UNESCO Campaign for Pompeii - France

SG U49.  Stamp issued in Paris on 24 October 1998 for  the UNESCO.

It depicts a fresco of Flora, goddess of flowers and spring, and dates from circa 1AD.  It was found in the Villa of Ariadne, in Stabiae, approximately 4.5km away from Pompeii.  Stabiae was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius, at the same time as Pompeii in 79AD.
The fresco measures H39.5cm by W32.5cm and is part of the collection of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy.

Until 29 September 2013, you can see it at the British Museum in London.  If you have the opportunity, do go and see it and hundreds of other artefacts from Pompeii - really fascinating.

Below a First Day Cover and Postcard showing a view of Pompeii now.

Kiribati 1998 - Italia 98 World Philatelic Exhibition

Mini Souvenir Sheet issued in Kiribati on 23 October 1998 to commemorate the International Stamp Exhibition in Milan.

Kiribati is a small island of around 100,000 inhabitants in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, initially part of the Gilbert Islands.  It is part of the Commonwealth and became independent from the UK in 1979.  

 On the Souvenir Sheet, the Kiribati national flag can be seen floating above the Colosseum.  The stamp within the Sheet shows a view of the Reuben K Uatioa Stadium.  Reuben K Uatioa was one of the first architects of Gilbertese independence.