Italy Postage Due, Carmine & Rosy Carmine

Italy · 1870 · 1 Lira

This is one of Italy's classic postage due stamps, first issued in 1870. The design is simple and functional, featuring a large numeral '1' indicating the value, surrounded by an ornate frame with the words 'SEGNATASSA' (Postage Due) at the top and 'UNA LIRA' at the bottom. The stamp was printed in carmine and rosy carmine shades.

Issued shortly after the unification of Italy, these postage due stamps standardized the collection of insufficient postage across the newly formed kingdom, replacing various local issues.