Postage Stamps of Italian Post Offices in the Levant

by Tony Clayton

Constantinople

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The three Italian Post Offices in Constantinople (Galata, Pera and Stambul) opened in June 1908. The offices finally closed in 1923 after several short periods of closure.

The first stamps were overprinted locally, and this first issue, with numbers from 49 for the 20 piastre on 5 lire, to just 999 for the most common, the 10 para on 5c, are all very scarce.

First local issue. 10 para on 5 centesimi Sassone 1.	Second local issue. 10 para on 5 centesimi Sassone 8.
Second local issue. 2 piastre on 50 centesimi Sassone 12. Courtesy of Italy and Colonies Study Circle	Second local issue. 2 piastre on 50 centesimi, wide 2 Sassone 12m. Author's Collection

Second local issue. 1 piastra on 25 centesimi PIPSTRA error in pair with normal Sassone 11d.

Second local issue. 4 Piastre on 1 lire 400 printed. Sassone 13. Courtesy of Italy & Colonies Study Circle	Second local issue. 20 Piastre on 5 lire 200 printed. Sassone 14. Courtesy of Italy & Colonies Study Circle
Third local issue. 4 Piastre on 1 lire Sassone 16.	Third local issue. 20 Piastre on 5 lire Sassone 17.
Fourth local issue. 4 Piastre on 1 lire Sassone 18.	Fourth local issue. 20 Piastre on 5 lire Sassone 19.

Forgery of Fourth local issue. 4 Piastre on 1 lire Evidence: 4's too far apart; PIASTRE much too wide; postmark dated in the 1920's long after the issue was replaced in 1909; postmark clearly not of Constantinople type.

Fifth local issue. 1 Piastra on 5 centesimi Sassone 28.

Eighth local issue. 7½ Piastre on 85 centesimi. Error: PIASIRE instead of PIASTRE (position 98) Sassone 63c.

Eighth local issue. 45 Piastre on 5 lire Sassone 66.

45 Piastre on 5 lire, used Sassone 66.

Eighth local issue. 90 Piastre on 10 lire Sassone 67.

Turin Printing of 1921. 7 Piastre 20 Para on 60c Sassone 39. Left edge of 7 above right side of 0	Unissued Turin Printing of 1923. 7 Piastre 20 Para on 60c Sassone 71. Left edge of 7 above inside of 0
Unissued Turin Printing of 1923. 45 Piastre on 5 lire Sassone 74. Closed 4. Issued Sassone 56 has an open 4.	Unissued Turin Printing of 1923. 90 Piastre on 10 lire Sassone 75. Tail of 9 points down. Issued Sassone 57 has tail of 9 curved up.

First Express issue. 1.20 lire on 30c stamp overprinted 15 PIASTRE This copy has an offset overprint Sassone E1b.

Second Express issue. 15 PIASTRE on 30c Sassone E2. Courtesy of Italy and Colonies Study Circle

1 lira Postage Due This is a mint stamp. All Constantinople dues were overprinted with a control stamp on each block of 4 before use. Sassone D4. Courtesy of Italy and Colonies Study Circle

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