Italy Kingdom year 1870/94 stamps Postage due / Porto ☀ Full set
Postage Due (Italian: Segnatasse or Porto) stamps of the Kingdom of Italy, specifically the long-running Numeral Stamps issue.
This series was the principal means for collecting underpaid postage in Italy for over two decades, spanning the reigns of King Victor Emmanuel II (until 1878) and King Umberto I (1878-1900).
Here is a breakdown of the stamps you are asking about:
🇮🇹 Italy Kingdom: Postage Due (Segnatasse) 1870–1894
The series is known to collectors as the “Numeral Stamps – New Design” (or Cifra in Ovale) and followed an earlier 1863 design.
| Feature | Description |
| Years of Issue | The initial core issue is generally dated 1870/1871 and remained in use until the 1890s, with color and surcharge variations extending the series to 1894 and beyond. |
| Purpose | To indicate the Postage Due (Segnatasse or Porto), which was the amount of deficient postage (often double the missing amount) to be paid by the recipient. |
| Design | The stamps feature a simple, yet distinctive design with a large numeral (the value) inside a central oval, surrounded by text. |
| Denominations & Colors | The issue is categorized by the color combinations: |
| * Low Values (1c to 60c): Value numeral and inscription in carmine on an orange/ochre background. | |
| * High Values (1L to 10L): Value numeral and inscription in brown on a blue background. | |
| Key Variations | Several key varieties make this a rich collecting area: |
| * Inverted Center: The central numeral/oval printed upside down (e.g., 10 Lira blue and brown, Sassone 14b). These are extremely rare and valuable. | |
| * Surcharges (1890-1891): Older low values (like the 1c and 2c) that were no longer needed were overprinted with new denominations (e.g., 20c on 1c and 10c on 2c). These are known as the “Mascherine” (little mask) issues and contain some significant rarities. |
Collecting Value and Rarity
- Common Denominations: The common centesimi values (e.g., 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c) are very inexpensive, often valued at less than $1 USD for used condition. A “full set” of the common stamps (excluding rare varieties) is also generally affordable, sometimes selling for around €25.00 for a used set.
- Key Rarities: The true value lies in the errors and high-value stamps:
- Inverted Numerals/Center (Cifra Capovolta): As noted, varieties like the 10 Lira with an inverted center are extremely rare, with catalog values reaching tens of thousands of Euros.
- Surcharges/Mascherine: Stamps like the 30c on 2c surcharge (Mascherine) are particularly difficult to find in mint condition and are highly prized.
- High Denominations: Unused or perfectly centered copies of the high-value 1 Lira, 2 Lira, 5 Lira, and 10 Lira stamps in the blue and brown color scheme can command significant prices, especially if certified by a respected expert.
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