Italian Post Abroad General Issues Stamps
Italian Post Abroad General Issues refer not to a single geographical territory but to stamps used by the Kingdom of Italy to maintain postal services in territories where Italian diplomatic or commercial interests were established outside of metropolitan Italy, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These issues often served areas in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Near East, reflecting Italy's colonial ambitions and international presence before the rise of Fascism.
- Issued stamps
- 1874–1881
- Region
- Europe, Southern Europe
- Currency
- ITL
- Languages
- Italian
- Issuer type
- Colonial postal administration
- Part of
- Italy
History and background
The stamps invariably bear Italian inscriptions, often alongside overprints indicating the specific foreign post office location, such as "Cina" or "Somaliland. " These issues ceased as Italy consolidated its colonial holdings or as international agreements shifted postal administration to other powers.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Inscriptions to look for
Words printed on the stamp that point to this issuer. Search any of them in the issuer directory.
- ITALIANE
- REGNO D'ITALIA
How to identify them
- Look for standard Italian stamp designs of the late 19th century.
- Identify overprints in Italian, often indicating a specific foreign location (e.g., 'Cina', 'Somaliland', 'Costantinopoli', 'Alessandria').
- Check for the country of origin 'ITALIANE' or 'REGNO D'ITALIA' on the base stamp.
Popular series
-
Italian Stamps Overprinted for Foreign Post Offices
1874-1881
General issues of Italy overprinted with specific names of foreign post offices or territories where Italian postal services operated, such as 'Cina' or 'Somaliland'.
-
Umberto I Issues for Abroad
1879-1881
Stamps featuring King Umberto I, specifically prepared or overprinted for use in Italian post offices abroad.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- €5–€50
- Scarce stamps
- €100–€5,000+
Value varies significantly based on the specific overprint, condition, and rarity of the foreign post office. Early issues and those from less common locations tend to be more valuable. Covers bearing these stamps are highly sought after.
Catalogs. Italian Post Abroad General Issues stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about Italian Post Abroad General Issues stamps
Italian Post Abroad General Issues refer to stamps issued by the Kingdom of Italy for use in its post offices located in foreign territories, primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These stamps were typically regular Italian issues overprinted with the name of the specific foreign post office or territory, reflecting Italy's diplomatic and commercial presence abroad.
The value of Italian Post Abroad General Issues stamps can vary widely. Common issues in good condition might be worth a few euros, while rare overprints, specific foreign post office locations, or stamps on cover can fetch hundreds or even thousands of euros. Rarity is often tied to the specific overprint and the period of use.
To identify Italian Post Abroad General Issues stamps, look for standard Italian stamp designs from the late 19th century, often featuring monarchs like Umberto I. The key identifier is the overprint, usually in Italian, indicating the foreign post office location (e.g., 'Cina', 'Somaliland', 'Costantinopoli'). The Stamp Identifier app can suggest the issue from a photo; confirm the catalog number, and ask an expert about anything valuable.
Italian Post Abroad General Issues stamps are well-documented in major philatelic catalogs. You can find them listed in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (often under 'Italian Offices Abroad' or specific country listings), the Michel Europa-Katalog, and the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps catalogue (for some related territories) or their general European volumes.
Not sure where
it's from?
Photograph the stamp and Stamp Identifier names the issuer, the year and the series. One identification every 24 hours is free; prices and listings need Premium.