Italy year 1917 stamp Express 25c/40c unused MLH
The stamp you are asking about is an important provisional issue from the Kingdom of Italy during World War I.
Here are the details for the Italy 1917 Express 25c on 40c stamp:
- Country: Kingdom of Italy (Regno d’Italia)
- Year of Issue: 1917
- Original Denomination: 40 Centesimi (40c)
- New Denomination (Surcharge): 25 Centesimi (25c)
- Purpose: Express Mail (Espresso)
- Description: This is a definitive-issue stamp (likely from the King Victor Emmanuel III series) that was surcharged with a new value (25c) to meet the current postal rate for Express Mail service. Surcharges were common during wartime due to shortages of stamps in the correct denomination.
- Color: The original 40c stamp was typically a shade of brown or brown-violet. The surcharge is printed in a different color, often black or a distinct color to stand out.
- Catalogue Reference:
- Michel: No. 127
- Sassone Express: No. 3 (The Sassone catalog often lists special services like Express separately).
- Scott: No. E3 (The Scott catalog uses the prefix ‘E’ for Express Mail stamps).
- Historical Note: This surcharge, along with others of the era, was a temporary measure to address a shortage of the correct Express Mail stamp denomination during the war. It’s sometimes associated with early airmail experiments as well, although the specific “25c on 40c” issue is cataloged as a general Express stamp.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.