Vatican City
Copyright and fair use information for postage stamps
Are Vatican City stamps public domain?
No ruling on Vatican City stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.
The terms: 70 years after the death of a named designer; 70 years from issue for an anonymous stamp.
Copyright law in the Vatican City
The archive has not been able to settle the details of Vatican City stamps specifically. Here is its reading of the copyright law of the Vatican City, and how it reaches a general answer from it. A design answers Likely yes or Likely no only when every term that could apply agrees, and Unclear when they disagree.
- Named designer
- 70 years after the designer’s death
- Anonymous
- 70 years from issue
- Note
- The Holy See owns the copyright in all works published under its name or made on its commission.
Historical issuers read under this law: Papal States.
The rule by period
PeriodRule
Any dateNo rule specific to stamps. The general copyright law above applies.