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The history of mail and stamps in Italy covers periods corresponding to the postal systems and issues of postage stamps of individual disparate Italian states (until the middle of the 19th century) and united Italy (since 1861). Italy is one of the founding countries of the Universal Postal Union (UPU; since 1875), and Poste italiane acts as its postal operator[2].
Content
1 Early development of mail
1.1 Ancient Rome
1.2 Middle Ages
1.3 Thurn and Taxis Post
2 Pre-unification period and first stamps
3 Kingdom of Italy: its post and stamps
3.1 Before World War I
3.2 Italy in World War I
3.2.1 Austro-Hungarian occupation
3.2.2 Local releases
4 Stamps of Italy in World War II
4.1 Anglo-American occupation
4.2 Italian Social Republic
4.3 Local releases
5 Italian Republic
5.1 Postage stamps
5.2 Unusual stamps
5.3 Errors on stamps
6 Definitive stamp series
7 Other types of postage stamps
7.1 Airmail
7.2 Newspaper
7.3 Surcharges
7.4 Delivery
7.5 Postage exemption stamps
7.6 Pneumatic mail stamps
7.7 Field post stamps
7.8 Parcel
7.9 Postage stamps
7.10 Settlement
7.11 Service
7.12 Rush stamps
8 Editions of Campione d'Italia
9 Italian Post Abroad
10 Private mail
10.1 Milan
10.2 "Koralit"
11 Frauds and fantasy releases
12 Development of philately
13 See also
14 Notes
15 Literature
16 Links
Early postal development
Ancient Rome
Main article: Postal history § Ancient Rome
See also: Roman roads
The early postal history of Italy can be traced back to ancient Rome. In the Roman Republic, messengers and stations existed for government and private purposes. Under Emperor Augustus, the state transport system cursus publicus was significantly developed. Not being a postal service in the modern sense of the word, “cursus publicus” was a huge, branched, communication system that operated according to clear regulations [4].
Middle Ages
The archives of church institutions and the regests of the Roman curia testify that even at the very beginning of the Middle Ages there was a lively exchange of messages between the head of the Catholic hierarchy and its members; but there is no indication of the existence of a specially ecclesiastical institution of messengers or couriers. Only between the numerous ramifications of spiritual orders was proper communication maintained, through the medium of wandering monks. At universities, where students flocked from various countries, corporations of professional messengers were formed, enjoying various privileges. In the XII-XIII centuries, messengers from universities in Bologna, Salerno, and Naples were famous[3].
With the development of city liberties, one of the most important means of communication was the institution of city messengers, which existed almost everywhere since the 14th century, but was especially developed in large shopping centers in Germany and Italy. From southern Germany the messengers of Augsburg maintained communications with Italy; they arrived in Venice via the Brenner in eight days[3].
Thurn and Taxis Post
Main article: Thurn y Taxis Post
Later, the name of the post in Italy, as in other advanced countries of that time, began to mean the whole set of institutions that were established by the state or under the control of the state for sending both government and private correspondence and for the transport of passengers [3].
The first experience of organizing mail in this sense of the word on a broad international basis was made by members of the Taxis family from Bergamo, who assumed the support of communications between the Habsburg possessions. This organization, which at first had a very modest size, was significantly expanded in 1516: postal lines for connecting with the Habsburg possessions in Italy were extended to Rome and Naples. The main postal route was the Brussels-Vienna-Italy line[3].
The word “porto” (Italian porto, which means postal fee, postal fee) dates back to the time when mail was born in Italy through the efforts of Taxis [3].
Pre-unification period and first stamps
The postal history of Italy in the 19th century, before the creation of a single state in 1861, is associated with small independent states of the Apennine Peninsula, which had postal services and issued their own stamps[5].
The pre-marking stage of history is notable for the legislative initiative of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which introduced in 1818 a special kind of postage sheets with an imprint of a postage mark, which became known as “Sardinian horses” (cavallini sardi)[6][7].
The first postage stamps in Italy were also issued by the Kingdom of Sardinia. In 1850, Count Camillo Cavour presented a report to the Piedmontese Chamber of Deputies with a proposal to carry out a postal reform similar to those carried out in a number of European countries,considering the introduction of postage stamps, for the designation of which a new word was coined - francobollo. The reform became law in November and took effect on January 1, 1851.
Postage stamps of the Kingdom of Sardinia with the profile of Victor Emmanuel II without indicating the name of the state were printed in the printing house of Francesco Matrera[en]) in Turin and went into circulation on January 1, 1851[7][8].
Following Sardinia, other Italian states also issued postage stamps. These include Tuscany (April 1851), the Papal States (January 1852), Modena (June 1852), Parma (June 1852), the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Kingdom of Naples - January 1858; Kingdom of Sicily - January 1859), Romagna (September 1859) . The Lombardo-Venetian kingdom was under Austrian rule, and Austrian stamps were in circulation there, issued specifically for Lombardo-Venice with denominations in local currency[5][9].
After the unification of Italy during 1860 and 1861, the postage stamps that were in circulation in the territories that were part of it were withdrawn from circulation and replaced by stamps of the Sardinian kingdom. Moreover, in Modena, Parma and Romagna, the transition took place on February 1, 1860, in Naples on September 15, 1862 (although the local authorities had previously printed stamps with the image of the coat of arms of Savoy), and in the Papal States - only in 1870 [7].
Kingdom of Italy: its post and stamps
Main article: Postal history and postage stamps of the Kingdom of Italy
Before World War I
Postage stamp of the Kingdom of Sardinia, fourth definitive issue, considered by some catalogs to be the first stamp of the Kingdom of Italy, 1862 (SG #1)
The first postage stamp of the Kingdom of Italy[it], printed by the British printer De La Rue, 1863 (Mi #23)
The first stamp of the Kingdom of Italy[it] with a portrait of Umberto I, 1879 (Mi #37A)
The first stamp of the Kingdom of Italy[it] with a portrait of Victor Emmanuel III, 1901 (Mi #77)
First commemorative stamp of Italy, 1910 (Mi #95)
Postage stamp of the Kingdom of Italy[it] 1918 with advertising coupon, 1924 (Mi #130/R3)
Italy's first charity postage stamp, 1915 (Mi #120)
The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861. After the unification of Italy, the replacement by one postal administration of the previously existing seven met with difficulties due to the significant difference in the culture of the northern and southern provinces, as well as the huge number of illiterates. Nevertheless, the postal business soon achieved considerable success in Italy, being in some respects adapted to the peculiarities of the country. So, for example, at more significant post offices, special rooms were arranged for compiling letters; Postal orders (vaglia postali consolari) were accepted at Italian consulates to make it easier for Italians living abroad to send savings back to their homeland[3].
The first postage stamps[10] of the united country are usually considered to be the issues of the Kingdom of Sardinia printed in 1862-1863 (Matrera stamps) and circulating throughout Italy[7].
In February-October 1862, the fourth definitive issue stamps of the Kingdom of Sardinia were issued with an embossed profile of Victor Emmanuel II, printed in a changed size and with perforation. These were the first perforated stamps in Italy[9][11].
In 1862-1863, mixed frankings were allowed with stamps of the Kingdom of Sardinia and other Italian states[7].
From January 1, 1863, universal postal rates were introduced in Italy, sending a simple letter began to cost 15 centesimo instead of 20. In this regard, a stamp with a face value of 15 centesimo was issued, repeating the pattern and design of the stamps of the fourth definitive issue of Sardinia [9].
The Sardinian postage stamps were withdrawn from circulation on December 31, 1863[7].
In 1862, the contract for printing postage stamps of the Kingdom of Italy [it] was won by Count Ambjorn Sparre [sv], but the designs of the stamps proposed by him were not liked. In addition, the impression was that he would not be able to make stamps. In view of the threat of being left without any postage stamps, at the end of 1862 the Italian government again turned to F. Matrera, who in February 1863 printed a stamp with a face value of 15 centesimo by lithographic method. It depicted the profile of King Victor Emmanuel II and the inscription "Postale italiano". The stamp was withdrawn from circulation along with the "Sardinian" issues on December 31, 1863[9].
The contract with Count P. A. Sparre was canceled in March 1863, and a new contract was given to the British printer De La Rue. The first series of eight stamps of the Kingdom of Italy in denominations from 1 centesimo to 2 lire entered circulation on December 1, 1863. The 1 centesimo miniature depicted the denomination figure in a curly frame, the rest had a portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II and the inscription “Poste italiane” (“Italian Post”). This inscription remained, with a few exceptions, until 1969, when it was replaced by the new "Italia" ("Italy"), previously used only in 1923 and 1945-1947[5][7].
On October 9, 1874, Italy signed the Universal Postal Code.convention[3], and on July 1, 1875, among the founders, she became a member of the UPU[2]. At the Lisbon Universal Postal Congress of 1885[de] Italy joined the interstate agreement on the extension of the operation of postal orders[de] (riscossione) to their mutual relations[3].
From August 1877, Italian stamps began to be printed in the Turin printing house[12].
In 1878, King Umberto succeeded to the Italian throne. This necessitated a new issue of postage stamps. First issued on 15 August 1879, they were the first postage stamps in the kingdom to be entirely designed, engraved and printed by Italians. The new series used tariffs and colors prescribed by the UPU.
Since 1889, the management of the postal business, connected with the telegraph part, was entrusted in Italy to a special ministry, which had 10 inspectors to supervise the provincial institutions. In each of the 69 provinces, a post and telegraph directorate was formed. Post offices (uffizi) were divided into two classes; in addition, there were postal agencies (collettorie) [3].
According to data on the number and activities of postal institutions, in Italy in 1894 there were[3]:
6183 post offices, which averaged one post office per 47.9 sq. km and 4682 inhabitants of this country;
538,628,000 postal items, including:
303,730 thousand letters,
63,430 thousand open letters,
252,256 thousand printed works,
2988 thousand postal orders and
782 thousand parcels.
There were an average of 17.3 postal items per Italian resident. The excess of mail income over expenses, in terms of rubles of the Russian Empire of that time, amounted to 35,819 rubles [3].
The basic rate for forwarding simple closed letters in Italy was 20 centesimos. A maximum weight limit of 300 g was established for parcel shipments of factory samples. At the UPU Congress in Washington in 1897[de], Italy acceded to an interstate agreement under which governments mutually undertook to deliver periodicals published within their territories at the same prices as and domestic subscribers, with a surcharge only for possible transit costs; in the country of destination, commissions and similar surcharges could be made, but they should not go beyond the limits set for domestic subscribers of that country. For shipment within Italy, to post offices of the second category, values not exceeding 5000 francs were accepted. When making postal orders, the sender who deposited money at the postal institution was given a transfer in his hands, which was sent to him in a letter to the addressee, and the latter presented it to the postal institution of his place of residence to receive the money transfer. The maximum amount for which postal orders were allowed was not very large and did not exceed 1000 lire. In 1905, Italy concluded an agreement with Russia on the mutual exchange of postal money orders. In Italy, postal bills were also used - postal orders for small specific amounts that were sold at post offices at a nominal price with a surcharge on commission and within a certain period could be presented for payment at any post office in the country that carried out the corresponding operations. There was another peculiar operation for making payments by mail, when a post office credit book (titolo di credito) could be purchased at post offices, upon presentation of which post offices paid the amount indicated in it in installments, as required, in the amount of 50 to 2000 lire. Thus, travelers got rid of the need to carry large amounts of money with them. The Italian State Post very early abandoned the carriage of parcels, leaving this matter to private enterprises (messageries)[3].
Since there were significant stocks of stamps from previous issues, and the kingdom was experiencing a shortage of funds, miniatures with a portrait of Victor Emmanuel II remained in circulation for several more years, until December 1889, so some denominations of stamps with a portrait of Umberto I were little used during his reign. In July 1901, the first stamps with a portrait of King Victor Emmanuel III were issued. All miniatures issued during the reign of Umberto I were withdrawn from circulation at the end of September 1902 [9].
According to the International Bureau of the UPU for 1903[13], the density of the postal network in Italy was one post office per 35 sq. km, and the internal exchange of letters approached one billion. The value of letters and parcels sent by Italian post with a declared value was 2.5 billion francs[3].
In 1924-1925, a number of stamps of the standard series were issued with coupons, on which advertisements of various companies were placed. In total, 13 types of coupons are known[7][9].
Until 1929, all definitive stamps were issued with the king's portrait or coat of arms. In April 1929, the so-called "Imperiale" series was issued, on the stamps of which images of Kapitthe Olian she-wolf with Romulus and Remus, Julius Caesar, Octavian Augustus and a symbolic image of Italy. During the Second World War, four stamps of this series were issued with coupons and without perforations. In 1945-1946 this series was reprinted with altered drawing details. The stamps were in circulation until July 1946[5][7][9].
The first series of two commemorative stamps was issued in April 1910 for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Sicily. They depicted a portrait of J. Garibaldi. In Italy, a significant number of commemorative stamps are issued. For example, in the 1930s these were large series including postage and airmail stamps; Since 1948, series of one or two (sometimes more) stamps have been issued[5][7][9].
The first series of four postage stamps was issued in November 1915. The additional collection went to the benefit of the Red Cross[9].
In 1920-1923, Italian stamps issued in 1906-1911 overprinted "B. L.P." black, blue, orange and red were used by the Committee for the Relief of War Victims [7].
Until 1877, Italian stamps were used in San Marino[14].
Italy in World War I
Austro-Hungarian occupation
Stamp for the city of Udine (1918)
In 1918, during the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Italian territories, the military authorities prepared 4 stamps for 18 settlements: Ampezzo, Auronzo di Cadore, Codroipo, Gemona del Friuli, Latisana, Longarone, Maniago, Moggio, Palmanova, Pieve di Cadore, San Daniele del Friuli, San Giorgio di Nogaro, San Pietro al Natisone, Spilimbergo, Tarcento, Tolmezzo, Udine and Cividale del Friuli. Italian fiscal stamps were overprinted with German text. "Ortspostmarke" ("Local Postmark"), the coat of arms of Austria-Hungary, the name of the settlement and the denomination in Italian currency from 1 to 4 centesimo. On the morning of June 15, 1918, the miniatures entered circulation in Udine. However, almost immediately, their implementation was discontinued, since the use of these stamps was prohibited by telegraph order of the main command of the Austro-Hungarian army. Letters franked with stamps issued for Udine are very rare. Stamps prepared for other settlements were not put into circulation[15][16].
Local releases
Merano local postage stamp from the second series, 1918 (Mi #4)
Stamp of the Municipality of Udine, 1918 (Mi #I)
Merano
After the capitulation of Austria-Hungary in the First World War on November 3, 1918, the city of Meran (Merano), which was part of it, was annexed to Italy. Due to the fact that the postal service in the city was broken on November 28, 1918, the city chamber of commerce organized a local post office to deliver newspapers, parcels and business correspondence. The local printing house printed two series of stamps in denominations of 2 (for newspapers), 5 (for postcards) and 10 hellers (for letters).
The stamps of the first series, with the figure of the face value in a curly frame, were printed in sheets of 12 pieces (6 × 2). Their draws were as follows:
2 hellers - on pink paper 840 pieces (70 sheets);
5 hellers - on green paper 180 pieces 15 sheets);
5 hellers - on olive paper 240 pieces (20 sheets);
10 hellers - on light ultramarine paper 180 pieces (15 sheets);
10 hellers - on ultramarine paper 240 pieces (20 sheets).
The second issue was printed on glossy colored paper, with yellowish glue. In the center of the miniatures was the coat of arms of Merano; the 2 heller stamp was printed on green paper, the 5 heller stamp on dark blue paper, and the 10 heller stamp on brick red paper.
The local post office closed on December 15, 1918, due to the normalization of the work of the state post office[17][18].
Udine
During the occupation of Udine by Austro-Hungarian troops in 1917-1918, there was a shortage of postage stamps in the city. In this regard, in 1918 the City Council issued special stamps with the inscription ital. "Municipio di Udine" (Municipality of Udine) and a framed denomination. The stamps were printed in sheets of 24 pieces (6 × 4), without teeth on one side. They were extinguished with a purple rubber linear stamp with the inscription "Annullato", and (or) a round purple rubber seal with the inscription "Municipio di Udine" and the coat of arms of the city in the center[7][15].
Stamps of Italy in World War II
Anglo-American occupation
After the landing of allied troops on the island of Sicily, in September 1943, a series of nine stamps of allied military mail with an overprint of English was put into circulation. "Italy" and denomination in Italian monetary units[5][9].
In December 1943, in Naples, three stamps of the standard "Imperial Series" were overprinted with ital. "Governo militare alleato" ("Allied military administration")[5][9].
In 1945, stamps overprinted "AMS" (eng. "Amgot Mail Service" - "Union Postal Service" or another option: Italian "Amministrazione Milanese Socialista") appeared, but their origin is unclear[5][9].
Italian Social Republic
After Italy's withdrawal from World War II, a puppet state, the Italian Social Republic, was created in the north of the country occupied by Nazi Germany. In January 1944, there were releasedWe have our own stamps - Italian standard miniatures from the "Imperial Series" overprinted with the text "Repubblica Sociale Italiana", as well as the text and the lictor beam. In January, hasty postage stamps[5][9] were also overprinted.
In June 1944, a series of 13 definitive stamps of original drawings was issued. In December of the same year, a series of three commemorative stamps dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of the Bandier brothers. This was the last issue of the Italian Social Republic[9].
Local releases
During the anti-fascist liberation struggle, national liberation committees and individual partisan detachments issued local stamps during the liberation of cities. The most famous issues are Aosta (1944-1945), Arona (1945), Empire (1945), Savona (1945), Teramo (1945), etc.[7][9]
Italian Republic
Main article: Postage stamps of the Italian Republic
Stamps
The first stamp from the standard series "Italia turrita[en]", 1953 (Mi #884)
The proclamation of the Republic was marked by a series of eight Republican History of Italy stamps issued in October 1946. The miniatures featured frescoes by Nicolò Barabino[en] and Paolo Veronese, paintings by Amos Caszioli[en], Italian churches, etc.[9]
From June 1953 to November 1977, standard stamps were issued with a symbolic image of Italy in a tower crown (medallion from Syracuse) - "Italia turrita[en]". In total, 58 miniatures were issued with this pattern. From December 1978, they began to issue standard stamps "Italia" with a modified design. In January 2002, the definitive Italia stamps were issued in euro denominations. By 2006, 18 miniatures of this series were issued[7][9].
Postage stamp of Italy dedicated to the city of Fiume (Rijeka), 2007 (Unificato #3053)
The first postal block of Italy was issued in October 1985, on the occasion of the philatelic exhibition "Italy-85". On the block were placed images of the first stamp of the Sardinian kingdom and the first stamp in the world - "Penny Black"[9].
All stamps issued after November 27, 1973 have an unlimited circulation time. In January 1999, stamps with denominations in Italian lira and euro were issued; since January 2002 - only in euros[5][7][9].
The world's first stereoscopic stamp. Italy, 1956 (Mi #976)
On October 30, 2007, the Italian post was scheduled to issue a postage stamp dedicated to the former Italian city of Fiume (Rijeka), now part of Croatia. The miniature depicted the former governor's mansion and the inscription "Fiume - terra orientale già italiana" ("Fiume - the former eastern Italian territory"). However, Croatia protested, considering this emission offensive. At the request of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Communications postponed the implementation of the scandalous stamp until the dispute was settled. The stamp nevertheless went into circulation on December 10, 2007[19][20][21].
Fancy stamps
In December 1956, the Italian Post issued a series of two miniatures to celebrate Italy's admission to the United Nations. The image of the globe on the stamp is given in such a way that when viewed through special glasses, a stereoscopic effect occurs. These are the first stereoscopic (volumetric) stamps of the world[5][7].
Errors on stamps
Main article: Pink Gronky
There are errors on some postal issues in Italy. Thus, a 205 lire stamp issued in April 1961, dedicated to the visit of President Gronchi to Peru, provoked a protest from the Peruvian embassy in connection with the incorrect depiction of the border between Peru and Ecuador[5][7].
It has also been noted that a 1957 road safety stamp has a red traffic light at the bottom[5][7][22].
Series of definitive stamps
The following is a list of issues of Italian definitive stamps.
Timeline of Italian definitive issues
Other types of postage stamps
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Airmail
Italy's first airmail stamp, 1917 (Mi #126)
Italy is the birthplace of the world's first official airmail stamp. It was issued on May 20, 1917 for experimental aircraft flights on the route Turin - Rome. The miniature was a previously issued hasty mail stamp overprinted "Esperemento posta aerea maggio / 1917 / Torino - Roma Roma - Torino" ("Experimental Air Mail / May 1917 / Turin - Rome Rome - Turin") .
On June 27, 1917, a stamp was issued in Italy for the Naples-Palermo airline. It was also a previously issued hasty mail stamp overprinted with the text "Idrovolante / Napoli-Palermo-Napoli" ("Seaplane / Naples - Palermo - Naples") and a new denomination [9].
Special airmail stamps were issued to pay for correspondence sent along the routes Rome - Rio de Janeiro, Rome - Buenos Aires, Rome - Mogadishu, as well as to pay for airship flights [5] [7].
To pay for postal correspondence delivered by aircraft of General Italo Balbo from Rome to Chicago, in May 1933, two stamps were issued, consisting of three parts. The denomination indicated on the right side was equal to the airfare to Iceland and North America; the face value of the middle part corresponded to the surcharge for the order and express delivery; the left side was an air express registered tag. The stamps were printed in sheets of 20 pieces. On the left side of each of them is placed the abbreviated name of one of the pilots. Thus, all stamps in the sheet are different. Stamps overprinted "Servizio di Stato" were used as service airmail stamps[5][7][9].
Airmail charity stamps were issued in October 1933 and July 1935[27].
The last Italian airmail stamps were issued in March 1973[27].
Newspaper
The first newspaper stamp in Italy bearing the inscription "Giornali francobollo stampe" was issued in May 1862. It was printed in the printing house of F. Matrera and was a reissue of the newspaper stamp of the Kingdom of Sardinia of 1861 in changed colors. The stamp was withdrawn from circulation at the end of December 1863[9][28].
In December 1890, the last newspaper stamps were issued. These were the first parcel stamps in Italy overprinted with the text "Valevole / per le stampe" and the new denomination. The stamps were in circulation until December 31, 1891[9].
Additional payment
Surcharge stamps bearing the inscription "Segnatasse" ("surcharge") have been issued since January 1863. The first additional stamps with the denomination figure in an oval were printed in the printing house of F. Matrera. The last surcharge stamps to date came out in 2001[7][9][29].
Delivery
In some areas of Italy, correspondence is delivered by private individuals, and it is additionally franked with special stamps. The first delivery stamps bearing the inscription "Recapito autorizzato" ("Delivery permitted") were issued in July 1928. They depicted the coat of arms of Italy and the fascia. The last delivery stamps to date came out in September 1990. Usually these stamps were canceled with stamps of the company[7][9].
NewspaperStampItaly1862Michel13.jpg
DueStampItaly1863Michel1.jpg
RecapitoAutorizzatoItalia1928Michel1.jpg
1862: First newspaper stamp
(Mi #13) 1863: first postage stamp
(Mi #1) 1928: first delivery stamp
(Mi#1)
Postage exemption stamps
In March 1924, for the correspondence of state-supported charities, special stamps of three types were issued, indicating exemption from postage. They depicted the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty, the Capitoline she-wolf and Italy in a tower crown; at the bottom, a black overprint of the name of the state institution was made on a special field. Similar stamps were issued, in particular, for the Association of Libraries of Bologna, the Roman National Association of War Invalids, etc.[7][9]
Pneumatic mail stamps
Pneumatic mail forwarding was organized in Italy in 1910. In April 1913, special stamps were issued with the inscription "Posta pneumatica" ("Pneumatic Post"). The last pneumatic mail stamps came out in March 1966. They were withdrawn from circulation on February 13, 1992[7][9].
Field postage stamps
In April 1943, a series of definitive and airmail stamps were issued for the Italian field mail, overprinted "R. M." ("Posta militare" - "Military mail"). The stamps were used until August 7, 1945[7][9].
In the fall of 1940, the French city of Bordeaux became a naval base for the Axis. The 12th submarine flotilla was based here, which, after the surrender of Italy, included the surviving Italian boats. In November 1943, by order of the Italian command of the base, the stamps of the standard "Imperial Series" were overprinted "Italia Repubblicana Fascista Base Atlantica". In 1944, the text of the overprint was changed to "Repubblica sociale Italiana Base Atlantica". The base ceased to exist at the end of August 1944[7][9].
In October 1943, the National Republican was created in the Italian Social Republic. Kai Guard[en], whose main task was to maintain internal security, in particular, the fight against partisans, as well as the protection of important state facilities[30]. In December 1943 - February 1944, units of the National Republican Guard, located in Verona and Brescia, overprinted "G. N.R." (“Guardia nazionale repubblicana” is the abbreviated name of the guard)[7][9].
EntiSemistataliItaly1924Michel1.jpg
PneumaticaStampItaly1913Michel110.jpg
1924: first stamp
exemption from
postage
Italy for
Library associations
Bologna (Mi #1) 1913: the first brand of pneumatic
mail (Mi #110) 1943: first stamp
Italian field
mail (Mi #1) 1943: stamp
Italian military
naval base in
Bordeaux (France)
(Mi #8) 1943: brand
National
Republican
Guards (Mi #3)
Parcel
In July 1884, the first parcel stamps were issued. They depicted the profile of King Umberto I and gave the inscription "Pacchi postali" ("Post packages"). The stamps were withdrawn from circulation at the end of December 1890[7][9].
From July 1914, parcel stamps consisting of two parts were put into circulation. The left side was pasted on the form attached to the parcel, and the right side was pasted on the spine remaining with the sender. The last parcel stamps were issued in March 1973. They were in circulation until February 13, 1992[7][9].
In Italy, the state post office carries parcels weighing up to 20 kg; heavier ones are transported by private firms that pay the appropriate tax. From July 1953, special stamps were issued to pay for such shipments, resembling parcels, but with the inscription "Transporto pacchi in concessioner" ("Transportation of parcels under license"). In July 1984, the last stamp of this type was issued. It differed from the stamps of previous issues in that it did not have a tear-off spine. It was withdrawn from circulation on May 5, 1987[7][9].
Postage stamps
In July 1924, a series of six postage stamps was issued in denominations from 20 centesimo to 3 lire. On the miniatures in centesimo, the denomination figure was depicted in an ornament, in lira - an angel. The stamps bear the inscription "Segnatasse Vaglia". They were in circulation for about two years, withdrawn on June 30, 1926.