Forever Stamps 2020 Our Lady of Guápulo, First-Class Postage

Value:  66¢ 1-ounce First-class rate (Forever)

Issue Date:  October 20, 2020

First Day City:  New York,NY

Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America

Printing Method:  Offset, microprint

Format:  Double-sided booklet of 20

Guapulo, Ecuador, claims a miracle on December 30, 1696, attributed to the Virgin Mary, known as the “Lady of the Cloud.” This event became integral to Guapulo’s culture.

In 1696, the ill Bishop Sancho de Andrade y Figueroa prompted people to travel from Guapulo to Quito, carrying an image of the Virgin Mary. While praying, 500 people witnessed the Virgin Mary appearing in the clouds.

Franciscan friars established a sanctuary in Azogues, celebrating “Fiesta de la Virgen de la Nube” annually. The tradition spread to Lima, Peru, embraced by nuns, and expanded across Peru and Ecuador. Artists throughout history have honored the Lady of the Cloud in their works.

In 2020, the United States Postal Service featured a painting of Our Lady of Guapulo on a Forever stamp. An unknown 18th-century Cuzco, Peru, artist depicted figures in elaborate royal garments, emphasizing the Virgin Mary’s significance to the people of Peru and Ecuador.