Bogus Issue, Unione Postale Universale
Italy · 1897 · 25 Centesimi
This is a bogus issue, a stamp-like label created to deceive collectors or for propaganda purposes, not for postal use. It mimics the design of official stamps, featuring a portrait and the inscription 'UNIONE POSTALE UNIVERSALE' and 'POSTE ITALIANE', but it was never authorized by the Italian postal authority.
Bogus issues were often produced by private individuals or printers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to profit from the growing hobby of stamp collecting. They have no postal validity but are collected as philatelic curiosities.
Printing Method
Typography
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View on Wikimedia CommonsEstimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
