Postage Stamps of Italy

by Tony Clayton


Forgeries, Philatelic and Bogus Issues


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Philatelic Creations

Some stamps have been overprinted to celebrate an event. One method used was to overprint the inter-pane gutter. Another was to overprint common obsolete stamps.

1 lira air

1 lire stamp with gutter overprinted for a Stamp Fair in Rimini

2 lire

2 lire stamp with gutter overprinted for a Stamp Fair in Venice

1 lire

Obsolete RSI stamp overprinted for a Stamp Fair in Venice

25c

Florence Welcomes The Allies
An unofficial fabrication created by a local philatelist

20c

Translates as 'Loan of Freedom'
A propaganda issue from Viareggio that is said to have seen postal use.


Bogus Issues

5c?

A totally bogus overprint designed to fleece the collector

5c?

Another example


Forgeries

You have to be careful as forgeries of Italian area stamps are not uncommon, especially with scarcer stamps.
A good example is of the scarce 60c yellow brown of Eritrea that was issued 1929, which catalogues at several hundred euro in used condition. On the other hand the unoverprinted version catalogues at just 75 eurocents.

60c?

A totally bogus Colonia Eritrea overprint on what appears to be Sassone 124.

compare

Comparison of the overprint with a genuine overprint
(a) A granular overprint showing it was a photocopied overprint instead of typographed. A scattering of tiny black toner specks is another indicator
(b) Many letter shapes wrong, round stop on i, joined characters.
(c) Overprint length 1 mm greater than it should be.


Uncertain Issues

50c

50c fiscal stamp overprinted 'Valid for Postage'
I gather that it is a philatelic invention from the Genova area dating to about 1944.


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Stamps of Italy - Philatelic and Bogus Issues and forgeries
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v4 18th December 2020
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