uncommon1900-1945

Italian Post Offices in the Levant, "Costantinopoli" Overprint

Name: Italian Post Offices in the Levant, "Costantinopoli" Overprint
Brand: Italian Post Offices in the Levant

Italian Post Offices in the Levant · 1909 · 20 Para on 5c

This stamp is an Italian definitive from the 'Floreale' or 'Liberty' series, originally issued in 1901. It was overprinted in 1909 for use in the Italian post office in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), part of the Ottoman Empire. The overprint consists of the new denomination '20 PARA' and the location 'COSTANTINOPOLI'.

At the turn of the 20th century, several European powers maintained their own post offices in the Ottoman Empire, a practice allowed by treaties. These stamps represent Italy's postal and commercial presence in the Levant before the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Printing Method

Typography

Themes

overprint foreign-offices classic-stamps

Catalog Numbers

sg1

scott1

michel1

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$40

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$30

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$20

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$10

Good(G)

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.