Italy postage stamp 20c 1877 year / unused stamp
The stamp you are referring to is the 20 Centesimi (20c) Orange definitive stamp featuring the profile of King Victor Emmanuel II.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the issue, which includes a very significant rarity:
👑 Details of the 1877 20 Centesimi Stamp
- Monarch: King Victor Emmanuel II (Vittorio Emanuele II)
- Year of Issue: 1877 (The date 1877 refers to its specific release within the broader series, which began in 1863).
- Denomination: 20 Centesimi (20c)
- Colour: Orange (often described as orange-yellow or dark orange)
- Catalogue Number: Scott #31 or Sassone #28 (The main Italian catalogue).
- Watermark: This issue features the Crown Watermark (Filigrana Corona).
💰 Value of the Unused (Mint) Stamp
The value of the 1877 20c stamp varies massively depending on a single, crucial factor: its specific shade or type.
| Sassone Catalogue No. | Description/Shade | Condition | Catalogue Value (Sassone) | Market Price Estimate |
| Sassone #28 | The Standard 20c Orange | Unused/Mint Hinged (MH) | €600 – €1,000 | $100 – $300 |
| Sassone #28a | Dark Orange Shade (Orange Scuro) | Mint Never Hinged (MNH) | €6,500 | $500 – $1,500 |
| Sassone #28 | The Rarest Variation | Mint Never Hinged (MNH), Well-Centered | €24,000 | $5,000+ |
Why the huge difference?
- Mint Condition: An “Unused” stamp with original gum but with a hinge mark (Mint Hinged or MH) is significantly less valuable than an absolutely “Perfect, Never Hinged” (MNH) copy.
- The Great Rarity: The 1877 issue includes a variation that is considered one of the great rarities of the Kingdom of Italy due to the specific color or paper variety. Catalogues list a perfect MNH copy of the rarest shade (like the one sometimes referenced as Sassone #28, perfect with certificate) at an extremely high value (€24,000).


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