Page 27 - Wolfgang Bauer - Greek Hermes Head Mixed Frankings

Hellas

Italy

The Kingdom of Italy was founded on March 17,1861 . But because there were no Italian stamps printed
these of the former old Italian states were used up like from Sardinia and Tuscany. The first Italian stamps
came in use in spring 1863 with a blue 15 cmi.

The postal rates with Greece belong to the country of origin, from Sardinia p.e. it was 1 Lira plus the Greek
inlandrate which was marked before 1. 10. 1861 as tax and after that date a stamp was used as tax.
lt was only possible to pay or frank to the next border, so the inlandrate was taxed in both countries
(Mixed frankings of group 1 ). Beginning with a new contract between ltaly"and Greece in April1862 it was
necessary to frank to the receiver 1 Lira or 112 Lepta (P D). The weightsteps in Italy and Greece were equal
with 15 g and there were no distancesteps any more.

Important in the relations between the two countries was the shiptransportation. The whole westcoast
was served by French ships from Messina to Genova, but they were more expensive as the Italian or
Austrian ships in the Adriatic Sea.

After the railways via Ancona reached Brindisi in May 1865 the Postal Routes in Middle-Europe on the way
to Greece changed tremendously. The railway was faster as the ship even if the way was farer and there
was no influence of weather anymore. Most of the countries in Northern Europe used from that time on the
way via Brindisi, even mail from France was sent in an increasing amount via Brindisi to Greece.

Part- or underfrankings were accepted from July 1st, 1866, much earlier as with other countries.

We have to remark a specialty early at the beginning: The mail via Austria between Italy and Greece could only
be franked to the Italian-Austrian border, as the cover on this page shows (Mixed frankings group 1)
This was a late result of the wars between Austria and Italy. The Postal Convention Austria - Italy was out of
function and was activated with 15. 5. 1862, the restriction was finished then.

Partly paid LS from Ancona 21.11. 1861 franked with 20 cmi Sardinia
to the Italian-Austrian border at Desenzano via Austria to Greece
taxcance/1 5 Kr. for 3rd Distancestep in Austria from the border (more than 20 miles)
and a handwritten tax 15 for seatransport from Trieste to Athens
Rate: 15 Kr + 15 Kr = 30 x 3 = 90 L. + 20 L. = 110 Lepta Tax C