Philately and Postal history 2009 We’re all ready now for the “International Philately Festival” at which Zanaria will present its new, much-awaited net price sale catalogue. Zanaria’s latest offers at the International Festival in Rome Zanaria has chosen “Italia 2009”, the forthcoming international stamp-collecting fair, as the showcase for its new net price sale catalogue for Autumn 2009: “Philately and Postal History”. The new catalogue contains more than three hundred pieces from the areas most loved by stamp-collectors: from the Italian States to the Kingdom of Italy, and the best items from the Republic. There’s also a particularly interesting selection of pieces from abroad, France in particular, and a special section on Ballon Montés. The new, 48-page colour catalogue will be available free of charge at Zanaria’s stand at “Italia 2009” (H8-H9-G19). Alternatively, it can be ordered from our shop in Via Santa Margherita 6, Milan (tel. +39 02.805.24.27, fax +39 02.805.11.86, e-mail info@zanaria.com). Meanwhile, a digital copy can be downloaded now from the
Catalogues section of our website. There are a number of very fine pieces for which prices are available upon request. For example, the envelope sent from Venice to Padua, stamped with a red 5 soldi and cancelled on 1st November 1858 (the first day of the second issue of Lombardy-Venetia): the Sassone 2010 catalogue values it at 40 thousand euros. From the north to the south of the “boot” now, with another 19th century first day cover, but with two stamps on it this time. The envelope travelled from Naples to Gallipoli on January 2nd 1858 and has the 1 and 2 grana stamps on it. Given the rarity of this piece, no valuation is given. Among the best items from the Papal States is a letter sent with postage payable upon delivery from Forlì to Civitella. On the back there are two examples of the half bajocco tête-bêche, an extremely rare piece which Sassone values at 165 thousand euros. The Kingdom also offers up a few rarities: such as the two postmarks with reversed overprints. The stamps used were service stamps from 1875, the remainders of which were adapted for ordinary post three years later. In some cases, the sheets were put under the press upside-down, making stamp collectors very happy. The Zanaria sale includes the 20 centesimi and 2 lire denominations, updated with the upside-down 2 centesimi overprint. Both are hinged and, according to Sassone, are worth 60 thousand and 70 thousand euros respectively. On the subject of printing errors, let us turn now to the most valuable: the 30 centesimi for Emanuele Filiberto, with the reversed centre. Only two new ones with gum are known of, and according to expert Giorgio Colla, the one offered in the Zanaria catalogue is “the finest of the two that are known to exist”. The catalogue will tell you that it’s worth at least 85 thousand euros. “Italia 2009” can be visited from Ocotber 21st – 25th at the EUR Palazzo dei Congressi in Rome. Entrance is free and members of the public can visit between 10am and 7pm, except on Sunday, when it will close at 2pm.