Arnsdorf, as motif for the Silent Night postage stamp 2009
“Franz-Xaver-Gruber School and Museum" of Arnsdorfwritten by Max Gurtner
The special stamp of the year 2009, published by the Silent-Night-Society, shows the Arnsdorf Grammar School, where Franz Xaver Gruber taught from 1807 to 1828. It was there, where on December 24th, 1818 he must have composed the carol. ”Silent-Night.“ He used a poem which, two years earlier, Joseph Mohr had written in Mariapfarr in the Lungau.
The Church of Maria im Mösl, where Franz Gruber was sacristan and organist, can be seen on the stamp also. Arnsdorf is probably the oldest place of pilgrimage in Austria. It goes back to the year 800 when Bishop Arn reigned Salzburg.
The Silent Night Association started 5 years ago with a series of personalised stamps, which were intended to attract philatelists and to keep people aware of the history of the song.
The Silent Night postage stamp 2009 can be obtained from the Oberndorf Silent Night Shop or, combined with the Silent Night postmark, directly from the Silent Night Association in Oberndorf, at a price of € 3,--.
Should you be interested in giving your Christmas post a personal touch with the combined stamp and postmark, there are reduced prices for larger orders. Information from Frau Renate Schaffenberger, Silent Night Association. Tel: ++43-(0)664-9309919 or info@silentnight.at
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