Italian Post Albania Stamps
Italian Post Albania refers to the postal administration established in Albania under Italian occupation and influence, primarily during the early 20th century and World War II. This region in Southeastern Europe saw its postal services heavily managed by Italy, resulting in stamps often bearing Italian inscriptions or dual-language text.
- Issued stamps
- 1902–1923
- Region
- Europe, Southeastern Europe
- Currency
- ITL
- Languages
- Italian, Albanian
- Issuer type
- Occupation postal administration
- Part of
- Italy
History and background
The postal issues reflect the complex political transitions of Albania, particularly the periods of Italian protectorate and direct annexation. These stamps are significant artifacts of the intersection between Italian imperial administration and Albanian national identity.
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
- ITALIA
- ALBANIA
- VALONA
- DURAZZO
- SCUTARI
How to identify them
- Look for 'ITALIANE' or 'ITALIA' inscriptions, often accompanied by overprints like 'ALBANIA', 'VALONA', 'DURAZZO', or 'SCUTARI'.
- Examine the overprint type and font carefully, as many varieties and forgeries exist.
- Check for dual-language text (Italian and Albanian) on some later issues.
Popular series
-
Italian Post Offices in Albania
1902-1916
Stamps of Italy overprinted 'Albania' or 'Valona' for use in Italian post offices in various Albanian cities like Durazzo, Scutari, and Valona.
-
Italian Occupation of Valona
1914-1916
Specific issues for the Italian occupation of Valona, often featuring Italian stamps with local overprints.
-
Italian Post in Albania (General Issues)
1917-1923
Later issues reflecting broader Italian postal administration, sometimes with dual-language inscriptions.
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
- €1–€20
- Scarce stamps
- €100–€1000+
Value varies significantly based on overprint type, condition, and specific issue. Early overprints and rare varieties can fetch high prices. Stamps from the Italian Post Offices period are generally more sought after than later issues.
Catalogs. Italian Post Albania 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 Albania stamps
Italian Post Albania stamps refer to postage stamps issued and used by the Italian postal administration in Albania during periods of Italian influence and occupation, primarily from 1902 to 1923. These often include Italian stamps overprinted for use in Albanian territories or specific issues for Italian post offices there.
The value of Italian Post Albania stamps varies widely. Common issues can be relatively inexpensive (€1-€20), but rare overprints, specific varieties, and stamps in pristine condition can be quite valuable, reaching hundreds or even thousands of Euros. Early issues from the Italian Post Offices in Albania tend to be more valuable.
To identify Italian Post Albania stamps, look for Italian inscriptions, often with additional overprints in Italian or Albanian indicating their use in Albania (e.g., 'ALBANIA', 'VALONA'). Pay close attention to the specific overprint details, as these are crucial for identification and valuation. A photo in the Stamp Identifier app gives a first identification; check the catalog number in a specialised catalog before relying on it.
Italian Post Albania stamps are well-documented in major international stamp catalogs. You can find them listed in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, the Michel Europa-Katalog (Südeuropa), and the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps catalogue, often under 'Italian Post Offices Abroad' or 'Albania'.
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