Before first day covers came into fashion
Two examples of the 1 centesimo “Floreale” on a photographic postcard sent from Rome to Recanati on 1st July 1901: the day on which the first series from Vittorio Emanuele III’s reign made its debut, designed in the then-fashionable “Liberty” style.
Alongside jeeps, chewing-gum, jazz and boogie-woogie, at the end of the Second World War the Americans also introduced Italians to the first day cover, which would soon become a collectors’ sector in itself. Its golden era was in the 1970s.
It’s one thing, however, to create a FDC in order to put it in an album, and quite another to come across one by chance – especially if it dates back to a time when nobody paid any attention to first day covers, and they were not especially produced for collectors.
This is the case of the photographic postcard franked with two “Floreale” 1 centesimo stamps, which Zanaria is offering for 1800 euros. If it hadn’t been for that double franking applied at the railway post office, the postcard, sent from Rome to Recanati, would be northing more than a charming old-time souvenir.
But instead it has a distinctly more important historic and economic value: the franking proves that at least part of the first series under King Vittorio Emanuele III was actually on sale on the day it was officially issued, 1st July 1901. Zanaria has plenty of other examples of the “Floreale”, with some good quality new ones. For example, the well-centred 40 centesimi with traces of hinge, which Sassone values at more than 2200 euros, and Zanaria is offering at 1500.
Or the 50 centesimi with original gum and good margins, which Sassone estimates at 6875 euros: at Zanaria this can be purchased for 3000 euros. The fake used section also has a few special items. These include the Naples imitation of the 5 centesimi, lithographed and with perforation 11; according to Sassone it is worth at least 10,000 euros, but Zanaria is selling it at 6000.
We also have the first of the two stamps forged in Catania, photozincographed, with perforation 13½, which we are offering at 5500 euros rather than the valuation in excess of 10,000 euros. For more information on Zanaria’s stock and offers, please visit the online stock section on our website.