[Official first day cover with stamps commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth] [graphic] : [Cyprus].

[Official first day cover with stamps commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth] [graphic] : [Cyprus].

[Cyprus] : [Postal Service], [1964]

4 stamps affixed to 1 envelope : color ; envelope 11 x 17 cm

paper

Official first-day cover featuring color cachets depicting Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon (lower left corner) and Anne Hathaway's cottage, Shottery (lower right corner). "Cyprus, first day cover" is printed above the illustration of Shakespeare's birthplace, with an outline of the island and a Droeshout portrait of Shakespeare. "In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeares birth, release date, June 15, 1964" is printed in between the illustrations of Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage. Affixed in the upper right corner are four color stamps: a 15M stamp depicting the amphitheatre at Soloi (Soli), a 35M stamp depicting the stage of the amphitheatre at Kourion (Curium), a 50M stamp depicting the amphitheatre at Salamis, and a 100M stamp depicting Othello Castle with the Shakespearean quotation "You are welcome, Sir, to Cyprus." Postmarked in Cyprus, 15.6.64.

Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2001-2002.

Stanley Gibbons simplified stamp catalogue, 242-245
Scott standard postage stamp catalogue, 237-240
Spencer, Albert. The philatelic Shakespeare, page 55

Cyprus.

ART 248- 905 (size XS)

Gift of Kent Cartwright.

248905