Sicily 2 Grana Blue, Ferdinand II "Bomba"

Sicily · 1859 · 2 Grana

This stamp features a left-facing portrait of Ferdinand II, King of the Two Sicilies, framed within an ornate rectangular border. The denomination '2' is in the upper corners and the currency 'GRANA' is at the bottom. The design is notable for its clear, if somewhat primitive, typographic printing.

Issued in January 1859, this was one of the first postage stamps of Sicily, released just months before Ferdinand II's death. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was conquered by Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand the following year, leading to its incorporation into the new Kingdom of Italy.