Postage Stamps of Italy

by Tony Clayton

CLN Issues

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CLN stands for 'Comitati di Liberazione Nazionale' or Committee for National Liberation. As the German forces were pushed back towards the end of the Second World War, a number of towns in Northern Italy issued their own overprinted stamps. In some case these were little more than propaganda issues to raise funds from philatelists, but some were used for postage in local areas.

This is a difficult area to collect as forged overprints are known, and those shown with printings of just 100 are bound to raise suspicion.

Aosta

20c + 10 lire on 5c 3000 printed Sassone 6

50 lire on 1l25 express 3000 printed Sassone 8

10 lire and 25 lire miniature sheets These are suspect as they are each in the colour that the other should be. Sassone F1 and F2 variety

Arona

75c 820 printed Sassone 7

1l25 express I was unsure as to whether this stamp is correct in having a sideways overprint, but the cover shown below confirmed it. 380 printed Sassone 16

An interesting philatelic cover Courtesy of the Italy and Colonies Study Circle

Barge

80c Air Mail Only 100 printed. The overprint is suspect Sassone 15

Cuvio

For each of these six stamps just 300 were issued in mint condition. 2700 covers were sold with the three pairs on. Stamps with overprints entirely in one colour are forgeries.

25c, both types se-tenant Sassone 1 and 4

1 lire, both types se-tenant Sassone 2 and 5

2l50, both types se-tenant Sassone 3 and 6

Back of the above showing violet handstamp applied to all issues

Imperia

20c 10000 printed. Sassone 3

10 lire Air Mail 100 printed. The overprint is suspect! Sassone 18

Maccagno

3 lire, with handstamp on the back 100 printed - the key stamp of Maccagno. Sassone 7

Mantova

3 lire on 50c 10000 printed. PSI stands for Piena Sovranita Italiana (Full Italian Sovereignity) Sassone 4

Savona

20c 17800 printed. Sassone 3

Valle Bormida

20c and 2.50 lire of the first locally printed issue. Known as the Victory and Perseus Issue 8000 (25c) and 6000 printed, but many destroyed by military action. Sassone 10 and 15

All four stamps of the second locally printed issue. Known as the Theseus Issue 5000 sets printed, but many destroyed by military action. Sassone 16-19

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