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No. 8.
x o J L \r*-c
A HISTOR Y OF
THE P OSTAGE STAMP S OF
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WITH TWENTY PLATES OF AUTOTYPE ILLUSTRATIONS
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EMILIO DIENA
TRANSLATED BY E. B. EVANS
LONDON
S T A N L E Y G IB B O N S, L IM IT E D
391, STRAND, W.C.
1904
THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF
SICILY
The $ tanley (jjibbuqs Philatelic j'laqdbooks
A HISTORY OF
THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF
SICILY
WITH TWENTY PLATES OF AUTOTYPE ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
EMILIO DIENA
TRANSLATE D BY Е. B. EVANS
♦
LONDON
S T A N L E Y G IB B O N S , L IM IT E D
391, STRAND, W.C.
1904
PREFACE
H E Stamps of Sicily or, to use the official designation, of the
“ Dominions beyond the Phare,” which formed part, under a separate Administration, of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, are so interesting, not only from an artistic, but also from historical and philatelic points of view, that a study of them grounded on official papers and on the examination of specimens in the collections of some of the leading specialists, seems to be entitled to particular attention from the philatelic public.
Considering that the Postal Administration of Sicily contributed to our collections only one set of stamps, the use of which lasted for a period of less than nineteen months, the short history, from its adoption to its withdrawal, seems to the mere casual observer to afford scope rather for an article than for a monograph.
But if we take into consideration the historical period during which the life of these stamps lasted, the existence of different plates for certain values, some of which were subject to retouching ; the numerous shades in which the stamps were printed, and tfye fact that further issues were contemplated, at first by the Bourbon Postal Authorities and later on under the Dictatorship and Lieutenancy of the Sicilian Provinces, the field of our researches will soon be found to be much wider than could have been anticipated.
On the other hand, we are not satisfied with a simple reference to the official decrees and a description of the stamps. In the words of a learned and painstaking philatelist, the late Mr. W. A. S. Westoby, “ no history can be considered complete which fails to indicate the policy which was the mainspring that brought about each particular event.” Therefore we have endeavoured “ to know the exciting causes and the steps which led up to the event, as well as the motives that guided the actors.” This is our excuse for allowing an amount of space, which by some may perhaps be considered too ample, to the information concerning the different surface-printed essays prepared during the last Bourbon period, and the accepted (though never issued) type for the Sicilian Provinces, prior to their official annexation to the Kingdom of Italy—two chapters which do not constitute the less interesting portion of the curious philatelic history of Sicily.
To Monsieur Moens we are indebted, in this instance also, for much
VI
TH E STAMPS OF SICILY
of what was known about these stamps from the early period of stamp collecting, an article having been published in his magazine, Le Timbre-Poste, for July, 1866, which was reprinted in book form in 1877. With the view of supplementing in some degree the old information, I contributed a few notes to the same magazine from November, 1894, to March, 1896, particularly pointing out the existence of different plates and of numerous and sometimes queer-looking retouches. My notes were in course of publication when I obtained access to further documents, of which it was my intention at first to make immediate use. But later on I decided to leave the article unfinished, considering the compilation of a volume in which all the information I had gathered on the subject might be merged, to be more appropriate.
A few facts remaining still unsettled, I waited a long while before putting the matter in regular order, and, no doubt, I should have waited still longer, had not some friends both at home and abroad, including the Publishers of these Handbooks, urged me to publish what information I have collected upon the subject.
I hope that my fellow-collectors and all who are interested in the Stamps of the Italian group will help me, by supplying further particulars and correcting the errors into which I may have fallen. For my own part, I promise to publish further information as soon as I succeed in collecting it.
My thanks are due to my friends who liberally put at my disposal their collections of Sicilian Stamps and Essays. The assistance of Major Evans, who undertook the translation of this volume (by no means an easy task), cannot be adequately appreciated by anyone but myself, and I desire to express to him my cordial gratitude.
In concluding, I shall be glad if this volume, as it is now presented, may afford to the reader an amount of interest proportionate in a small degree with the keen pleasure I have experienced in compiling it.
Ro me, M ay, 1904.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.*
1. “ Essays Stamps : Sicily.” By F. H.
( The Stamp Collector’ s Review and Monthly Advertiser, vol. i., No. 5,
p. 47. April 15th, 1863.)
2. “ Addenda to Mount Brown’s Catalogue of Postage Stamps: Sicily.” By
C. W .
V
i n e r .
(Stamp Collector’ s Magazine, vol. i., No. 9, p. 140, October ist, 1863.)
3. “ Timbres et Contrefacteurs.” [Sicily counterfeits.] r, 2, 5, io grana; lithographic
(Le Timbre-Poste, vol. ii., No. 14, p. 13, February, 1864.)
4. “ Forged Stamps : How to detect them.”
(The Stamp Collector’ s Review and Monthly Advertiser, vol. ii., No. 14,
p. 10, January 15th, 1864.)
- 5. “ A Review of Rare Postage Stamps.”
- „
(Once a Month, or the Stamp Collector's Advertiser, first series, No. 4,
p. 17, and new series vol. i., No. 1, p. 4, March 15th, 1864.)
6. “ Les Collectionneurs en Italie.” A letter from Turin, by Ch a r l es С.
[Co c o r da]. [Mention is made of the supposed destruction of a lot of
Sicilian Stamps in Palermo “ in 1859 or i860.”]
(Le Timbre-Poste, vol. ii., No. 16, p. 32, April, 1864.)
7. “ Anciens Timbres de Sicile et de Naples.”
(Le Timbre-Poste, vol. ii., N0. 17, p. 38, May, 1864.)
8. “ The Collector’s Corner^ Sicily” [Forgeries].
(Once a M onth, or the Stamp Collector’ s A dvertiser, new series, vol. i.,
No. 3, p. 43, June ist, 1864.)
9. “ Current Stamp Forgeries: Sicily.” By E. L. Pember t o n.
(Stamp Collector’ s Magazine, vol. ii., No. i8, p. 101, July ist, 1864.)
10. “ Postage Stamp Collecting in Italy.” By Ch a r l es C. [Co c o r da], translated
from Le Timbre-Poste.
(Stamp Collectors Magazine, voi. ii., No 19, p. 123, August ist, 1864.)
11. “ Les Timbres-Poste (Royaume des Deux Siciles) ” By Na t a l is Ro ndo t .
(Magasin Pittoresque, vol xxx., p. 264, August, 1864.)
12. “ Current Stamp Forgeries: Sicily.” By E. L. Pember t o n.
(Stamp Collector's Magazine, vol. ii., No. 21, p. 156, October ist, 1864.;
13. “ Neuste Nachrichten: Sicilien 20 gr. meergrüner Farbe, chemische Veränderung.”
(Allgemeine Deutsche Briefmarken-Zcitung, Coburg, vol. i., N0. 10, p. 82,
November 15 th, 1864.)
- *
- I
- do not profess to give
- a
- complete Bibliography of the Stamps of Sicily, but merely
- a
chronological list of the principal articles known to me.
- viii
- THE STAMPS OF SICILY
14. “ Addenda to Mount Brown’s Catalogue : Two Sicilies.”
(Once a M onth, or the Stamp Collector’ s Advertiser, new series, vol. i.,
No. 9, p. 137, December 20th, 1864.)
15. “ Turin” [Remainders]. By the Ed it o r [Dr . C. W. V in er ].
(Stamp Collector’ s M agazine, voi. iii., No. 28, p. 72, May ist, 1865.)
16. “ Les Timbres-Poste au Sénat français, par O. B. [Osc a r Ber g er -Lev r a u l t ],
[Reference is made to the Sicilian cancellation.]
(Le Timbre-Poste, vol. iv., No. 40, p. 27, April, 1866.)
17. “ Les Timbres et Essais de Sicile.”
(Le Timbre-Poste, vol iv., N0. 43, p. 55, July, 1866.)
18. “ Sicilian Stamps and Essays.” Translated by permission from Le T imbre-
Poste.
(Stamp Collector’ s Magazine, vol. iv., p. 117, August ist, 1866.)
19. “ Des Réimpressions : Deux Siciles.” By Dr . Ma g nu s.
(Le Timbrophile, voi. iii., No. 36, p. 288, October 15th, 1867.)
20. “ Le Vieux-Neuf: Sicile.” [Varieties: the 2 gr. with “ sic il l a ” and the
20 gr. with “ 120 ” (sic) instead of 20.]
(Le Timbrophile, voi. iv., No. 8, p. 351, June 30th, 1868.)
21. “ Our Contemporaries." [Variety of the 20 gr., Sicily.]
(Stamp Collector's Magazine, voi. vi., No. 68, p. 129, September ist,
1868.)
22. “ Concerning Reprints.”
(Stamp Collector’s Magazine, voi. vii., No. 73, p. 26, February ist, 1869.)
23. “ Errors of Engraving and Printing.” By W. Du d l ey At l e e . [Varieties
“ s ic il l a ” and “ 12 0 ” gr.]
(Stamp Collector's Magazine, voi. ix , No. 96, p. 11, January ist, 1871.)
24. “ The Sicilian Stamps with Head of Ferdinand II.” (A letter from Norfolk.
By K. T. Y.)
(Stamp Collector's Magazine, vol. x., No. 115, p. 128, August ist, 1872.)
25. Handbuch fü r Essais-Sammler : Sicilien. Von Dr . A l f r e d Mo sc h k au .
(Leipzig, Louis Senf, 1875.)
26. “ Sicile” (Discussion of the Catalogue).
(Bulletin de la S o diti P rançaise de Timbrologie, vol. i., No. 7, p. 191,
March, 1877.)
27. “ Sicile. Catalogue.”
(Bulletin de la S o d iti Française de Timbrologie, voi. i., No. 7, p. 204,
March, 1877.)
28. Timbres de Naples et de Sicile. Par J. B. Mo ens (second edition). (Being
the first vol. of the Bibliothèque des Timbrophiles.)
- •
- Bruxelles, Moens, 1877. (Reprint in book form of the articles published
by Le Timbre-Poste, Nos. 43 and 177 )
29. “ Note Siciliane.” Correspondence from Palermo.
(Corriere dei Francobolli, Trieste, vol. iii., No. i, p. 2, April 14th, 1877.)
30. “ Correspondence from Palermo.” [Concerning the market prices of Sicilian and other stamps.]
(Corriere dei Francobolli, Trieste, voi. iii., No. 3, p. 4, May 15th, 1877, and Supplement, p. 3, May 31st, 1877; Nos. 10 -11, p. 7, October 12th, 1877; voi. iv., No. 4, p. 4, April 19th, 1878, and No. 9., p. 3, July 20th,
- 1878.)
- .
BIBLIOGRAPHY ix
31. “ Sui francobolli borbonici di Sicilia. Reminiscenze storiche.” By G. A.
[Al v ino .]
{Corriere dei Francobolli, Trieste, voi. iii., No. 4, p. i, June i2th, 1877.)
32. “ Questione risoluta.” A letter from Palermo, by G. A. [Al v ino ]. [Concern-
ing the numerous shades of the Sicilian stamps.]
{Corriere dei Francobolli, Trieste, voi. iv., No. 12, p. 3, October ı6th,
1878.)
33. “ Sizilien.” [Essays for Sicilian Provinces, with head of Victor Emmanuel II.]
{Schweizer Illustrirtes Briefmarken-Zeitung, Berne, vol. ii., No. 11, p. 94,
November 22nd, 1880, and voi. iii., No. 1, p. 8, January 22nd, 1881.)
34. “ Neapel und Sizilien.” Von P. Besc h o r en .
{Vereinsmittheilungen des bayerischen Philatelisten-Vereins, voi. v., N0. 5,
p. 54, May ist, 1887.)
35. “ Notes sur quelques Timbres d’Italie.” By Ch a r l es Dien a . [The 2 gr.,
Sicily, printed both sides.]
{Le Timbre-Poste', Numero Jubilaire, 1887, p. viii.)
36. “ Eigenartigkeiten der Marken von Toskana, Modena, und Sicilien.” By A. W.
{Deutsche Briefmarken-Zeitung, Berlin, vol ii., No. 6, p. 76, March ist,
1892.)
37. “ Verschiedenes : Beide Sizilien.” Von Ric h a r d Kr a u se.
{III. Briefm arken-Journal, voi. xviii., N0. 301, p. 198, July nth, 1891.)
38. “ Les timbres de Naples et de Sicile.” By Emil io Dien a .
{Le Timbre-Poste, published in seven numbers, from 383 to 398, November, 1894, to March, 1896. The article was never concluded.)
39. “ Die Briefmarken von Neapel und Sizilien.” By Emil io Dien a (translated
from L e Timbre-Poste by Judge H. Fränkel).
{Deutsche Briefmarken-Zeitung, Berlin, vol. v., pp. 100, 115, 167, 182;
vol. vüi., p. 109; from April ist, 1895, to July 15th, 1897.)
40. “ The Stamps of Naples and Sicily.” By E mil io Diena (translated from Le
Timbre-Poste by Prof. G. Reymond).
{Philatelic Jo u rn a l o f America, vols. x. to xiii., October, 1893, to May,
1895, and Mekeel's 'Weekly Stamp News, voi. vii., p. 156, April 23rd, 1896.)
41. “ Falsificazioni : Sicilia.”
{ I l Francobollo, vol. iii., Nos. 27-28, p. 263, March 31st, 1895.)
- 42. “ Postmarks as a Guide to the Detection of Forgeries.”
- By the Rev.
R. B. Ea r ee.
{The Philatelists' Supplement to the Bazaar, April 8th, 1895, p. 35, and
June 10th, 1895, P- 60.)
43. “ Falsificazioni : Sicilia £ grano."
{ I l Francobollo, vol. ii., No. 16, p. 135, May 25th, 1894.)
44. “ Two Sicilies. Counterfeits”
{Metropolitan Philatelist, voi. vi., p. 73, August, 1895.)
45. “ A Catalogue for Advanced Collectors: Sicily.” By H. Co l l in and H. L.
Ça l ma n .
{American Jo u rn a l o f Philately, second series, vol. x., pp. 517 and 520,
December ist, 1897.)
46. “ Schiffsstempel des Mittelmeeres.” By Dr . Kno pf .
{Mitteldeutsche Philatelisten-Zeİtung, voi. vii, Nos. 5, 6, and 7, pp. 65, 80,
and 95, May to July, 1898 ; and voi. viii., Nos. s and i i , pp. 68 and 144, May and November, 1899.)
X
THE STAMPS OF SICILY
47. “ Sicilien, Falsche Stempel.”
(Mitteldeutsche P hila telisten-Zeitung, vol. vii., No. io, p. 20, October, 1898.)
48. The Adhesive Postage Stamps o f Europe : Two Sicilies. By W. A. S. West o by.
(London, 1900; L. Upcott Gill, 170, Strand )
49. *•The Tapling Collection : Sicily.” By Go r do n Smit h .
(Stanley Gibbons Monthly Jo u rn a l, vol. xi., No. 127, p. 158, January 31st,
1901.)
50. “ Timbres-Poste du Royaume de Sicile.” By Ph il o ma r k.
(Le Moniteur du Collectionneur, vol xi., Nos. 3 and 4, pp. 39 and 57, for
March and April, 1901.)
51. “ Stray Notes on Sheets of Stamps: Naples—Sicily.” By R. R. T h iel e.
(The Adhesive, vol ii., p. ì, January, 1901. Reprinted in the Weekly
Philatelic E r a , voi. xvii., No. 494, p. 46, for November ist, 1902.)
52. “ Storia e Studio Tecnico sui Francobolli del Regno di Sicilia.”
(Corriere Filatelico ' Romagnolo, Imola, Nos. 6-7, and i o - 11 for
- September-October, 1901, and January-February, 1902.)
- [Grounded
on my article in Le Timbre-Poste, and in consequence of an objection raised by me its publication was stopped.]
53. “ Probedrucke, Essais, Proofs : Sizilien.” Von. A. Rein h eimer .
(D er Philatelist, vol. xxii., No. 275, p. 47, February 15th, 1901, and voi. xxiii., No. 293, p. 291, August 15th, 1902.)
54. “ Stamps with a History: Sicily."
(Mekeel's Stamp Collector, voi. xvi., No. 12, p. 171, March 23rd, 1903.)
55. Kurzgefasste Beschreibung der Essays— Sammlung von M artin Sckrceder,
Leipzig. By A Rein h eimer . (Leipzig, C. E Pœschel, 1903.)
56. “ War-Time Stamps: The Two Sicilies.” By Fr a nk C Yo ung .
(The Perforator, voi. xxii., No. 5, p. 52, September 15th, 1903.)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.
Hist o r ic al Sk et c h , /. i — Ad min ist r a t io n, p . 6— Po st a l Ser v ic e, p. 7—
Cu r r en c y , p. 14—Geo g r aph y, p. 15.