Stamps of the Kingdom of Italy
by Tony Clayton
The Quindici Stamps printed by Matraire
The First Stamps of Italy <<-- :
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The so-called Quindici issues of 1863 were printed in lithography by
Francesco Matraire. The problem with the previous issue was the need for embossing, which
limited the rate at which stamps could be produced. Now that stamps were required
for the whole of Italy rather than just Sardinia, the use of the embossed head had to stop.
There are two main types, showing the head of King Victor Emmanuel III.
The delight of this issue is that both types can be plated. Each type was
printed in sheets of 100 consisting of four blocks of 25 subjects. For the first
type each subject of the blocks of 25 can be distinguished, but which
of the four blocks is not so clear, as pairs and multiples of this issue are scarce.
For the second type all 100 stamps can be plated, in 4 groups of 25 subjects; many large blocks survived.
I am indebted to Alan Becker, who has published details of the different plate
positions in Fil-Italia Volume III No. 1 of 1976.
I am gradually acquiring many of the individual plate varieties, and intend to publish
images as they come to hand.
Type 1
There are several ways to distinguish Type 1 stamps from Type 2.
- The first C in the inscription C.QUINDICI is almost closed. In Type 2 it is much more open.
- The cartouche line under the Q is complete. In Type 2 it is usually (but not always) broken.
- The cartouche line below the POSTALE extends to the right. In Type 2 it doesn't.
A Type 1 stamp on cover
Subject 10; thin line at base of P in POSTALE (difficult to see);
touch of colour in NE spandrel (obscured by postmark); retouch on inside oval
opposite IA of ITALIANO;
point on cartouche above space between QU of QUINDICI
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A Type 1 stamp
This stamps has proved difficult to plate as there are few flaws.
It is Subject 17; retouched break in frame line to left above C;
break in outer frame line above second O of BOLLO
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Type 1 stamp, closed C variety
Subject 23; Closed C; spot of colour attached to curve right of QUINDICI
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Type 2
Type 2, normal type
Subject 18; four dots in margin above E of POSTALE; line below Q only just open
Group 3; small dot above and to right of last O in BOLLO; cartouche broken above and to left of E in POSTALE
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Type 2, f flaw in top left corner
Subject 14; f flaw to left of C, tiny hairline in margin below C in SE corner
Group 2; dot in left margin level with space between C and O in FRANCO; small white fault in top right corner of NE corner square.
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Type 2, line under Q variety
Subject 9; line under Q; SW corner, white flaw below right of 5; dot high in NW spandrel
Group 3; Break in O of POSTALE; smudge in hair below T of POSTALE; SW corner, white flaw at top left
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Forgeries
The stamp has been extensively forged. This particular example
is a giveaway as the lettering is far too neat!
Type 2, forgery
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Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v6 3rd March 2010
