Italy 1878 Official Stamp, 2c on 2.00 Lire Surcharge
Italy · 1878 · 2c on 2.00 Lire
This is an official stamp created by surcharging a regular postage issue. The original 2.00 Lire carmine-lake stamp, featuring a profile of King Vittorio Emanuele II, was overprinted in blue with '2 Cent.' and a new value for official government use.
Issued during the reign of King Umberto I, this surcharge was a practical measure to repurpose existing high-value stamp stock for official postal needs, reflecting a common practice of fiscal efficiency in 19th-century postal administrations.
Printing Method
Typography
Catalog Numbers
Image: · License:
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.
