This 6s. bright purple stamp celebrated the International Art Exhibition and depicted “St. Wölfgang” (after the altar painting by Michael Pacher). It featured another fine design by A. Pilch and engraved by A. Fischer. Recess printed and Perf 13 ½, it was issued May 26, 1976.

Readers may be interested know a little more about St. Wölfgang.

He lived from c. 930 until 994. He came from a Swabian family and was educated at  Reichinan Abbey at Würzburg, joined his friend Henry at Würzburg, and went with him as a teacher in the cathedral school of Trier when Henry became archbishop there in 956. After Henry died in 964, Wölfgang became Benedictine at Einsiedeln, was appointed director of the monastery school there, and was ordained in 971. He was then went as a missionary to the Magyars in Panonia and in 972 was appointed bishop of Regensburg by Emperor Otto II.

Wölfgang at once instituted a reform of the clergy and monasteries in his see, preached widely and vigorously, and was known for his concern for the poor.

He attempted to leave his see and become a hermit at one time but was brought back.

He accompanied the Emperor on a trip to France, surrendered part of his see to Bohemia for a new diocese.

Religion on Stamps and art collectors might like to add this one to their thematic collections…