Stamp of Barcelona; 1940; tax stamp (forced surcharge stamp) of the issue "St.Jaime"; stamp motive with adepiction of the statue of the "Virgin of Mercy" in Barcelone, a medical galley and a shield for the nominal number.; Meant is the "La Virgin de la Mercé" in the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy" (Catalan: "La Basílica de la Mare de Déu de la of "La Mercè"Mercè") in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona.; The bronze statue was created by an unknown master in the style of the Spanish Baroque and is located above the altar of this chapel, which was built in 14t century; it is one of the most notable features at the today visit of Barcelona being the octagonal bell tower and the large bronze statue of "La Mercè" which stands on a dome above the altar from the 13th century.; The church belongs the "Order of Mercy" and was initially a hospital.; The "Order of Mercy" was founded in 1218 in Barcelona by the Saint Peter Nolasco and the King Jaume I of Aragon simultanously as safe haven for the rescuing Christians during the attacks by the Moorish Armies and by Pirates from North Africa and Al Andalus.; In 1234 the Order established a new convent with a Gothic church on the site of the current basilica.; The church was important extended and remodelled throughout the fourteenth century, including the addition of a new altarpiece that incorporated a small chamber to house a statue of La Mercè.; In 1687 "La Mercè" was declared patron saint of Barcelona and a silver throne was built for the statue.; In 1714, during the siege of Barcelona, the statue of La Mercè was taken to Barcelona Cathedral for safekeeping.; In 1765 the original Gothic church was turn down and construction of the current church began.; The baroque-style church took ten years to build after which the statue of "La Mercè" was brought back from the Cathedral and installed in a new altarpiece.; In 1870 the façade of the "Church of Saint Miquel" which had been demolished to make way for the town hall was rebuilt to form one the side of the basilica.; In 1888 a new dome was added, topped by a bronze statue of La Mercè.; The contemporary Barcelona has two patron saints: Santa Eulalia and La Virgen de la Mercè.; Santa Eulalia was a young Christian girl from Barcelona who was put to death by the Romans.; She was captured while tending her flock of geese (according to legend) and taken before the governor who ordered her to renounce her faith.; When Eulalia refused that, she was subjected to a series of thirteen cruel tortures, the last of which was crucifixion.; Eulalia was canonised and became the patron saint of Barcelona in 663 AD.; Her feast, the "Day of Santa Eulalia", is celebrated in Barcelona and environment on the twelfth of February of an each year.; In 1687, Barcelona suffered a severe famine caused by a plague of locusts. According to the Legend, the than city council asked Our Lady Of Mercy (Catalan: La Virgen de la Mercè) to save the city, promising to make her Patron Saint of Barcelona.; When the plague ended, the council kept their promise and La Mercè was proclaimed co-patron saint of Barcelona.; Two centuries later, Pope Pius IX declared that Spanish cities could only have one patron saint and Barcelona city council chose la Mercè.; The decision wasn’t well received and finally, Santa Eulalia was reinstated as co-patron.; The feast day of La Mercè, which is celebrated on September 24th, is Barcelona’s main public holiday and street parties and other events take place throughout the city.; Coincidentally, it often rains in Barcelona during September and if it rains during La Mercè, the rain is said to be the tears of Santa Eulalia.; Some say that Eulalia is crying out of sadness, others that she is deliberately spoiling her rival’s party.; postmarked stamp
Stamp Michel No. 2821 (ES); Yvert & Tellier (BA) No. 40
Color: blackish sepia
Watermark: none
Nominal value:5 CTS (Centimos)