Stamps of the Kingdom of Italy

by Tony Clayton

Airmail Stamps

1941 Italo-German Friendship Issue <<-- : -->> War Propaganda Stamps

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The World's first ever Airmail Stamp was issued on 20th May 1917. Since then the Italian Post Office has issued very many types of airmail stamp.

1917 Turin - Rome and Rome - Turin Flights

25c red express stamp overprinted Sassone A1 The stamp shows the official postmark for the return leg

Cover showing the postmarks used on the outward leg

1917 Naples - Palermo and Palermo - Naples Flights

25c on unissued 40c violet Urgent Express stamp Sassone A2 Postmark used for the return leg.

Cover flown on the outward leg

1926-8 Definitive Issues

5 lire green, part of the original set. Sassone A7

80c lilac and red-brown issued in 1928 Sassone A3A

1927 Provisional Issues

Issued to reflect a reduction in some Airmail rates.

Cent.50 on 60c. Sassone A8

Cent.80 on 1 lire. Sassone A9

1930 'Crociera' Transatlantic Flight Issue

7.70 lire Crociera issue Sassone A25

7.70 lire Crociera issue showing seven stars variety on bottom right stamp Sassone A25a Image courtesy of www.philafer.com

1933 Balbo Transatlantic Flight Issue

There was a good deal of controversy at the time of issue, as each of the values were printed in a sheet of 20 triptychs, each of which had a different aircraft code representing the first four letters of the name of the pilot. As a result, to get complete sheets containing all the different stamps would set you back no less than 1500 lire, an enormous sum for a collector in 1933.

Triple group of the 5.25+19.75 lire version Sassone A51O, A51H, A51T

Triple group of the 5.25+44.75 lire version Sassone A52O, A52H, A52T

The rare Official Mail version Sassone SA1 Image from an Ebay sale

1934 Rome-Mogadiscio Flight Issue

A rare used example of the Official Mail version Sassone SA2 Courtesy of the Italy and Colonies Study Circle

1941 Italo-German Friendship Issue <<-- : -->> War Propaganda Stamps
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