Cyprus – Scott #s 409-11

Description

Cyprus — Arakas Church Wall Paintings & Architecture Issues 10m–100m (Scott 409–411)

This beautifully illustrated commemorative trio from Cyprus, cataloged as Scott 409–411, was issued in 1973 to highlight the artistic and architectural heritage of Arakas Church, one of the island’s most important Byzantine monuments. The set showcases both sacred interior artwork and the church’s distinctive exterior form.

Scott 409 (10 mils) reproduces a Byzantine wall painting depicting an angel in motion, rendered with flowing lines, rich color, and the stylized grace characteristic of medieval ecclesiastical art.

Scott 410 (20 mils) features the Virgin and Child, flanked by angels, drawn from another interior fresco. The composition emphasizes devotion, symmetry, and the spiritual intimacy central to Orthodox iconography.

Scott 411 (100 mils) presents the exterior of Arakas Church, showing its wooden-roofed structure set within the surrounding landscape, providing architectural context for the interior artworks depicted in the lower denominations.

All three stamps carry trilingual inscriptions identifying Cyprus in Greek, English, and Turkish. Offered in mint never hinged (MNH) condition, the stamps retain full original gum, sharp perforations, and strong, unfaded color throughout.

A cohesive and culturally rich set ideal for collectors of Byzantine art, religious architecture, Cyprus heritage issues, and fine art on stamps.