Letter Mail from and to the Old Italian States 1850 - 1870
by Mario Mentaschi & Thomas Mathà
February 9th, 2006
The
aim of the exhibit is to illustrate the postal History of the Old Italian
States in the period 1850-1870 that spans from the issue of the first postage
stamps in Lombardy-Venetia, on June 1, 1850, to the occupation of the Papal
States in September 1870.
The Italian States considered in the exhibit are:
Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, from 1850 to the effects of the 1859 war that resulted in the loss of Lombardy to the Sardinian Kingdom.
Austrian Venetia until the 1866 Italian occupation.
Duchies of Modena and Parma, from June 1852, date of issue of the postage stamps, a prerequisite for the application of the Austro-Italian postal treaty, until the 1860 annexation to the Sardinian Kingdom. The exhibit also illustrates the evolution of the Ducal postal rules and rates to the Sardinian and Italian rules and rates until December 1862.
Grand Duchy of Tuscany, from April 1851, date of issue of the postage stamps, a prerequisite for the application of the Austro-Italian postal treaty, until the 1860 annexation to the Sardinian Kingdom. The exhibit also illustrates the evolution of the Ducal postal rules and rates to the Sardinian and Italian rules and rates until December 1862.
The Papal States, from the issue of the postage stamps in January 1852, until the Italian occupation of 1870. In 1859 the Papal States lost Romagne to the Sardinian Kingdom, in October 1860 Marche and Umbria were occupied. In September 1870, the Papal States, reduced to the "Patrimonio di San Pietro," was occupied by the Italian army.
Kingdom of Sardinia, from January 1851, date of issue of the postage stamps and introduction of new postal rates in the Kingdom, until December 1862. From January 1, 1863, when a new uniform postal Italian law was extended to all the newly acquired provinces, started the Italian postal history (which is not illustrated in the present exhibit).
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was under the rule of the Bourbon dynasty and was made up by the Kingdom of Naples, extended to all continental Italian Bourbon domains, and by the Kingdom of Sicily. The two Kingdoms had different postal administrations, and introduced postage stamps and the new postal regulations with different timing: from January 1, 1858 the Kingdom of Naples, from January 1, 1859 the Kingdom of Sicily. During the period May - October 1860, the Bourbon Kingdom was occupied by the Sardinian army. During the period October 1860 - December 1862 the Sardinian/Italian postal rules and rates were progressively extended to the former Bourbon Provinces.
The exhibit is structured in five areas:
1 - Domestic mail of the Old Italian States 5 frames
2 - Mail exchanged between the Old Italian States
4 - Mail exchanged with the Kingdom of Italy and San Marino
Domestic mail of the old Italian States
Lombardy-Venetia
A new Postal law was introduced in the Austrian Empire with Effect June
1, 1850, the date of issue of the first postage stamps. The postage stamps
were denominated in kreuzer Convention Münze (krCM) in all the Empire,
except for Lombardy-Venetia where they were denominated in Austrian centesimi;
the postal exchange rate was: 1 krCM = 5 centesimi of Austrian lire.
The domestic postal rates in Lombardy-Venetia were stated in Austrian
centesimi, but postage due markings were in krCM. The letter rates depended
on weight and distance. Unpaid letters paid an extra fee of 3 krCM (15
centesimi) for every lot of weight.
Fig. 1 The single-rate letter within the town of Padua, paid with a 10 centesimi revenue stamp. Only 23 frankings are recorded with a 10 centesimi revenue stamp and only 7 with a sole 10 centesimi.
The printed matter rate was 1 kreuzer = 5 centesimi for every lot of weight, independent of distance. A special rate was set for newspapers: 0.6 krCM for any newspaper weighing less than a lot. In 1851 special postage stamps without denomination were distributed to the newspaper editors throughout the whole Empire.
Registered letters had to be prepaid. The postage stamps representing the registration fee had to be stuck to the reverse of the letters.
The monetary reform of 1858
From November 1, 1858, the Austrian florin was divided into 100 kreuzer
- instead of 60 kreuzer - and the circulation of the Austrian lira in
Lombardy-Venetia ceased. The value of the new kreuzer (Nkr) amounted
to 3/5 of the krCM. The printed-matter rate was rounded up to 2 soldi
corresponding to 1.2 times the old rate. The single-letter rate within
the postal district was rounded down to 3 soldi corresponding to 9/10
of the old rate. All other rates remained the same, applying the 3/5
conversion rate. New newspapers stamps, without indication of the denomination
(1.05 soldi) and with the effigy of the Emperor were distributed to newspaper
editors. When more than one newspaper was sent under the same wrapper,
the editor used as many newspapers stamps as there were newspapers.
Austrian Venetia
Until December 31, 1865, rates depending on distance were in effect. The
letter rate was determined in new centesimal kreuzer Nkr (soldi in Italian).
Insufficiently paid letters were charged the amount of the insufficiency,
increased by the 5 soldi fee for unpaid letters for each Austrian lot of
weight. From January 1, 1866, the domestic rate within the Austrian Empire
was set at 5 Nkr, soldi in Venetia, for each lot of weight, irrespective
of the distance. The rate of printed matter, which did not depend on
distance, amounted to 2 soldi for every Austrian lot of weight. For the
dispatch of newspapers, the editors received newspaper stamps, which
were equal in the whole Empire, without the indication of the value of
1.05 Nkr. Registered letters had to be prepaid to destination. The registration
fee had to be paid with postage stamps that were applied to the reverse
of the letters.
Modena
From September 4, 1852, the letter rate, for each 8.75 grams was set as
follows:
- 5 centesimi within a distance of10 Austrian miles (75 km)
- 10 centesimi beyond a distance of 10 Austrian miles.
The printed-matter rate was 5 centesimi for each 17.5 grams of weight. The fee for registered letter amounted to 25 centesimi. Postage stamps paying the registration fee had to be affixed on the reverse of letters, as required by the Austro-Italian rules. The law of Modena required that all judiciary mail be registered; therefore, domestic registered letters are common.
Parma
The Duchy of Parma adopted the Austro-Italian domestic rates. Due to the
limited size of the Duchy, the rate of 25 centesimi for each 17.5 grams
of weight, to destinations beyond 75 km can be found only on letters
exchanged between Piacenza and the Lunigiana (Pontremoli and Bagnone).
Fig. 2 February 8, 1858, single-rate letter within the town of Parma. About ten letters mailed within the postal districts at the 10 centesimi rate are recorded. Most are letters mailed within the town of Parma.
The printed-matter rate amounted to 5 centesimi. The registration fee amounted to 25 centesimi. Postage stamps paying the registration fee had to be affixed to the reverse of letters, as required by the Austro-Italian rules. Only four registered letters mailed within the Duchy boundary are recorded.
Tuscany
The Tuscan currency was the lira divided into 12 crazie or 20 soldi. Each
soldo was divided into 3 quattrini. 1 Tuscan lira = 0.84 Italian lire.
From April 1, 1851, when the postage stamps were issued, until January
1, 1860, when the Sardinian rates were introduced, the single letter
rate within the Grand Duchy was 2 crazie, as it had been since 1835.
Progression was in denari. One ounce (28.3 grams) equalled 24 denari.
From July 1, 1857, a new progression was set: 2 crazie for each 12 denari
(14.2 grams) of weight. The printed-matter rate amounted to 2 quattrini
for each ounce (28.3 grams) of weight. Until June 30, 1857, the newspaper
rate was 1 quattrino for every sheet of paper. The reduced rate of 1
quattrino was applied also to printed matter addressed to some civil
servants. From July 1, 1857, the reduced rate of 1 quattrino was abolished,
but it was maintained to a few newspapers.
Fig. 3 May 28, 1858, wrapper franked with 4 quattrini from Florence to Lucca. The rate was made up with 1 quattrino and 1 soldo, both of the second issue. The one presented here is the only recorded franking with a single 1 soldo and a single 1 quattrino, both of the second issue.
Postage of registered letters "per consegna" using the Tuscan terminology, had to be prepaid. Until June 30, 1857, the registration fee amounted to 8 crazie. Thereafter it was reduced to 4 crazie. From July 1, 1857, it became possible to send insured letters with a declared value up to 50 Tuscan lire. The insurance fee took the place of the registration fee.
Papal States
On January 1, 1852, when the postage stamps were issued, the domestic rates,
expressed in bajocchi, were determined by the 1844 Tosti postal reform,
which divided the Papal States into three distances. The 1st distance
was subdivided into three ranges. The territory of each distance was
divided into postal directions.
The two Papal enclaves within the kingdom of Naples formed part of the
3rd distance:
- Pontecorvo formed part of the Frosinone direction
- No letters franked with Papal postage stamps, mailed from the postal
direction of Benevento are recorded.
Fig. 4 Single-rate letter from Pontecorvo (3rd range of the 1st distance) to Narni (1st range of the 1st distance), rate of 4 bajocchi because the postal route crossed the Rome direction. Only two prepaid letters sent beyond the Frosinone postal direction are recorded.
In the case of unpaid letters mailed within the postal direction, the posting office applied, on the reverse of the covers, postage stamps worth the amount due to be paid by the addressee; in these cases, these postage stamps were used as postage-due stamps. These stamps were often obliterated not by the posting office, but in transit, by the postal direction. The rate of printed matter of one sheet of paper within the Papal territory was ½ bajocco. When the volume of printed matter was more than one sheet, the rate was 1 bajocco for each ounce of weight (28.3 grams). The registration fee - "insured" letters as per local definition - amounted to 50% of the letter rate.
The "Patrimonio di San Pietro"
After the occupation of Marche, Umbria and Sabina only the "Patrimonio
di San Pietro" remained under Papal rule. Although the Italian lira was
introduced from June 18, 1866, the postage stamps denominated in bajocchi
remained in use until September 1867. The value in Italian lire of the
postage stamps denominated in bajocchi was the postal rate of exchange
of 1 bajocco = 5 centesimi. The ½ bajocco single rate for printed
matter was given the value of 3 centesimi. On September 21, 1867, a new
issue was denominated in Italian centesimi. Until December 31, 1863, the
rates of the Tosti reform remained in effect for letters mailed within
the 1st distance. From January 1, 1864, the domestic rate was set at 2
bajocchi, independent of distance for each 10 grams of weight. From June
18, 1866, as a consequence of the introduction of the Italian lira, the
single rate was set at 10 centesimi. The printed-matter rate was ½
bajocco for every 40 grams or for each newspaper mailed. When the Italian
lira was introduced, the single rate was set at 3 centesimi. When the stamps
denominated in lire were introduced, the rate was reduced to 2 centesimi.
The domestic registration fee amounted to 4 bajocchi, which, after the
introduction of the Italian lira, was converted to 20 centesimi.
Sardinia
When the postage stamps were issued on January 1, 1851, new domestic postal
rates, which lasted without significant changes until December 31, 1862,
were introduced. Sardinian rates were extended to the new Provinces annexed
to the Sardinian Kingdom. From June 14, 1860, the Sardinian rates were
no longer valid in the Savoy and Nice provinces, transferred to France.
Contrary to the Austrian regulations, the Sardinian postal law did not
require higher rates for unpaid letters. The same rates were applied
to prepaid and to unpaid letters.
The rate for letters weighing less than 7.5 grams, addressed beyond the postal district, was 20 centesimi. From July 1, 1854, the weight progression was modified. The rate of letters within the postal district was 5 centesimi. The progression of letters addressed beyond the district was applied to heavier letters. A reduced rate of 10 centesimi was in effect for letters addressed to soldiers, but not the officers. This reduction applied only to single-rate letters.
Single-rate printed matter was as follows:
5 centesimi within the postal district
10 centesimi beyond the postal district
The progression based on volume was based on weight for heavier printed matter.
Fig. 5 June 24, 1853, printed matter from Turin to Borgo S. Martino, beyond the postal district.
From July 1, 1854 the rate of printed matter addressed beyond the postal district was reduced to 5 centesimi with the previous weight progression. From November 1, 1859, after the Sardinian rates were extended to the newly annexed provinces, the progression of letters, rates for printed matter and newspapers were modified.
Two Sicilies
From 1818, the monetary system of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had been
unified. After the closure of the Palermo mint, all coins were minted
in Naples. The old Sicilian coins remained in use, but they were given
a new denomination in Neapolitan currency. The currency of the Kingdom
of the Two Sicilies was the Neapolitan ducato divided into 100 grana
which, in 1858, when the Neapolitan postage stamps were issued, had a
value of 4.25 Italian lire.
Naples
The Bourbon Kingdom was the last of the Italian States to introduce postage
stamps. On January 1, 1858, they were issued only in the Neapolitan Kingdom.
The royal decree No. 4210 dated July 9, 1857, together with the newly
issued postage stamps, established new domestic postal rates within the
continental domain. The single rate for a letter addressed beyond the
postal district was set at 2 grana. The rate progression was based on
volume, on weight for letters heavier than one ounce (26.73 grams). The
rate of letters of one sheet of paper mailed within the postal district
was 1 grano, and the progression for bulkier letters was the same already
indicated for letters addressed beyond the postal district. Unpaid letters
had to pay, on delivery, an amount which was 50% higher than the rate
indicated for prepaid letters. Registered letters, which had to be prepaid,
were charged double the letter rate. From January 1, 1859, all domestic
rates indicated above were extended to letters addressed to Sicily if
carried either overland or by contract packets.
Fig. 6 Letter of 1½ sheets of paper from Cefalù to Messina. Postal fraud committed by a postal officer who pulled the ½ grano postage stamps off other mail and covered the previous cancellations in a masterly manner. Only 8 frankings are known where the ½ grano of the 1st plate was used together with the ½ grana of the 2nd plate.
Sicily
From January 1, 1859, when the Sicilian issue was distributed, the rates
described above for the continental domain, were extended also to Sicily.
The same rates were charged to letters addressed to the continental domain
when carried overland or by a contract packet.
Domestic registered letters ("insured" letters, according to the old terminology) mailed from Sicily required doubling the letter rate.
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