Postage Stamps of Italian States

by Tony Clayton

Tuscany

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In 1851 the Grandduchy of Tuscany comprised Florence, Lucca, Arezzo, Grossetto, Pisa, Livorna and the Isle of Elba. The Grandduke Leopold II left Florence in April 1859, and a provisional government was formed. A plebiscite voted for amalgamation with the Kingdom of Sardinia in March 1860.

All issues were printed with very narrow margins between stamps, so it is difficult to find copies with 4 clear margins.

1 Tuscan lire = 12 crazie = 20 soldi = 60 quattrini = 0.84 Italian lire until November 1859

First Issue, 1851.

Watermark: grandducal crowns and straight lines, extending over several stamps. The three lowest values (1 quattrini, 1 soldi, 2 soldi) and the highest (60 crazie) are all rare.

1 crazie carmine on grey Sassone 4.	2 crazie light blue on grey Sassone 5.
4 crazie green on grey Sassone 6.	6 crazie slate on grey Sassone 7.

9 crazie brown on grey Sassone 8.

Second Issue, 1857.

Watermark: vertical undulating lines with II RR POSTE TOSCANE diagonally across the sheet. All were printed on white paper. The 1 quattrini and 1 soldi are rare, as is the 9 crazie issued after the formation of the Provisional Government.

The great rarity of Italian States is a single known copy of the 4 crazie green with the value tablet inverted.

1 quattrini black Sassone 10. Courtesy of I&CSC	1 crazie carmine Sassone 12.
2 crazie blue Sassone 13.	4 crazie green Sassone 14.

6 crazie deep blue Sassone 15.

4 crazie green Sassone 14b. This is the only known example with the inverted value tablet at the bottom. Courtesy of David Feldman SA

Provisional Government Issue, 1860.

Watermark: vertical undulating lines with II RR POSTE TOSCANE diagonally across the sheet.

Currency: 100 centesimi = 1 lira. The 1 centesimi is scare and the 3 lire rare.

5 centesimi green Sassone 18.	10 centesimi brown Sassone 19.
20 centesimi blue Sassone 20.	40 centesimi rose-carmine Sassone 19.

80 centesimi red-brown Sassone 22.

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