Stamps

The Stamps Department, with an average of sold lots above 90% and an increase of the sales value of over 200%, has reached memorable goals in a very short time placing itself within the international panorama among the leaders of the field.

The historical fascination and economic value that have always characterized stamps, envelopes and letters have made Philately one of the most widespread forms of collecting in the world.

A fascinating glimpse into the birth of the Kingdom of Italy stands out in the Stamps catalogue offered at auction scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Complete and unpublished collections on the market reveal a philatelic passion of rare meticulousness, where each carefully selected item becomes a fundamental piece in reconstructing our complex Risorgimento history. Standing out in this section are indeed pieces that are difficult to obtain, such as letters sent during the Oltrepò Montavano period (1859). For instance, correspondence from Moglia di Gonzaga (lot 3, € 2,500 - 3,500), from Revere (lot 4, € 1,500 - 2,000), and San Benedetto (lot 5, € 1,500 - 2,000), which bear witness to the very brief period in which these territories, during the Second War of Independence, were annexed to the Kingdom before returning under Austrian control. 

Still referring to the various Provisional Governments that emerged during the national unification project, two more letters stand out, bearing postage marks from Sardinia but still with Ducal stamps. One is from Borgo San Donnino (lot 11, € 1,200 - 1,500), and the other is from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (lot 8, € 800 - 1,200). Additionally, there is a “short” series of 6 values from the provisional government of Tuscany in 1860, when the old Grand Ducal emblems were replaced with those of the House of Savoy (lot 29, € 500 - 1,000).

The section dedicated to "Foreign Post Offices" also offers another intriguing perspective on the territories where the fledgling Kingdom of Italy had commercial interests. This is evident from a letter with text from Cairo, via Alexandria of Egypt, to Florence in 1863 (lot 54, € 2,000 - 3,000), which, along with other pieces (ex. lots 52, 53), testifies to Italy’s strong presence in the management of the Egyptian postal service. It also represents a fascinating example of national cooperation between Italy, France, and England in the steamship expedition. 

From historical significance to artistic value, stamps in their creation stage claim numerous collaborations with artists capable of turning these small, perforated paper squares into propaganda tools and even iconic snapshots of a historical event. This is evident in the postal envelope illustrated by William Mulready, which was worth the postage for the letter itself, but which also served the purpose of celebrating the exploits of English colonizers during the imperialistic era (lot 64). Similarly, there is the 1000 lire stamp dedicated to Italy’s victory in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, featuring the autograph of the master Renato Guttuso (lot 41).