, design #4 / medallion cover - limited edition (10,000) with three different bronze medallions, retail $29.95 (30 June 2008) Impressions 2008
#1567305 - Gold pendant, retail $99.95 (4 March 2008) Impressions 2008
#1567310 - Silver pendant, retail $49.95 (4 March 2008) Impressions 2008
#1567315 - Limited edition (500) metallic 9ct gold 50c stamp on souvenir (Prestige) cover with metallic postmark, retail $129.95 (4 March 2008)
#1567320 - Limited edition (5,000) metallic silver 50c stamp on souvenir (Prestige) cover with metallic postmark, retail $29.95 (4 March 2008)
#1567325 - Eight pre-paid postcards in a packet, retail $9.95 (4 March 2008)
#1567330 - Stationary Pack with a set of 4 x prepaid envelopes, retail $9.95 (4 March 2008)
50c peel and stick personalized stamp in sheet of 20 + image tab, retail $23 (4 March 2008). No individual order number provided, just a URL
#1514333 - Print-on-demand sheetlet of 2 x 5 event stamps, retail $5 (24 July 2008)
#1514334 - Cover and postmark set x 7 FDC plus events, retail $7.60 (24 July 2008)

These items tally to $797.65 retail. This is an exorbitant amount, beyond the reach of most collectors. As such, it is addressed in the Comments section below.

First day of issue and special event postmarks also appeared through 2007 and 2008 in connection with the above releases. For example, a group of six were available between 15-20 July 2008 during the Pope's presence in the country. Special postmarks included:

4 March 2008, first day of issue, Sydney, black ink, circular
4 March 2008, first day of issue, Sydney, silver foil ink, circular
4 March 2008, first day of issue, Sydney, gold foil ink, circular
30 June 2008, Sydney, bronze medallion cover, black ink, circular
15-20 July, Sydney - separate day postmarks, black ink, circular
24 July 2008, first day of issue, Sydney, black ink, square

Some of these postmarks were applied to the official Vatican City covers and stamps available in Australia at that time. The majority of the aforementioned material is discussed below. Discussions around aspects of the World Youth Day 2008 releases can also be found in the Stampboards discussion list.

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2. The 2007 releases

[Items #1 - #6] As a lead up to the Sydney 2008 World Youth Day celebrations organised by the Catholic Church, a number of items were released in Australia. These included, on 13 November 2007, a souvenir stamp sheetlet of ten stamps, comprising the 2003 50c Australia and Globe stamp, plus two different tabs (WYDSYD08 logo plus Madonna and Child).

#1 - #3 World Youth Day sheetlet, 13 November 2007 (above and below).

The 50c Australia & Globe stamp was initially issued on 7 January 2003. It was subsequently used with a number of tabs in commemorative sheetlets. The sheetlet is a post-2000 innovation by Australia Post, enabling promotion of events and organisations through the issue of stamps and related promotional material in a single form. They vary from normal stamp sheets which do not contain such a significant amount of promotional, non-philatelic content. There was no special World Youth Day first day of issue postmarks issued at the time for the sheetlet stamps. Reasons for this likely included the following:

The Australia and Globe stamp had already been released on 7 January 2003, and apparently the numerous sheetlets issued since then featuring this stamp with a variety of tabs were not released with a first day of issue postmark
The World Youth Day prepaid envelope did not require a postmark in order to signify usage.

Despite the above omission by Australia Post, the Wesley Cover Service did issue a special first day cover for the 50c stamps plus tabs sheetlet (illustrated in the Wesley Cover section below). It would therefore appear that tabbed stamps, which are usually made available in limited edition souvenir sheetlets, are not considered new stamp issues and allocated first day covers and special postmarks, nor are booklet stamps. Whilst the former case is understandable, the latter is not, as the two self-adhesive stamps were undoubtedly a new stamp issue. This partially explains the absence of the 2007 World Youth Day issues from standard Australian stamp catalogues, such as those issued by Stanley Gibbons and Rennicks. The latter 2014 Stamps of Australia catalogue does not list the 2007 and 2008 sheetlets, or the postage pre-paid envelope (PPE) issued on 13 November 2007.

#4 Postage-paid envelope, 13 November 2007.

Rennicks only lists the 2008 stamps, the two first day covers, and the postal numismatic cover. Once again, no official commemorative first day of issue postmark was available for the PPE, and as of September 2024 it appears extremely scare, evidenced by a general absence from standard print and online catalogues. The writer has not seen any copies of the PPE with a first day of issue postmark.

The third set of items apparently released during late 2007 were two self-adhesive / peel and stick $1.35 and $2 International Post stamp booklets. The $1.35 and $2 stamps therein were in portrait orientation with two different designs featuring the Pope, and coloured light purple or teal. The connectivity between the release of the sheetlet, prepaid envelope and booklets is revealed in Australia Post advertising.

#5 - #6 World Youth Day self-adhesive $1.35 & $2 stamp booklets / folders, 13 November 2007.

#4 Postage-paid envelope advertisement.

Stanley Gibbons, in its 2014 Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue - Australia, similarly ignores the PPE and the 2007 sheetlet, plus only lists the two booklets as booklet panes and dates their issue to 4 March 2008. The October - December 2007 Stamp Bulletin makes no reference to the 2007 World Youth Day issues as presented above, though the Impressions 2007 catalogue does mention the PPE.

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3. The 2008 releases

[#7 - #30] There were two series of World Youth Day stamps issued during 2008, as follows:

On 4 March 2008 in the form of gummed and foiled 50c (A greeting during Mass), $1.35 (Crosier or pastoral staff) and $2 (A blessing) stamps, similar in design to the $1.35 and $2 peel and stick self-adhesive International Post stamps released on 13 November 2007; and
On 24 July 2008 in the form of a se-tenant set of five 50c stamps with different landscape orientation colour photographs recording moments of the Pope's visit between 15 - 20 July.

Both series utilised the same first day cover (illustrated below), printed in a shade of grey and herein designated the type #1 design cover. The stamps issued on 4 March 2008 also included the release of limited edition silver and gold stamps.

#10 Type #1 design cover (above and below), 4 March 2008.

A cover with the two peel and stick stamps is also known, though with a non-official FDI postmark on an official FDC.

This is a problematic collector-created FDC. Australia Post did not issue a special FDC at this time because the self-adhesive stamps had been released the previous November, and therefore 4 March was not their first day of issue.

A second variety of first day cover was used on 4 March 2008 for the special, limited edition, silver stamp and 9ct gold stamp. It was printed in purple and green ink (designated the type #2 cover).

#11 Type #2 cover, with silver stamp and special metallic ink postmark.

#12 Type #2 cover, with gold stamp and special gold metallic ink postmark.

These stamps were printed in editions of 500 for the gold and 5,000 for the silver, with an individual print number recording on the front of the cover. The silver stamp cover retailed for $29.95, and the gold for $129.95. Though not listed in the Stamp Bulletin as such, the cover could be categorised as a Prestige cover as well as a first day cover. It was not a souvenir cover as these are not limited edition releases sold at such a premium price.

A normal stamp pack was issued, with the three gummed foiled 50c, $1.35 and $2 stamps.

#15 Stamp pack cover, 4 March 2008.

Three maxi cards were also released, one for each of the three gummed foiled 50c, $1.35 and $2 stamps.

#16 Maxi cards x3.

In addition, a postal numismatic first day cover (PNC) in teal colour was also issued on 4 March 2008 (designated the type #3 cover).

#12 Type #3 cover - PNC.

The gold and multicoloured $1 coin was produced by the Perth Mint. The coin in a simple presentation card was also available, though this does not appear to be an Australia Post item, but rather related to the Perth Mint production and retail process, or merely the PNC insert.

There were two stamped covers / small folders available containing uncirculated twenty cent coins. One was light purple and the other teal.

#13 & #14 Type #5 and #6 covers - small folders.

The status of these items is unclear as they appear to have been issued by the Perth Mint and not listed by Australia Post, despite the fact that they bear the special Sydney first day of issue postmarks. They have therefore been included in the above listing and are designated as the type #5 and #6 covers.

This proliferation of cover varieties for a single issue is confusing to say the least. The writer is a collector of official Australia Post souvenir covers, dating back to 1970. However, following an in-depth look at the material issued during 2007 and 2008, none of the above can be categorised as souvenir covers and have not been included in the general listing of such cover post 1997 available here.

The Stamp Bulletin #291 of March-April 2008 advertised a stationary set which contained 4 prepaid envelopes. Also available by special order was 50c personalised stamps in the form of a sheet of 20 x 50c stamps plus image of the applicant.

#18 & #21, personalised stamps and stationary set.

Other related material included a pack of eight pre-paid postcards.

#17 Postcard pack (front).

#17 Postcard pack (rear).

In addition, two cheque books were offered for sale, each with 20 x 5 x $1.35 and 20 x 5 x $2 stamps.

A series of six postmarks were issued at Sydney during the actual days of the Pope's visit to Sydney, between 15 and 20 July 2008.

A number of other Australian (Wesley plus scout-related) and Vatican City covers were postmarked in Australia during this visit period and are listed below.

A special cover with three bronze-coloured medallions was issued by Australia post on 30 June 2008 with a print run of 10,000 (designated the type #4 cover) and recommended retail price of $39.95. It was also offered in the 2008 Impressions catalogue.

#26 Type #4 cover, medallion cover (front and rear).

The second series of 2008 stamps - referred to as instant stamps - was announced (without images) on the rear cover of the July - August 2008 Stamp Bulletin, and issued on 24 July. It took the form of a se-tenant vertical array of five different stamps in a sheetlet containing two rows, plus use of the type #1 first day cover with the five separated stamps and a special Sydney World Youth Day postmark. There was also a seven cover set available, with six different postmarks. These stamps and covers remain scare, due to the limited release and late announcement of the series. The sheets were also advertised as instant or print-on-demand.

#28 Sheetlet, 24 July 2008.

The sheetlet contained two vertical rows of five se-tenant stamps plus descriptive text and logo. Some sheets were subsequently available cancelled to order (CTO) though not necessarily on the first day of issue.

#27, separated stamps, 5 x 50c, 24 July 2008.

#29 First day cover, 24 July 2008.

The above first day cover featured the five memorable moment instant stamps from this issue with the WYDSYD08 postmark. It was released in a set of seven covers with the daily set. This was produced by the Australia Post Philately Department and distributed to post offices and collectors with stamps affixed and FDI postmark applied.

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4. 1st gold stamp

The World Youth Day gold stamp was the first such stamp to be issued by Australia Post. The following is Australian stamp dealer Glen Stephens' April 2008 Stampboards report on this new release:

Australia Post issued its first ever GOLD stamp on March 4. Indeed, on the same day they issued their first ever Silver stamp of the same design. These highly sought after GOLD stamp FDC's have a Gold plated 50¢ stamp depicting Pope Benedict XVI - specially issued in a wooden presentation box. ONLY 500 exist worldwide - each is numbered on the front and the box has a brass metal plate on the lid outlining the contents. These commemorate "World Youth Day 2008" in July, when Pope Benedict XVI and up to 500,000 people are expected to attend Mass at Randwick Racecourse Sydney. These are about the hottest item on the world stamp scene right now. A near instant sellout at $129.95 issue price. Retail will be several times this.

First Gold Stamp.

Only 500 were created in Gold on numbered FDC's, and 5000 in Silver. (Some Silver FDC's of the similar design are still available nationally I understand at $29.95 each.) World demand from Papal thematic collectors will be huge. The number of such collectors might have been highly under-estimated by AP. Australia Post kindly donated one to give away, to commemorate the first Birthday on April 1 of stampboards.com - and the giveaway created a frenzy from members internationally all keen to secure it. I am not sure if further Gold issues are planned, but if they are, you can bet more than 500 will be produced!

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5. Vatican City issues

The Vatican City issued a variety of philatelic material on 15 March 2008 in association with the World Youth Day Australian festivities. They included the following:

1,00 lire stamp
First day cover
Sheetlet 10 x 1,00 lire
Maxi card
Wonderful Medals Letters cover PNC
Australian covers x6

The following is a selection of the items.

#V1 - 1,00 lire stamp.

#V2 - First day cover, Vatican City, 15 March 2008.

#V3 - Souvenir sheetlet, 10 x 1,00 lire.

#V4 - Maxi card, Vatican City postmark.

#V5 - Wonderful Medals Letters cover (PNC), Vatican City postmark.

The six (or eight?) Vatican City covers were used in Australia during the week of the Pope's visit to Sydney between 15-20 July 2008, and are known with both Vatican City and Sydney postmarks.

#V6 - Australian covers, postmarked Sydney (5) & Vatican City (1).

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6. Wesley covers

The Australian Wesley Cover Service issued seven special covers for the World Youth Day festivities during 2007 and 2008. They are listed below, based on information provided on the Michael Eastick and Associates website. The first was for the 50c sheetlet stamps with two different tab combinations, issued on 13 November 2007. No official first day cover was issued by Australia Post for this release.

#W1 - World Youth Day Sydney, FDC, Wesley Cover Service, 13 November 2007.

The Wesley Cover Service also issued five different covers for the 4 March 2008 release - one each for (1) the three gummed stamps, (2) the two peel and stick stamps, (3) the New Town, Tasmania, cathedral pictorial postmark, (4) the $1.35 booklet pane, and (5) the $2 booklet pane - and another for the 19 July 2008 special Sydney pictorial postmark. The release date for the booklet panes remains contentious, with the present writer allocating a 13 November 2007 date in the above discussion, whilst Wesley provides postmarked covers bearing the 4 March 2008 date. Australia Post provided no such official covers for this date.

#W2 - #W3, Wesley first day covers, 4 March 2008

#W4, New Town, Tasmania, cathedral pictorial postmark, 4 March 2024.

#W5, $1.35 booklet stamps, 4 March 2008.

#W6, $2 booklet stamps, 4 March 2008.

#W7, Sydney pictorial postmark, 19 July 2008.

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7. Scout covers

Two World Youth Day related first day covers were issued on 4 March and 24 July 2008 relating to scouting. The official 1987 16th World Scouting Jamboree pre-stamped envelope was used with the two different 50c WYDSYD08 stamps and related official first day of issue postmarks. These were not official Australia Post products.

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8. Other countries

* Wallis et Futuna - an island group in the Pacific, between and Fiji and Samoa, 10 francs..

7 June 2023.

* Bloco del Grenada, Pope Benedict XVI attends World Youth Day 2008, 2013.

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9. Comments

The Australian World Youth Day releases of 2007 and 2008 are indicative of the flood of material issued by Australia Post for individual events since the early 2000s. Whereas in the past a new stamp issue simply comprised 3 or 4 items such as stamps, a stamp pack, a first day cover and special postmark, we now see, as with this issue, some 30 official items. Not only is this situation confusing, but it is also very expensive for private collectors and professional dealers. Whereas a new issue may have cost collectors a couple of dollars, we now see the cost ballooning out to almost $800 for the World Youth Day 2008 completest.

The question of "what is rare?" is now difficult to assess, not only due to the plethora of material issued, much of which, in the past, would have been so classified, but also due to the lack of actual print numbers provided by Australia Post, as was their former practice. Sure, many of the special "collectible" or "prestige" items have release numbers, ranging from the low hundreds to the tens of thousands, but this is not the same. There may be positives in this situation, in that individuals can tailor their collecting behaviour, from being basic collectors through to specialists. For example, if one were interested in collecting specific stamp issues that contained a wide variety of material, the the World Youth Day releases would be an ideal subject, with obviously some common and also rare material contained therein. Such is the hobby of philately, at least within Australia, in the 2020s.

One specific issue associated with the World Youth Day release is the status of the two booklets. Were they released on 13 November 2007 or 4 March 2008. This writer leans towards the former, due to their being tied in with advertisements for the 2007 sheetlet, and the Available Now! text therein. As Australia Post did not issue any first day covers for special postmarks for these issues, the confusion is compounded.

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10. References

Australia's World Youth Day Sydney 2008 scarce CTO sheet, Stampboards, 3 March 2014.

Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue - Australia, Stanley Gibbons, London, 9th edition, 2014, 338p.

Has Australia Post gone too far with the first gold stamp?, Stampboards, 27 February 2008.

Impressions - Unique gifts and collectibles, Australia Post, Spring/Summer 2007, 29p.

Pitt, Alan B., Stamps of Australia, Rennicks, September 2014, 320p.

Stamp Bulletin, Australia Post, 2007-2008.

Stephens, Glen, Australia Post scores with instant stamps, Linn's Stamp News, 23 October 2000.

-----, First Gold Stamps, Stampboards, April 2008.

World Youth Day, Catholic Church, Vatican City.

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Last updated: 23 October 2024

Michael Organ, Australia

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