Issue date: 21 Sep, 2018
CHARACTERS. 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF LEOPOLDO O’DONNELL
Correos has issued a stamp to honour the 150th anniversary of the death of Leopoldo O’Donnell y Jorris (1809-1867).
He was a military constitutionalist and liberal politician of historical significance in 19th-Century Spain. He served as a soldier in the First Carlist War, where he achieved successive promotions to become a General. He was the Captain-General of Havana and Director General of Infantry. During the Hispano-Moroccan War (1859) he was in charge of the Field Army which took control of Tetuan, thereby gaining the titleof Duke of Tetuan and Grandee of Spain.
As a politician he was a senator, War Minister and Prime Minister on several occasions. As Prime Minister it is important to highlight his second period (1858-1863), which was characterised by an economic boom, the expansion of the railways, construction of public projects and diverse administrative improvements.
The mortal remains of Leopoldo O’Donnell were kept in the Basilica of Atocha in Madrid until 1870 when they were moved to the Santa Barbara church in the Salesas Reales Convent, also in Madrid. Since then, his remains have been in a neo-renaissance-style mausoleum made from Carrara marble by the sculptor Jerónimo Suñol.
The stamp depicts an image of Leopoldo O’Donnell wearing the General Officer uniform, (royal blue dress coat with lapel, red collar and gold braids), as well as the Grand Laureate Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand, with the band of red ribbon with orange threads on the ends and the reverent Medal of the Order.
In the background, there is a painting by Mariano Fortuny, The Batlle of Tetuan, a large oil painting commissioned by the Province of Barcelona, which the artist left unfinished. The painting shows Mr Leopoldo O’Donnell, then Prime Minister, leading various members of the Spanish Army at the Battle of Tetuan.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.