Postage Stamps of Italy

by Tony Clayton

Occupation of Former Austrian Territories

Austrian Occupation of Italian Territories <<-- : -->> Venezia Giulia
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Trentino-Alto Adige

After the surrender of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in November 1918 Italy occupied a number of areas of the former Empire prior to assimilation into the Kingdom of Italy.

First Issue

The first issue, on 11th November 1918 consisted of overprinted Austrian stamps. Forged examples are known.

1 krone Sassone 15. Just 1100 issued.

4 krone Sassone 17. Just 210 issued. Courtesy of Italy & Colonies Study Circle

Second Issue

On the 6th December a new issue of Italian stamps overprinted Venezia Tridentina was made.

20 centesimi Sassone 23.

1 lire used on piece Note the Trento 1 postmark which has had the German text removed from the upper half Just 5000 issued. Sassone 27.

Third Issue

On the 18th December a further issue of Italian stamps overprinted Venezia Tridentina was made, with the addition of values in Austrian currency.
They were used in Trentino until early January 1919 and in Alto Adige until 19 April of the same year

5 heller on 5c green Sassone 28.	5 heller on 5c green. Missing 5 Sassone 28d.	5 heller on 5c green. Raised 5 Sassone 28e.	5 heller on 5c green. Missing V Sassone 28g.
10 heller on 10c red Note the missing i in Venezia. Sassone 29e.	20 heller on 20c Sassone 30.	20 heller with missing 2. Sassone 30c.	20 heller with missing 2 inserted by hand Sassone 30e.

There are several typographic errors to be found in this set, including the missing 2 shown above. A very few examples of the latter are known with the 2 replaced by hand.

Detail comparing the normal 20 on the left with the added 2 on the right Sassone 28.

Trentino-Alto Adige Provisional Postage Due Stamps

No official Postage Due stamps were available for Trentino-Alto Adige, so three offices, Bolzano 1, Bolzano 3 and Tirolo and Lana, issued their own provisionals.

5 centesimi of Bolzano 1 Bolzano 1 office used a T handstamp Sassone BZ1/12.	10 centesimi Black handstamp instead of violet Sassone BZ1/13.
5 centesimi of Bolzano 3 Bolzano 3 office used a range of overprints Sassone BZ3/80.	20 centesimi Sassone BZ3/82.

5 and 20 heller postage due provisional Issued by Bolzano 3 office in February 1919 Sassone BZ3/130 and 132.

2 centesimi of Bolzano 3 Sassone BZ3/134.	45c on 45 centesimi Sassone BZ3/145.
Hand stamped 5 on 2 centesimi Sassone BZ3/134.	Machine stamped 5 on 2 centesimi Sassone BZ3/145.

5c di c on 5c In use for 14 days at Tirolo and Lana PO's. Withdrawn because of the use of German. Sassone TeL/1.

Austrian Occupation of Italian Territories <<-- : -->> Venezia Giulia
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