04/11/2008
Zanaria in the USA

Great philately in comparison

The first happening is at the Collectors Club in New York; the second one at the Smithsonian national postal museum, in Washington. Two prestigious locations, where the Club de Monte-Carlo de l’Elite de la Philatèlie has organised various events between the 4th and the 9th of November, in which Zanaria will take part.

This is an opportunity to compare different ways of conceiving and practising high-level philately. That’s why every partaker will propose a sixteen album pages frame and present it personally to the rest of the participants.

The nearly twenty studies will allow for lingering over the most various topics, from the issues in Papal State cents to the classical period of Monaco seen through stamps and postal history; from the Zeppelins sent to China to the early beginnings of Sarawak; from the occupation of Baghdad to the Belgian Congo.
Angelo Zanaria with  “Alexandria” will focus on the activities of the italian post office in Alexandria of Egypt. The service had been anticipated in 1861 by agreements allowing dispatches between the african city and Marseille using french and english values; not by coincidence there will be a precursor on display, that has traveled on the 11 February 1862.

However, the office was founded only two years later, on the 6 March 1863. The study starts from this day with one of the two known envelopes on display, with the purpose of presenting all historical and philatelic themes with regards to the garrison. The documents show the evolution of italian security printing works abroad together with the various services offered, routings and agreements with other Powers.

Finding after finding, we can see letters sent by french and english steamboats, bearing the “De la Rue” print, with or without “Estero” overprint, or the following productions of the time of Umberto I. Mixed ones are not missing, with egyptian or brithish productions as well as the only known case of a cover departed from Alexandria bound for Paris, marked by italian and french examples in a mixed franking.

Another unique case is represented by a fractioned stamp: a one-egyptian piastre stamp was needed; here a two-piastres one has been cut in half. The shortage of stamps was more severe than the risk of fraud.
One page is dedicated to the connections with  the european post -, a service organised within Egypt by two italian enterpreneurs.

Among the rarities on display it is worth mentioning a letter departed from Beyrout franked with a Great Britain 2p for the course until Alexandria and a 4-pieces strip of ochre 20p of the Italian DLR for the rest of the journey. This is the most beautiful of the 4 Italy – Great Britain mixed frankings known, one of the greatest rarities of the Kingdom of Italy.

The office in Alexandria closed in 1884. To know more about its history: “Catalogo storico-postale dei francobolli in uso negli uffici postali italiani all’estero 1852-1890”.

23/09/2008
Neptune becomes a postman

An air-borne challenge with 67 missions

It was eight in the morning on the 23rd September 1870. In Place St. Pierre, Paris, everything was ready. Jules Duruof was preparing to get into the hot air balloon which, within three hours, would travel 104 kilometres and land north-east of the capital in the park of the Château de Cracouville.
The name of the aerostat was “Neptune”. It was the first of the ballons montés  which between 1870 and 1871 managed to travel beyond the city, under siege by the Prussian, and reach the territories still controlled by the French.

As Gérard Lhéritier mentions in his “Collection 1870 - Ballons montés - Boules de moulins”, not only was it the first balloon to leave, but also the first to carry private correspondence. Not many letters, this time: after landing, the pilot delivered them to the post office so they could reach their destinations.  Experts have found that the letters were stamped at departure between the 19th and 22nd September, while on arrival they were franked between the 23rd and 25th of the same month.

Today, letters such as these are some of the rarest collector’s items. They are proof of the well-organised network that existed to get around the enemy’s blockades on land.
Given the results of the experiment, the French aimed high. The next flights carried mail bags made up of printed papers, newspapers, dispatches and letters. The mail bag weighed between 4 and 460 kilos depending on its contents, in addition to any passengers. Even the “Ville de Florence”, which was the second expedition, took off on 25th September carrying the pilot, another person and 150 kilos of postal materials.
67 balloons were launched in total. The last took flight on 28th January 1871, by which time the exhausted city was on the point of surrender.

Zanaria is proud to include this among its specialist areas, as proven by the various rarities which have passed through its offices in Via Santa Margherita. Among these is the “pli confié”, carried on the Neptune with the extremely rare pilots’ stamp in red.
Another first was the triangular letter delivered to the central post office in Paris on 21st January 1871 by employees of the ministry (the red stamp states “cabinet du minister”); it reached its destination on 28th January, having travelled on the balloon named “Général Daumesnil”.It is one of the finest Ballons Montés known to exist. Price upon request.

21/09/2008
When the Vatican accepted the lira

The Papal Sovereign’s postal service is brought up to date

oodbye to bajocchi and scudi: it was June 18th 1866 – as specified in the book “Stato Pontificio 1852-1870” by A. Barcella, G. Bizzarri, A. and M. Zanaria – and Rome officially adopted the decimal metric system. With it, it took on a currency system based on the lira, which was divided into centesimi or cents.
This event meant that new stamps were required. They were issued more than a year later, however, on September 21st 1867.

The seven denominations issued make up what philatelists know as the second of three series that were actually produced by the papal sovereign’s postal service. The stamps in this series are identical to the previous issue, except for the crossed keys and the papal tiara – however this time they were depicted in different frames and on paper in a selection of much brighter colours.
As with the first series, which was issued in several stages between 1852 and 1864, this issue is also imperforate.

It contained seven basic denominations instead of the original eleven: the highest value was the 3 centesimi, which is known to exist in two shades: pink grey (it is more valuable new: the Sassone 2008 prices it at five thousand euros, considering it with incomplete gum); and grey (in this case, the most valuable are used stamps, on piece or on letter – priced at 12,500, 15,000 and 150 thousand euros respectively).

The green 3 centesimi is also worth a mention. It was never issued, due to a change in the rate for franking printed matter, which dropped to 2 centesimi following an agreement with the Italian post office.
With only 6 existing pieces known of, valued by Sassone at 200,000 euros (for the defective pieces alone), this is the crowning glory of the Papal State collection and indeed of all the Italian States.

Zanaria has a wide range of guaranteed pieces: the pink grey, either new at 1500 euros or used at 1850 euros, as well as the used grey at 4500 euros, the sheet corner 10 centesimi, new with gum intact, at 2500 euros compared to an evaluation in excess of 3600; and, of course, the prestigious 3 centesimi.

15/09/2008
When Italy did business in China

New stamps for the Far East

The new stamps only appeared between September and November 1917. They were devised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for staff in the Legation and at the Consulate, for military personnel and the crews of Italian ships. There were ten of them overall, overprinted, and designed by Nestore Leoni and Francesco Paolo Michetti. They were intended for use at the Post Offices of Peking and Tientsin.

After the Boxer Rising in 1900, Italy obtained territorial concessions in the Far East. This was the upshot of the crisis which began in March 1899 when the Chinese government refused to accept the orders coming from abroad and refused to cede territories to Rome.
As A.J.P. Taylor wrote in “The Struggle for Mastery in Europe”, “The chaotic, spontaneous uprising of the boxers was, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the greatest attempt by a non-European civilisation to defend itself against the Christian west”. Taylor recalls how the violence – one of the victims was the German ambassador Clemens von Ketteler – provoked other European countries to react.

There was enormous damage to the Chinese empire as a result: massacres, looting and destruction as well as vast indemnities to pay, guaranteed by foreign control of the Imperial borders. In addition to this, China had to cede new concessions and give Tientsin to Italy. In fact, Italy waited until September 1917 before opening civil post offices and introducing specific stamps. Military stamps and normal Italian stamps had been used up to that point.

The first issue is one of the most sought-after. It contains various varieties of overprints, which were done locally by hand: upside down, straight or slanted, double and even one right-side-up and one upside down on the same stamp.

Two items, thought to be unique, belong to the Zanaria archive. They are the quarter sheets of 2 on the 5 centesimi (containing one hundred pieces) overprinted for Peking or Tientsin. Looking at the former, one realises that it was relatively easy to mistakenly apply additional text. It numbers nine upside-down overprints, three doubles, one with a different face value and even one with the word “Tientsin”. The catalogue values the block for Peking at over 70,000 euros. The other, which contains no mistakes, is worth 90,000 euros as the individual stamps are more expensive. Both items have glue intact. Price upon request.
Perforated sheets remained in production until 1920. They contained thirty stamps for ordinary post bearing the name Peking, while there were twenty-five for Tientsin. In addition to these were two stamps for express post, and a dozen postage-due labels per city.
Even today, the collection of Italian post offices in China remains one of the most fascinating collections from the modern period of the Italian area.

04/09/2008
Zanaria Aste opens

“Lots to be proud of”: 70 years of experience behind a slogan

“Lots to be proud of”: the slogan in itself gives an idea of the spirit and determination of the brand new Zanaria Aste, the new Limited Partnership which now joins the historic Milanese firm in Via Margherita 6.

The new company, directed by Mario Zanaria, intends to position itself in the Italian and international market as a new point of reference for those who buy and sell at auction. The company director says, “With seventy years of experience, Zanaria is well known and respected for its reliability, quality and expertise. However, tradition needs to keep up with today’s market, which is increasingly open. So while our shop in the centre of Milan is still important, it’s not enough if we want to deal with professionals, collectors and investors from all over the world, who require more flexible, transparent ways of doing business”.

On the strength of its internationally renowned professionalism, Zanaria now wishes to express itself through a specialist firm, Zanaria Aste. The aim is to work as it always has done, by addressing its client base with seriousness and honesty.

Most of the lots of auction will be stamps and postal documents from the Italian Area, including the gems that have made international philately so great. Each piece will be carefully chosen and presented with a detailed description, putting the buyer’s interests first.

The communication campaign is now underway, with the forthcoming Wipa 2008 providing the first occasion for exposure. The international stamp-collecting exhibition is to take place in Vienna from 18th-21st September. Zanaria will be there at stand 257 on the second floor. Among other things, it will be showing a significant selection of material from the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.

Two public auctions are planned to take place each year. The first is scheduled for the end of February.
The operational offices are still in Via Santa Margherita 6, but the new administrative headquarters will be in Piazza Diaz 7, Milan.
The new e-mail address aste@zanaria.com is already functioning and ready to evaluate sale proposals, take bookings for the catalogue or provide any further information.

 

15/08/2008
Zanaria at “Wipa 2008”

Fantastic Lombardy-Venetia 

Three triangular stamps depicting Vienna’s most famous monuments (the Prater wheel, the Gloriette portico at Schönbrunn castle, and St. Stephen’s cathedral), issued in Austria between 2006 and 2008, are now brought together in a single sheet. It was issued on 15th February this year and contains them all so as to form a large “W”.

That stands for “Wipa 2008”, the international philately fair which they were designed to promote and partially sponsor.
The fair is to be held from 18th-21st September at the Austria Center Vienna in Bruno-Kreisky-Platz 1 (opening times from 9am to 7pm, closing at 6pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday). It won’t just focus on contemporary philately, but will be an international showcase for classical philately above all. Among other things, visitors will be able to admire the famous, spectacular “Testine” collection.

Zanaria will be at the fair on Stand 257, on the second floor. It will be a chance for us to present a selection from our Lombardy-Venetia material, which is considered the most prestigious stamp collection of the Italian area. It contains stamps issued between 1850 and 1859 (although the values remained valid until 1866 in the Veneto region and Mantua). They are recognisable by the famous double-headed eagle, which was later replaced by a relief image of Franz Joseph.

To get an idea of the Lombardy-Venetia “gems” that Zanaria will be presenting, let’s look at two envelopes that are loaded with history and value. The first () travelled from Milan to Mantua on 31st December 1858. It is one of the two envelopes known of that were franked using the 5 centesimi (repeated 3 times) and the 5 soldi at the same time.

It previously belonged to the Rivolta collection, and is testimony to the transition from the first to the second issue. Indeed, the sender would have wanted to use up his store of stamps with the eagle, as that was the last day on which they were valid.

The second document also has a special feature, but different this time. In this case, the postage due for a registered letter from Hernals (Vienna) to Verona was paid on 6th February 1864 with three different values. One Austrian 10 kreuzer is stuck on the back, a second value of 5 is printed on the envelope, together with  - and here is the special feature – a twin 5 soldi from Lombardy-Venetia . The letter arrived at its destination two days later, and is considered a unique combination, of excellent quality.
The valuation of both these documents is available on request.

01/08/2008
1929, The Papal symbol returns

A ten-year Conciliation

“Italy recognises the sovereignty of the Holy See in international matters as an inherent
attribute in conformity with its traditions and the requirements of its mission to the world”.

This is article 2 of the Lateran Treaty, which was the starting point for the agreement for the execution of the postal services. It was signed on 29th July 1929 and came into force on August 1st of the same year.  August 1st was also the date on which the Vatican postal service made its debut, along with its stamps – known by collectors as the stamps of the “Conciliation”.

It is a fairly complex series, as “number one” series generally are, being intended to cover a range of different requirements.
There are fifteen denominations, with only two subjects: for the smallest denominations (5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 75 centesimi), just as during the Pontifical State the choice was St. Peter’s tiara and decussate keys, the symbol of the Vatican State.

Meanwhile, a more complex subject was chosen for the larger denominations, intended to make life more difficult for aspiring counterfeiters: it was the face of Pius XI, used for the values of 80 centesimi, 1.25, 2, 2.50, 5.00 and 10.00 lire.The same image, adapted to the format used for services, was used for the two stamps for express mail, on sale at 2 and 2.50 lire.

However, the best is yet to come, because there was later a reason to recycle the series. The coat of arms and face were duly overprinted and reused on 1st October 1931 to create six stamps to be used as postage-due labels (5, 10, 20, 40 printed on the 30, 60 on the 2 lire and 1.10 on 2.50 lire); meanwhile a further fifteen (5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 50, 75, 80 centesimi, 1,25, 2, 2,50, 5 and 10 lire as well as the express stamps of 2 and 2.50 lire) were used for parcel service.

These denominations were used again to create further ordinary postage stamps: on 1st October 1931 25 printed on the 30 centesimi was issued, while on 16th June 1934 six more values were added (40 printed on the 80 centesimi, 1.30 on the 1.25 lire, 2.05 on the 2, 2,55 on the 2.50, 3.05 on the 5, 3.70 on the 10 lire); these together make up the series known as the “Provisional”. It is the most sought-after version, and if not hinged it is valued by the Sassone catalogue at 3,600 euros. Zanaria can offer this series at 2,100 euros.

Lastly we come to the specimen stamps, which were sold by mistake. The most famous of these is the 1.30 on the 1.25 lire, which should never have even been sent to post offices. Used, it is now worth 18 thousand euros, but Zanaria is offering it at 7,500 euros.

The series produced a further issue, ten years following its debut, when the Pope died. On 18th February 1939, the remainders were used, and the seven stamps with the coat of arms were issued, overprinted with “Sede vacante MCMXXXIX”. A new chapter began…

29/07/2008
Italians in Africa

From Alexandria to Venice, via... Ancona

As the traces left on it show, the letter left from Alexandria on March 6th 1864, destination Venice. However, as a handwritten note above the address indicates, it went via Ancona, using the Piroscafi Postali Italiani (Italian Mail Steamers) – also shown by the boxed cancellation.

This might seems a strange route, were it not for the fact that the place of departure was in fact Alexandria of Egypt (not Alexandria, or Alessandria, in Piedmont); and one of the interesting points about it is that it was forwarded through the Italian post office which was operating in the North African city between 1863 and 1884.

This can be clearly seen from the cancellation, which states “Poste Italiane”, and above all the franking: it is made up of the 40 centesimi, the 60 and the 2 lire depicting Victor Emanuel II, printed in London and part of the “De La Rue” series.

The letter is a unique document, not only due to its high quality of preservation. It is in fact the only  known “tricolore” (the name used for frankings comprising three different stamps) that includes the 2 lire, which was used on mail steamers.

As Daniele Zanaria, Gabriele Serra and Francesco Dal Negro explain in the “Catalogo storico-postale dei francobolli in uso negli uffici postali italiani all’estero 1852-1890”,  the Italian office in Alexandria worked by “initially using stamps from the “Matraire” issues, later the “De La Rue” and lastly the special stamps overprinted with “Estero”, depicting either Victor Emanuel II or Umbert I”. After a month’s co-existence, from January 1st 1864 the “Matraire” were no longer permitted, and the “De La Rue” “became the only stamps recognised as valid for franking correspondence”. They were officially accepted until 31st December 1873, with a grace period which meant they were still used for a couple of weeks beyond that date.

This envelope is part of Zanaria’s collection and is published in the sale catalogue “Italian Area – Summer 2007”. The sale price can be supplied upon request.

 

10/07/2008
A many-hued green

The stamp of two Kingdoms

The fourth (and final) issue for the Kingdom of Sardinia or the first issue for the Kingdom of Italy?
It’s not such an odd question, and over the past 150 years many have examined the pros and cons of both possibilities. The first alternative is traditionally preferred. Indeed, the catalogues usually list this stamp in the Italian States section; this reflects the choice, of the house of Savoy first and foremost and later of most historians, of considering the Unification of Italy as a large extension of the Kingdom of Sardinia. This is unsurprising, given that the king maintained the name and order of succession that he had received at his coronation: he was, and would remain, Victor Emanuel II.

However, there’s no doubt that this is a series which overlaps the two historical periods. And no doubt that the first example, the 5 cents, made its debut on 1st July 1855. What is less clear are the dates on which the other five denominations appeared: according to Sassone, the known first dates for the 20 and 40 cents were in the middle of the same month, while the 10 and 80 cents were not issued until early 1858. While the most sought-after denomination, the 3 lire, appeared in early 1861.

There are, then, six main types of this stamp. However, experts distinguish between different shades of colour. This is the result of a succession of print runs and of the imprecise methods used to determine the colours of the various sheets. For the 5 cents alone, the specialist Sassone allows for no less than thirty-six variations!

Again, this last series from Sardinia is unhinged. And once again, it uses relief printing, so that the central design with the face of the monarch appears to be three dimensional, resulting in a thickness that recalled the coins in use at the time.

In our latest “Spring 2008” catalogue, which is available free at the shop or can be downloaded online on our website you’ll find a few examples of the wide offer at Zanaria.

We have a splendid pea-green 5 cents at 4,500 euros (Sassone 13c, valued at 8,000 euros); a single yellow green version (Sassone 13Ba) on a letter from Novara to Breme, at 220 euros; and a splendid envelope from Milan to Lonigo with four examples of the dark olive green (13Bf), dated 25th April 1861.

In this case, the price is available upon request; the catalogue evaluation is more than 56,000 euros.
The colours of the 5 cents and of the other denominations in the fourth Sardinian issue can be seen clearly on our website, where you’ll find some interesting examples, along with other special offers.

 

30/06/2008
The Liberty-style King goes into service

The first express stamp, artist-designed

The institutive royal decree is dated May 3rd. Article 1 states, “From 10th June 1903 a special type of stamp will be used within the Kingdom, with the value of a surcharge for the senders, in compliance with article 50 of the postal law act..., objects to be sent by “Express” post”.

 

Just a few short lines which launched a collection within a collection: that of special stamps for express post. They continued to be produced until 1976, so that a considerable number were printed. In later years they were no longer considered indispensable. The last stamps were withdrawn from circulation on 12th May 1992 and replaced by ordinary postage stamps.
This echoed the situation between 1890 (when the express service was set up) and 1903, when there were not yet specified denominations. Instead, special labels were used – an example can be seen in lot Z00165 in our on-line offers.

Overall, the Sassone catalogue considers eighteen typical examples for the Kingdom. Two of these were commemorative stamps for the ten year anniversary of the “March on Rome”. In addition to these there are five overprinted stamps from the Italian Social Republic period; one stamp produced during the Regency; and fourteen which were issued under the Italian Republic, including one commemmorating the centenary of the Risorgimento.

But why the special stamps? In “Espresso e anche un po’ urgente”, Franco Filanci and Costantino Romiti write, “Stamps made to identify a specific postal service  are nothing new, but they never made it to Italy – at least until the beginning of the 20th century and for the correspondence service only. The thrifty mentality of the Postal Administration had thus  far always had the upper hand: why prepare something special which costs money and requires checks on distribution and correct usage, when normal stamps can be used perfectly well?” However, things soon changed. With the 20th century, “any doubts were swept away when faced with the idea of having a special stamp for express deliveries”.
It is generally thought that for the inaugural stamp, in a denomination of 25 cents, a well-known painter and illustrator of the time was brought on board, Giovanni Battista Carpanetto (1863-1928). The artist used the image of the King which had already been in circulation for two years in Giuseppe Cellini’s “Floreale” collection. As Paolo Norfini describes in “I francobolli italiani tra Simbolismo e Liberty”, Carpanetto placed that portrait “within a pleasant composition based upon ribbons flying above three laurel branches”.

This was a fashionable image and one which brought luck: it remained in use for more than twenty years and was only updated in terms of its face value, which became higher each time. The last example, which cost 1.25 lire, was issued on 20th September 1926. Meanwhile, the original 25 cents stamp was duly overprinted and used as the first airmail stamp in the world: the date was 20th May 1917. But that’s a whole different story!

 

28/06/2008
A philatelic conference stamped with controversy

The Italian-French controversy

 “Il Corriere filatelico” was always aware of speculative manoeuvring. This time it took a new stance, and had a long-distance dispute with Théodore Champion. Champion represented the counterpart in French philately, as the publisher of the “Yvert & Tellier” catalogues.

The dispute centred around the series issued on 4th June 1922 for the “11th Italian Philatelic Conference”, which comprised four overprinted “Leoni” or “Michetti” stamps, in denominations of 10, 15, 25 and 40 cents. They were on sale to the public until 10th June only, and only in the central post office of Trieste – the city where the conference was being held.

The Italian monthly journal was a keen supporter of this collectors’ conference, and gave it plenty of column inches. In its May 1922 issue, the journal dedicated a whole page to the event; in June it provided updates filling half a column; while in July the journal dedicated the opening article to it, leaving five and a half pages for news. As for the stamps, there was a succinct technical description along with a comment: “This is a new event in the annals of philately”. It being understood that at the post office, “a huge crowd crushed in to get the few series that were on sale”, while “by special concession, each conference-goer was provided with 10 series at face value”.

Meanwhile, the “Echo de la timbrologie” had a much more critical reaction. On July 15th it wrote, “These stamps were printed at the Italian State Stamp Printers and are as official as they can be. Despite that, we will not catalogue them….we maintain that the moment has finally come to put a stop to the outrageous production of useless novelties”. 

The debate continued. In retaliation, the French publisher withdrew the advertisement it was running for the other journal. The latter retorted unflinchingly by appealing to its readership in the September issue: “We are in a time of redemption, of renewal: let’s hope the Italians can shake off this particular yoke, and in philately as in other areas, gain their independence from foreigners, and finally act for themselves!”

Today, the issue is one of the foremost of those of that period, even in “Yvert & Tellier”. The Sassone catalogue, which is the reference for the Italian market, values it at 1,600 euros either hinged or used. This figure rises to 4,000 if the gum is untouched; while individual stamps on envelopes start at 1350 euros.

Zanaria has one that is fresh and with a trace of hinge, on sale at 750 euros. However, what makes a difference is the centring, which often leaves much to be desired. Zanaria has a second series on offer which is exceptionally well centred and unhinged, at 6,000 euros, valued at more than 10,000 euros.

 

20/06/2008
The first Italian stamp? It was printed in German.

The days when the “adhesive material” had to be dampened

“A person mailing an object for letter-post must attach onto its address, halfway along the upper margin, securely and by dampening the adhesive material found on the reverse side of the stamp, one or more stamps as necessary to reach with their value the relevant franking rate according to the distance and weight”.

This is included in the notice signed by the Royal Imperial Lieutenant Field Marshal Prince Carlo von Schwarzenberg.
This step is taken from the beginning of article fifteen of the law, and is dated 31st May 1850. It only appeared in the Official Gazette of Milan on Sunday 2nd June, exactly one day following the actual debut of stamps.

In addition to various other aspects, the regulation introduced the use of stamps south of the Alps. This was one of the conditions whereby the so-called Austro-Italian postal law could be implemented. It was a major success for Austria. As Bruno Caizzi writes in “Dalla posta dei re alla posta di tutti”, “Austria had never ceased to appreciate the strategic and political value of a postal service”. It managed to draw almost the entire Italian peninsular into a close pact of cooperation.

Five stamps were delivered to post offices. They were imperforate and came in denominations of 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 cents of the Austrian lira. They bore the Austro-Hungarian coat of arms, with the German text “K K Post Stempel”, an abbreviation for “Imperial and Royal Postal Stamp”.

Some very similar stamps were distributed on the same day, to be used in the rest of the vast area controlled by Vienna. These were nominal values, this time expressed in kreuzer, so as to tell the two versions apart at a glance.

What is significant is that of all the countries that made up the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Lombardo-Veneto state was the only one for which a different currency was used.
The new versions began to be used from 1st November 1858, this time in soldi. After a short period of coexistence, the first issue was phased out from 31st December.

The first Lombardo-Veneto issue has always been considered a true must-have in classic international stamp-collecting. This is due to the good availability of material, and the many options for honing one’s collection to meet personal taste. For example, one can focus on different types of paper, printing varieties, multicoloured franks, special uses such as on Austrian territory, or together with stamps in kreuzer.

Uses from the day of issue are always sought-after and command sums in excess of five figures. They are very rare, despite the size of the territory and the population itself.

The least rare, the 15 cents, is nevertheless quoted at 50,000 euros in the Sassone catalogue. This goes up to 75,000 euros for the 30 cents. Meanwhile, only three envelopes exist with the 45 cent version.

The last day of use is also very sought after, especially when the letter bears stamps from both the 1st and 2nd issue together.
We have a large range of material available, also through our website: new, used, on piece or on envelope. For more information, you can call us on  +39 02 805 24 27 or e-mail us at info@zanaria.com.
 

30/05/2008
Flight over the north Atlantic

A triptych for each plane

The “Nord-atlantica”, led by Italo Balbo, was a rather special mass formation flight. It was something between an aeronautics display and a propagandist demonstration.

It was organised to mark the tenth anniversary of the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica. The planes set off from Orbetello on July 1st 1933. After several stopovers the flight ended in Chicago on July 15th. Collectors are familiar with it: the stamps issued for the occasion are actually one of the highest value prizes in the competitions organised by the Associazione filatelisti italiani professionisti and the Borsa filatelica nazionale during the conventions in Milan and Rome.

The issue was available from 20th May 1933. It consisted of two “triptychs”. Each of these comprised a stamp for general mail, sold at the time for 5.25 lire; a second stamp, for airmail, denomination either 19.75 or 44.75 lire; and a label. The latter was printed with the names of the twenty aircraft that took part in the crossing, and were identified by the first few letters of the captain’s surname (e.g. I-Aram for Mario Aramu).

The full series includes some forty “triptychs”. In actual fact only 25 planes took part, organised into eight squadrons of three, plus one reserve aircraft. Given the page layout, five of them did not have their own customised celebration.
The high face values can be explained thus: the 5.25 lire was the tariff for express registered post for abroad; the 19.75 denomination was used for the airmail surcharge for Europe; while the 44.75 was the equivalent for America. The series was only intended to be used for letters sent with the flight, hence its unusual make-up.

“Triptychs” have always been especially sought after by collectors interested in the Kingdom of Italy. They are often quick to snap up airmail stamps and the labels with the pilots’ initials.

Examples on air letters which travelled with the special flight are particularly in demand.
Here we’d like to point out two particularly examples from among those we have available.
The two full sheets of forty non-hinged “triptychs”, in excellent condition, offered at a competitive price of 8500 euros as opposed to the 17,750 euros given by the Sassone catalogue.

Two air letters, franked with two different “triptychs”, addressed to European destinations. One flew to Berlin via Amsterdam on Umberto Nannini’s plane. It was one of 70 which travelled on that flight, and we are offering it at 2,900 euros. The second, which took flight with Giuseppe Teucci’s aeroplane, was delivered to Amsterdam. It was one of 53 items which made up the special dispatch, and is on sale at 3,250 euros.

15/05/2008
Zanaria in Verona

From “Veronafil” to... Fiume

A selection of our best material. And other documents from the Zanaria stock available upon request. Just phone us on +39 02.805.24.27 or send an email to info@zanaria.com to make arrangements to examine the lots at our stand, number 120.

For Zanaria will indeed be attending what is considered one of the most important stamp-collecting conventions of the year, Veronafil, from 23rd-25th May. The fair will be held in pavilions 10 and 100 of the Verona Exhibition Centre. It will be open on Friday 23rd from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am until 6pm and Sunday from 9am until 2pm. Entrance is free.

In addition to the material (classic stamps new, hinged and used, on piece and on cover), you can order our new catalogues. Most notably the “2008 Price List”, sixteen pages dedicated to the current valuations of stamps from the Italian States, Kingdom, Republic, San Marino, Vatican and Colonies. And “Spring 2008”, our latest offer which has 52 colour illustrated pages with values from Italy only, from 19th century stamps to the “Cavallino” and the “Gronchi Rosa”.

Another interesting variety that we’ll be offering during the fair is Yugoslavian and Italian stamps that were overprinted for the “Fiumano-Kupa” occupied area.

They were issued in May 1941 in the middle of World War II. As Bruno Crevato-Selvaggi explains in his book “Il Regno d’Italia”, this was the area to the north-east of the city of Fiume (the Kupa is in fact a river which marks the boundary between Slovenia and Croatia).

Given the situation, the borders were never defined in much detail. At the time, the main goal was to create a security strip with Croatia.

The stamps “were issued with decrees from the Civil Authority, which had legal powers”. Despite the difficult situations, “an institutionalised stamp trade developed”. This led to numerous overprints being produced, which were local testimonies to a great tragedy.

Some of these series are included in the material we have available. Much of this is illustrated in the Italian Area 2007 catalogue. For example, the first series: the first thirteen hinged stamps are offered at 1,500 euros, compared to a catalogue valuation of 3,500 euros.

The same series, which also includes the rare 30 dinars, is available printed on three envelopes at 9,500 euros, while the catalogue estimate is more than 27,150. Another example is the series that was not issued, and was produced to aid the National Maternity Campaign, and was the last in the stamps produced for the Area. we have a non-hinged example at 5,500 euros (catalogue value 8,250).

 

07/05/2008
The mystery of the lion

Tuscany, an issue with a thousand shades

The “Marzocco” may refer to a sculpture by Donatello, a tower in Livorno, a literary review of the 20th century. But for stamp collectors, the “Marzocco” is the subject of the postal products from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Between 1851 and 1852 nine values were distributed under the government of Leopold II. They were expressed in quattrini, soldi and crazie, i.e. the sub-multiples of the local lira. All of them display the crowned lion holding up Florence coat of arms, featuring a lily, with his right paw.
The first five examples made their debut in April 1851, marking the postal agreement which had been signed with Austria the previous year.

However, it is very difficult to establish with any precision the actual issue date, which in theory was meant to coincide with the first of the moth; the rare examples which travelled are unable to back this up. Only the 4 and 6 crazie are dated for certain on April 1st, while there are doubts surrounding the 1 soldo stamp as the frank is barely legible.

As for the other denominations, we know of a 7th April frank for the 2 crazie, and one from 14th April for the 2 soldi.
The last four denominations in the series came in the following months, in several stages: on July 1st 1851 (stamps for 1 and 9 crazie), on September 1st 1852 (1 quattrino), and an unspecified date the following November (60 crazie).
The stamps were produced on coloured paper with shading ranging from blue to grey. They remained in circulation until the end of 1859, when the by now Grand Duke Leopold II had fled and plans were being made for the union with the Kingdom of Sardinia. This is documented by the 1860 provisional issue, which already displays the Savoy coat of arms.
The only denomination to go out of circulation was the 2 soldi, which was withdrawn as early as 20th September 1852.

However, the series was a popular one and was reproduced almost identically between 1857 and 1859, when a further seven values became available. In fact it was simply a restyling, because the face values were the same as those used previously: 1 quattrino, 1 soldo, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 crazie. What changed was the colour of the paper, now white, and the watermark, in which the crown gave way to the text “II RR Poste Toscane”. Very few frankings exist which combine the twin examples from the two issues.

The material is certainly of interest, from a financial point of view as well. A specific franking can give a piece a major added value. For example, the Zanaria stock holds an envelope franked with the blue green 4 crazie on blue paper. The stamp was franked on 24th March 1852 with the Austrian military postmark of the “feldpost” n°2. The emperor’s troops remained in the Grand Duchy until May 24th 1856. The second handstamp shows that the cover left Florence and was sent to Ferrara; a valuation can be provided upon request.

12/04/2008
When the Italian Republic made a “pink” mistake

Single, but in blocks too, and even by the sheet!

Nearly fifty years have passed, but even now this has remained a “must have” stamp in the collective imagination. Even outside the world of stamp collecting, it’s the iconic stamp par excellence: the “Gronchi Rosa”. As some people have said, you couldn’t make up a story like this if you tried.

The stamp is part of a series with a face value which was quite high for its time. It included three values issued to celebrate the President Giovanni Gronchi’s visit to South America – he was set to leave on April 6th 1961. Every host country was to have its own stamp: Argentina (face value 170 lire), Uruguay (185) and Peru (205). The intention was to use them to send airmail to the respective nations. This is why, in a move rare for Italy, the stamps were to be sold in advance from the 3rd April, Easter Monday, to give time to letter-writers to prepare envelopes for the airmail flight.

The rest is history: the Peruvian ambassador noticed that the borders of his country as shown on the stamp were wrong. A large section of Amazonian territory had been left out, which was being claimed by Ecuador. Indeed, the two countries were still fighting over it at the time. This led to official protests, heated debates between ministries, and the decision to withdraw the controversial stamp and quickly prepare a correct version. It still had the face value of 205 lire, but this time it was grey. When all was said and done, it turned out that 79,625 of the pink stamps had officially been sold already.
It’s now the most popular stamp of the entire Italian Republic. Lagging far behind in second place is the recent pair of sheets for eighteen year olds.

The stamp is so well known that it’s worth being especially careful when purchasing one: all kinds of fakes are on the market, some of which are very close imitations. And when it comes to authentic ones, it’s important to check the quality: after so many years, if they have been kept in the wrong kind of environment they may have serious damage to the paper and especially to the gum, which may be dotted and yellowed. We are offering extra fine quality pieces at 1,150 euros, compared to the Sassone catalogue’s valuation of 1,900.

But there’s not just the single piece: in our “Spring 2008” sale catalogue it is available in a sheet corner version, (Sassone more than 1,900 euros, our price 1,500); in corner block of four (Sassone more than 8,000, net price 4,200 euros). And even a whole sheet of forty pieces, in excellent condition. For this last item we are accepting private offers, taking into account the catalogue valuation which is in excess of 80 thousand euros.

Lastly, of particular interest are the covers with the pink 205 lire covered by the grey one. Extraordinarily, at its own expense, the postal administration hid the earlier version of the stamp with the new grey one on all the envelopes that had been delivered for the airmail flight. Only very few of these escaped the hands of the censor, probably due to an oversight. We have some of them in stock. Just contact us if you’d like to see them.

01/04/2008
Overprinted Manzoni - a wonderful “April Fool”

Limited print runs for Italy, minimal for the Colonies

 “Il Corriere Filatelico” made the announcement in March 1924. The paper said “A series of overprinted Manzoni stamps is soon to be issued for the Colonies. All the denominations will bear the name of the Colony overprinted in red on the upper part of the stamp, except for the 1 lira and 5 lira, which will have the overprinting on the left side of the stamp…The amounts produced will be 22,500 pieces per Colony for values in cents, 6250 of the lira and 3750 of the 5 lira”.
The series printed for Cirenaica, Eritrea, Somalia and Tripolitania were later issued on April 1st, like an April Fool: except for the overprint indicating the colony, they were identical to the series distributed in Italy, which was already provoking a heated debate.

Perhaps due to the excessive price (7.05 lire), or for the way it was sold, as it was distributed in limited quantities in Rome and Milan only, starting on December 29th the previous year. The paper continues, “Two full series for each purchase or alternatively no more than two pieces of the 5 lire, no more than three of the 1 lira, and no more than four” of the remaining denominations, i.e. those of 10, 15, 30 and 50 cents. Some people tried to take advantage of the situation. “The public has rebelled against attempts by clerks to withhold some of the stocks, and the General Management has taken steps to stop this illegal trading”.

There were problems with the colonial versions too: collectors who sent money to the ministry had their requests rejected, without explanation.
It was later clarified that following an agreement, 3000 of the 3750 full series available for each Colony would be withdrawn by the “Committee to honour Alessandro Manzoni”. They would go towards financing the purchase of copies of Manzoni’s novel “The Betrothed” to distribute to children free of charge. 500 series remained, of which surprisingly only 250 were given to the Colonial Authority for the purposes of stamp-collecting.

Today, the basic series and the four overprinted series are true classics of 20th century Italian philately, especially if used.
Zanaria’s stock includes many examples, such as a non-hinged Cirenaica (Sassone 2000 euros, our price 1150), a hinged Eritrea (more than 1200, net 650), or used Eritrea (3250, net 1900), a used Somalia with sheet margin for the higher denomination (more than 2700, net 1700). Three versions from Tripolitania are available: corner non-hinged (3000, net 1700), used with sheet margin (more than 3250, net 1700), and used (3250, net 1600).

Zanaria has a considerably large stock that is sure to please the most demanding collectors.
Other pieces include the retouched 5 lire from Cirenaica, the well-centered series from Eritrea, and the series from Tripolitania with a spectacular use of a sheet corner 5 lire.

For our full range we suggest you see our “2008 Price List” and our “Summer 2007 Italian Area” catalogue.

25/03/2008
A “Floral” goodbye

Gabriele D’Annunzio inspired the new series

The “Floreale” was practically a spontaneously produced series. Indeed, it became necessary after the death of King Umberto I, who was assassinated in Monza on 29th July 1900 by the anarchist Gaetano Bresci. Although there was little time to prepare the new series needed, the new stamp turned out to be attractive and in line with the tastes of the time. Even now, collectors associate it with the “Liberty” artistic movement – the Italian Art Nouveau.
However, a few years later it became clear that new requirements had to be met. Unusually, the tariff for letters was to drop from 20 to 15 cents on September 1st 1905.

This meant that a new denomination of 15 cents had to be issued. At first it was decided to use the existing 20 cent stamps, with an overprint that would show the new value. But Italy had its sights set high in those days, and that included the postal service – so work began on a whole new series.

The new series had two innovative features: from a technical point of view, line engraving was chosen for the first time. Francesco Paolo Michetti, one of the most fashionable painters of the time, was asked to work on the new image.
The draft chosen seems to even have been inspired by the writer Gabriele D’Annunzio, who was a friend of Michetti’s.

The vignette shows the right-facing profile of a young Victor Emanuel III. Specifically, the poet is thought to have suggested using a seascape as the background. This is a clear reference to the journey made by the then Prince Victor Emanuel to the Aegean. It was there that he heard the news of his father’s death, as the verses from D’Annunzio’s work “Le Laudi” recall: “O tu che chiamato dalla Morte / venisti dal mare...”(“Oh you who called by Death / Came from the sea…”).

The stamp was issued on March 20th 1906. It was printed by a private company, the Officina calcografica italiana in Rome.

However, in the meantime the Government Security Printers in Turin, which usually printed stamps, reacted by producing two pieces between 1909 and 1911. One was typographic, the other line engraved. They were very similar, but not identical, to the previous version.

As described in the catalogues, the two issues can be distinguished by certain details. To tell the three versions apart, just look at the text box: in the first issue it measured 18.5x25 millimetres; in the second, 18x23, and in the third 19x24.

In addition to the traditional sheet, the 1906 15 cents version was sold in books of 24. It was initially sold at 3.65 lire, which was 5 cents more than the face value, in order to cover the cost of making the books. However, this idea did not prove popular, and three years later the price was brought down to the face value in order to sell off the remainders.

The experiment was repeated in 1911, using the other line engraved denomination, once again packaged in books of 24 and sold at 3.60 lire. Judging from their rarity and the prices they command today, the carnets were not particularly successful.

20/03/2008
New Net Price Sale Catalogue

The Italian Area takes centre stage in the new catalogues

This is the brand new net price sale catalogue “Italy – Spring 2008”. A 52 page colour collection of new and used stamps, on fragments or covers, representing the finest gems of the Italian States, Kingdom and Republic.

There are more than 500 lots ranging from a large section of Lombardy-Venetia (one remarkable example is the red “Mercurio” for newspapers, valued by the Sassone catalogue at more than 200 thousand euros, price upon request), to the “Ginnici” placed on two packages as tariff (net 4 thousand euros).

 It also includes entries such as a used dark blue “Crocetta” (net 3.750 euros),  a block of four and a strip of three 15 cents “Matraire” of the first kind, applied to the same letter addressed to Bohemia (catalogue 80.000 euros, price upon request); one non-hinged “Manzoni” of exceptional quality (net 3.000 euros), the non-hinged series of four “Badoglio” without watermark (catalogue 13.500 euros, price upon request), and various examples of services.

In addition to this, the new Zanaria “2008 Price List” will also be available. This deals with first class stamps that correspond to our guaranteed quality standards.
The “2008 Price List” and the “Italy – Spring 2008” colour net price sale catalogue are available free. If you would like a copy, simply phone +39 02 805 2427 or send an e-mail to info@zanaria.com or if you prefer, you can download the electronic version from our website.

03/03/2008
Continuity through the centuries

Poste italiane marked the end of the Risorgimento

The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17th 1861. It also led to the creation of a single institution in terms of postage. Indeed, the Italian Post Office was set up on 1st March 1861.

There had been a lengthy process leading up to this point. In the first volume of the series “Le Poste in Italia” published by Laterza, Andrea Giuntini recalls that “On 15th December 1860, the decree was issued. It became valid the following March with the declaration of the Kingdom of Italy, at which point the process of centralising postal administration was set in motion. The extension of the Piedmont tariff to  the other States, as already established in the agreement of 29th October 1859, allow the service to transfer smoothly”. The Austro-Italian postal League, by then pointless, was also relegated to the history books. It had been founded in 1850 in a totally different historical and political context.

However, this changeover required the coordination of different methods, systems, equipment and mental attitudes. During the transition period people continued to use the old stamps that had been in use. This was made easier by the fact that the nationality was expressed not with text, but with the image of the sovereign. So in the Centre-North, the fourth issue of Sardinia could continue to be used, while in the South people continued using the issues for the Neapolitan provinces. Meanwhile, in Sicily postage was paid for in cash.

This provisional situation was wound up in 1862 when the new postal law came into force. In the same year, the Kingdom’s first perforated series made its debut on May 1st, with the indigo 20 cents. This series echoed the old Savoy stamps that depicted Victor Emanuel II in relief.

This issue features in our “Descriptive historical catalogue of the stamps of Victor Emanuel  II King of Italy”.

Many stamps from this issue can be found in our “Spring 2008” Net Price Sale catalogue.  

01/03/2008
Italy looks to overseas

From Tunisia to Montevideo
The Kingdom of Sardinia was the first to show interest in occupying new territories, and efforts continued following the declaration of the Unification of Italy. In the late 19th century, following a wave of immigration, interests and national aspirations, Italy set up “various post offices on the northern coasts of Africa, and on the eastern coasts of Latin America… Thus between 1852 and 1880, Italian offices sprang up in Tunis, in Alexandria, La Goletta and Susa, and Consular Agencies were set up in Tripoli, Barberia (later promoted to Post Office), Buenos Aires and Montevideo”. These were later joined by the offices at Massaua (in 1880) and Assab (1883).

Initially these outposts had to use the same stamps that were available in Italy. It was only later that specific stamps were printed. The first issue is dated 1st January 1874. But in actual fact the stamps were only available a few days later. For the first two weeks of January the previous issues were used.

Overall, three series were produced: the first issue consisted of nine “De La Rue” and “Bigola” denominations, commissioned by Victor Emanuel II. These appeared between 1863 and 1897. They were followed by an issue of two additional values between 1878 and 1879 and later, between 1881 and 1883, by the last six pieces. These bear the portrait of the new king, Umberto.

From 1890 it was decided to return to the normal national issues, with one difference: the stamps are overprinted with the word “Estero” (Foreign) and they have different corner designs. In some cases they are also a different colour.

All frankings on documents are of particular interest, especially if they are from Latin America. For example, the registered letter sent from San José de Mayo to Polla on July 13th 1878. it has two 40 cent stamps and, as the handstamp shows, it was forwarded “From Montevideo by the Italian post”.

There is no trace of the payment for the local leg, as this was paid in cash. Experts consider this to be the finest of the two letters that are known of.

To find out more about postal services overseas, we suggest you read the book by Daniele Zanaria, Gabriele Serra and Francesco Dal Negro “Catalogo storico-postale dei francobolli in uso negli uffici postali italiani all’estero 1852-1890” .
Furthermore, a good selection of the stamps in this issue are to be found in our new net price sale catalogue “Italy-Spring 2008”.

12/01/2008
Stamps that were “made in London”

Postal Italy adapts to modern times

There was a definite leap forward on 1st December 1863, when Italy, united at last, acquired high quality stamps. The country left behind the stamps that had been produced by Francesco Maria Matraire, albeit with considerable expertise (he was later knighted for his hard work). It was time to think big, using technicians and systems that could deal with the new requirements.
So after some initial hesitation, Italy looked to London, the city which at that time hosted one of the sector’s largest companies, Thomas De La Rue. That is why even today, the series with a figure (the smallest denominations of 1 and 2 cents) or the profile of Victor Emanuel II (from 5 cents to 2 lire) is called the “De La Rue”.

Only nine basic types were produced, and issued several times between 1863 and 1865, although the relationship with the British firm continued after this with further productions. Initially, the stamps were printed in London; then, once the machinery had been organised and staff had been trained, production was transferred to Turin. Indeed, the Piedmontese Government Security Printers did a good job, given that it is quite difficult to distinguish between stamps printed in the two cities.

This series managed to project the nation into the 20th century, and was remarkable for various aspects: above all, security. This was the first Italian issue to have a watermark (the crown and the phrase “franco bolli postali - ministero delle Finanze”) and, as though that weren’t enough, a security underprinting. Moreover, this was the series that marked the definitive move to perforation, relegating the scissors to the drawer forever. The stamps even managed to cross national borders and be used in the Italian offices in the Levant or in Africa – duly adapted with overprinted text.

There is much interest in this issue, both with studies on the different varieties and research into the best level of quality – especially in terms of centring. Fans of the issue also keep an eye out for blocks (especially blocks of four and strips), tariff usage and combinations with other stamps in use at the time.

One interesting use is that of the so-called Sperimentale (Experimental) stamp: in 1864, Costantino Perazzi commissioned De La Rue to create a sheet of one hundred copies of the green 1 cent, with the purpose of suggesting that they start using the new automatic printing machines.
This stamp, of which only a hundred copies are known, stands out for the horizontal line across it, and for the use of non-watermarked paper.

In our Rarities catalogue we have the most centred block of four among those known.
A comprehensive work which illustrates the importance of the De La Rue issue, for the individual offices abroad too, is the “Historical Postal Catalogue of Stamps Used in the Italian Post-Offices Abroad”. For those wishing to purchase it, the book is also available from our website.

02/01/2008
Naples, 150 years ago

Seven frames for seven denominations

A truly effective summary: the seahorse as a homage to the city of Naples, the three-legged medusa as a reminder of Sicily and the lilies, symbolising the house of Bourbon. The first series of stamps for the Kingdom of the two Sicilies was printed one hundred and fifty years ago, on January 1st 1858.
The Kingdom of the two Sicilies was named thus by the Vienna Congress of 1815. It consisted of two different regions, separated by the Strait of Messina: to the north was the Kingdom of Naples, while that of Sicily was to the south.

In fact, the two regions shared little aside from their ruler. The currency, the grano, had a different value, and even the postal administrations were separate. So it is hardly surprising that one year later, the island of Sicily also created its own “postal marks”, different from the Neapolitan stamps.

The 1858 issue comprised seven denominations. All of them reproduce the same subject, but in different frames: the half grano with the round frame, the 1 and 5 grano in different sized squares, the 2 in the octagon and the 10 in the hexagon; the 20 in a rhombus and lastly the 50 grano inside an oval. The colour remained the same for all – pink – although each denomination has been found in various shades and, except for the highest value, in at least two different plates.

As generally is the case for antique values, multiples and franks on envelopes are particularly sought after – especially if they are embellished with a “flourish”. Although the issue was released on January 1st, the oldest date known of is the following day. The Sassone catalogue values the 2 grano franked on January 2nd at between twelve and fifteen thousand euros; but experts consider that sum to be an undervaluation. Indeed, the market places a figure on it of more than twenty thousand euros.

There were vast numbers of postal forgeries of these stamps, which were produce to defraud the postal service. It even seems that the imitations of the 20 grano are more common than the originals – the only case of its kind in philately! Sometimes the forged stamp was franked at the same time as other genuine ones – as is the case of the envelope which travelled from Naples to Civitavecchia on February 2nd 1861.

Here, a genuine pair of the carmine 2 grano stamps was used together with a forged 10, allowing the sender to save on two-thirds of the amount.

19/12/2007
Changes came in with Garibaldi

Newspapers halved, stamps doubled

Giuseppe Garibaldi’s triumphal march from Sicily up to the North continued apace. The “red shirts” reached Naples on 7th September 1860. Within a week, the Piedmontese statue had been extended to the whole of the South. The historic meeting at Teano with Victor Emanuel II took place on 26th October.

Given the situation, there were also some changes to the postal system. The tariff for sending newspapers was halved, from half a grano to half a tornese. No new stamps were produced for this service; instead, the old one was adapted by carefully engraving the existing plate, allowing the amount to be changed.

The second step was to replace the ink, which went from being red to being blue, in an obvious reference to the Savoy colours. And so the “Trinacria” of the now deposed Francis II was transformed. The new stamp was issued on November 6th.
This is one of the most prized treasures of 19th century Italy. Partly because just a month later on December 6th it was replaced by the “crocetta”, which was much more suited to the situation. The new stamp was still blue, and had the same face value; but this time it had a new picture that paid homage to the new royal house.

Once again, the changes required patience and experience, as the emblem was achieved by chiselling over the most complex previous design. Look closely enough and you can make out some remains of the original picture. Both these stamps are particularly sought-after as new ones are almost impossible to find, and used ones are also very rare.

Of particular interest are those which illustrate the use for which they were employed, i.e. still applied to the original document. Let’s look at two examples.

In the first, the half tornese was used on 17th November 1860 to deliver the journal L’omnibus. The stamp also has a particular variant: the “T” used to indicate the currency also has a double-engraved vertical stroke.

The second franking bears a stamp from the 8th January the year after. It is applied on another copy of the same newspaper, and this too has a non-standard engraving on the letter – this time, however, the double engraving is vertical.

You’ll find appealing offers for these two gems of Italian philately in our sales catalogues, Italian Area 2006 and Rarities 2006.

 

03/12/2007
Postage stamps with advertisements

Disputes over advertising messages with perforated edges

The debate blew up when a slogan meaning “Have you tried it”, along with an eloquent question mark, was associated not only with the soap brand Abrador, but also with the serene face of Victor Emanuel II.

Everybody felt that the face of the King of Italy had been belittled by having been turned into a testimonial for spirits, light-bulbs, lubricants and underwear. That was the main reason why the Italian series of advertising stamps were so short-lived.

The series first appeared in November 1924. The stamps were deliberately distributed in certain areas of Italy only, according to the requests of the advertisers. It could only be used for national correspondence, and could be used for foreign correspondence only if the advertising part was cut or torn off.

 

For stamp collectors at the time, at for Italian society at large, the issue was nothing less than a scandal. Pressure from the competitor companies who had been excluded from the project probably had something to do with this too. On December 5th, the case ended up in Parliament, with questions put to the Communications Minister “…to know whether he finds it fitting with national dignity to allow the State to sell a new type of stamp on which the image of the Sovereign is coupled with purely commercial sorts of publicity”.

The last examples were issued in January 1925, but they did not last long. Indeed, it was decided to stop the series definitively, and they were declared valid for postal use only until August 27th of the same year.

Never issued at all were a 20 cent stamp for Columbia gramophones, and most notably the only denomination that had been intended for express post: the notorious 60 cents with a couple locked in a romantic embrace. The image had been used to advertise Perugina “Baci” chocolates for decades, but it was never accepted for the stamps as it was deemed inappropriate for the image of the King.

This series includes nineteen different stamps overall, to which we can add the two that were officially never issued. Good centrings are particularly sought after, and are very difficult to find given that the two vignettes were aligned separately.

 

05/11/2007
A short-lived currency

The emperor with a touch of Art Nouveau

This issue broke multiple records in its own small way: the first Lombardy-Venetia series to be perforated, the first to portray the Emperor Franz Joseph, the first to be in relief, almost like a cameo. And above all, the first to use the new currency then in use in the Kingdom: no longer the Milanese lira, which had too many patriotic associations, but the fiorino, which was divided into one hundred soldi.

The reform made its debut in the postal system on 1st November 1858 when the new series was made available – it was the second series since stamps were introduced in the Imperial/Royal possessions. Another very similar one with a different currency was sold in Austria at the same time.

The “Italian” issue comprised five denominations: 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15 soldi, all of which were different – another record. The stamps portrayed Franz Joseph, who had been a guest of the Lombard city from 15th January to 2nd March 1857 together with Empress Elisabeth. He is shown in profile in the classical style. The difference between the denominations is the frame around the portrait, which featured floral motifs even as early as 1858. Only one, the 3 soldi denomination, had a more established design in which the texts are arranged so as to frame the central image. The next year, the series was reissued with a few tiny changes to the designs, in the same denominations.

However, by then the sun was setting on the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. The secret agreements at Plombières on 20-21 July 1858 and the Turin Treaty of 26th January 1859 had already been drawn up: Napoleon III supported Cavour in the national cause, in exchange for Nice and Savoy. The second war of independence broke out on April 28th 1859. The bloody conflict would not last long. On July 12th the armistice was signed at Villafranca, sealing the handover of Lombardy to France and from France to Piedmont. On June 22nd, in the area ruled by the provisional government, the lira began circulating once again – this time, the Italian lira.

The annexation of Lombardy to the Savoy crown would be officially declared on July 31st, and in the name of Victor Emanuel II all military personnel and functionaries could introduce the stamped paper distributed from Turin.
The series with Franz Joseph would only continue to be used in the those provinces which remained beyond the border, in other words Mantua and the Veneto; later issues would be added, again in soldi.

The few mixed frankings between the 1850 issue (with the double-headed eagle stem) and that of 1858 are particularly rare. The envelope shown here, which used to be part of the Rivolta collection, is one of the two notes that associates the 5 cents with the 5 soldi. It has another interesting feature too, being franked on 31st December 1858, which was the last day of validity of the first series.

29/10/2007
"Leoni”, a series that roars

On the crest of the wave for twenty-four years

Two values, the 5 and the 10 cents, were issued in October 1906. they were joined by the third value of 15 cents in September 1919.
This is the series known to collectors as “Leoni” (which in Italian means “Lions”), from the name of Nestore Leoni, who drew the original design. He later worked with Alberto Repetati, who made the engravings. The only difference between the values is the colour and, of course, the denomination. They depict King Victor Emanuel III in profile, inside a vaguely Art Nouveau-style frame. A sculpted, marmoreal, almost tomb-like face: perhaps this is the reason why the design did not have much success as an ordinary postage stamp.

However, duly adapted for various uses, we find it was often used for airmail, pneumatic post, express post and publicity mail-outs. Without of course forgetting all the postal stationery and products intended for the annexed territories following World War I (overprinted with  “Venezia Tridentina” and “Venezia Giulia” for example), or those for foreign countries (from Albania to Constantinople, from Beijing to Libya)

It was in fact a very widely-used series, given that the first issues managed to withstand the test of time and inflation; first they were used as tariffs in themselves, then as useful supplementary stamps, up until 31st December 1930.

The simplicity of the series is counterbalanced by a complex sequence of varieties. There are examples with shifted perforation; partially or fully imperforate; without watermark; with a faint, incomplete, double or even back to front print, on joined paper. There’s a lot there for specialists to have fun with!

Then there are the forgeries, which were printed to trick the postal service. Several different types have been identified, and are distinguished according to the city in which they were first discovered. So Intra and Palermo for the 10 cent denomination, and Milan for the 10 and 15 cent denominations. It did not take long for the authorities to spot this kind of reproduction, but not all were withdrawn from circulation. That is why copies that were sent and kept on an envelope are quite rare.

A particularly important document is that which left from Belluno on 8th October 1928, directed for Venice – to a police worker, no less. It bears five examples of the Palermo forgery, which presumably aroused no suspicions at the post office. This article now has a catalogue value of 14 thousand euros.