Italian States Stamps
Sardinia
The first Italian States stamps for the Kingdom of Sardinia were issued at the beginning of 1851.
This is where it all began! Within about a twenty year time-span during the 19th Century, this Italian kingdom would successfully defeat the armies of the two greatest empires of Europe, then it would move on to conquer and unite the entire Apennine Peninsula, from the Alps to Sicily! After accomplishing these astounding feats, the Kingdom of Sardinia would gradually fade away ... giving birth to the Kingdom of Italy!
The three definitive Italian States stamps of Sardinia shown above were issued on January 1, 1851. These stamps are lithographed on unwatermarked paper, and they are imperforate.
The common design features the right-facing portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia.
The Scott catalog attributes are as follows.
- 05 C. (1851 - Sc. #1) - Gray Black, Black.
- 20 C. (1851 - Sc. #2) - Blue, Deep Blue, Pale Blue, Deep Sky Blue.
- 40 C. (1851 - Sc. #3) - Rose, Violet Rose, Bright Carmine Rose, Lilac Rose.
The illustration shown above, from the Serrane Guide, features the major attributes of the original stamps of 1851, the Genoa Forgeries, and the Geneva Forgeries.
The three definitive Italian States stamps of Sardinia shown above were issued in September 1853. The vignettes, inscriptions, and frames are embossed on colored paper corresponding with the particular denomination.
The Scott catalog attributes are as follows.
- 05 C. (1853 - Sc. #4) - on Blue Green.
- 20 C. (1853 - Sc. #5) - on Dull Blue.
- 40 C. (1853 - Sc. #6) - on Pale Rose, on Rose.
Forgeries of these stamps exist. The originals are expensive, especially in mint condition. The stamps are very difficult to examine, and embossed elements can be impossible to see. A good rule to follow ... If the stamp is not authenticated, don't buy it!
The three definitive Italian States stamps of Sardinia shown above were issued on April 18, 1854. These stamps are lithographed, with the frame in color and a colorless embossed vignette.
The Scott catalog attributes are as follows.
- 05 C. (1854 - Sc. #7) - Blue Green, Grayish Green, Deep Green.
- 20 C. (1854 - Sc. #8) - Blue, Indigo.
- 40 C. (1854 - Sc. #9) - Rose, Brown Rose.
Forgeries of these stamps exist. The originals are expensive,
especially in mint condition. It would probably be safe to assume that any unauthenticated examples of these stamps found in collections or in the philatelic marketplace are probably forgeries. A good rule to follow ... If the stamp is not authenticated, don't buy it!
The six definitive Italian States stamps of Sardinia shown above were issued on July 1, 1855 (05 C. - 80 C.) and on January 1, 1861 (03 L.), with additional printings (shades) throughout the period between 1855 and 1863. These stamps are typographed with the frame in color and a colorless embossed vignette. The impressions are usually of excellent quality.
The Scott catalog attributes are as follows.
- 05 C. (1855 - Sc. #10) - Green, Yellow Green, Olive Green, Myrtle Green, Emerald.
- 10 C. (1855 - Sc. #11) - Bister, Ocher, Olive Bister, Olive Green, Reddish Brown, Gray Brown, Olive Gray, Gray, Grayish Brown, Dark Brown.
- 20 C. (1855 - Sc. #12) - Indigo, Blue, Light Blue, Prussian Blue, Sky Blue, Cobalt.
- 40 C. (1855 - Sc. #13) - Red, Rose, Carmine, Light Red, Vermilion.
- 80 C. (1855 - Sc. #14) - Orange Yellow, Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Ocher, Brown Orange.
- 03 L. (1861 - Sc. #15) - Bronze on thin paper, Bronze on opaque paper.
This set is very popular with Sardinia stamp collectors due to all the shades and varieties and due to the fact that most of the stamps are relatively inexpensive.
Be careful! Forgeries of the inverted and doubled head varieties have been made by applying fake embossing to printer's waste without the embossed heads. Such stamps are worthless!
The illustration shown above, from the Serrane Guide, features the major attributes of the original stamps of 1855-1861 (first row), the Geneva Forgeries (second row), and various forgeries of the 3 Lire denomination (third row).
In 1862, the stamps of the Kingdom of Sardinia were replaced by those of the Kingdom of Italy, which are identical to the Sardinian issues, but they are perforated. The imperforate stamps of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the perforated stamps of the Kingdom of Italy were sold and used concurrently until 1863.
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Return to Italian States Stamps
from Sardinia
Victor Emmanuel II
King of Sardinia
c. 1849
The two newspaper stamps of Sardinia shown above (Sardinia Sc. #P1-P2) were issued on January 1, 1861. They are typographed and embossed on unwatermarked paper, and they are imperforate.
An identical 2 C. denomination newspaper stamp, in Buff (Italy Sc. #P1), was issued in 1862, after the Kingdom of Sardinia had become the Kingdom of Italy.