The Stamps of the Duchy of Modena
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Philatelic Весом» Handbooks. No. 2. The Stamps of the Duchy of Modena AND THE Modenese Provinces. BY DR. EMILIO DIENA. P r ice f iv e Sh illin g s. Q ibfaňbtm £mået>wvst. PHILATELIC SECTION Philatelic Record Handbooks. No. 2. The Stamps of the Duchy of Modena AND THE Modenese Provinces. BY DR. EMILIO DIENA. P rice F iv e Sh illin g s. The Stamps OF THE Duchy of Modena AND THE MODENESE PROVINCES WITH THE Foreign Newspaper Tax Stamps of the Duchy BY Dr. EMILIO DIENA ~~r WITH SEVEN PLATES OF ILLUSTRATIONS emberit : PRINTED BY TRUSLOVE AND BRAY, LIMITED, WEST NORWOOD, S.E, L ů o ' N publishing an English version of the well- I known treatise on the Stamps of Modena by Dr. Emilio Diena, the proprietors of the Philatelic Record desire to express their sincere thanks to the author for his careful revision of the transla tion, as well as for sundry additions which do not appear in the original text. It is believed that the work now contains all information upon the subject available up to the present time. Manchester, November, 1905. PREFACE. OR some years I have wished to publish a treatise dealing specially with the stamps of Modena, based not onfy on the F decrees and postal regulations, but also upon an examination of the official documents and the registers of the Administration. At first the scarcity of information and afterwards the want of time to examine and arrange the material collected have prevented me from carrying out this scheme until the present time. I have taken advantage of some weeks of rest to devote myself to the task, and now only have I the opportunity of presenting the result of my researches. Although I have not been able to elucidate some special points, fortunately only of secondary importance, I trust that this contribution to the history of the Italian stamps will be received with favour. The story is at first sight a very simple one:— In the Ducal period one issue only of postage stamps, and one series only during the Provisional Government of the Modenese Provinces. As to the newspaper stamps, six distinct kinds, one of which was not put into circulation, and nothing more. But in the classification of the numerous varieties met with in the Modenese issues, greater difficulties arise than in the case of any other old Italian State, because of the movable type in which the different values of the postage stamps and some of those for the newspapers are expressed. The négociations by means of the Postal Convention between the Duchy and Austria, with the obstacles placed in the way of carrying them into effect, the proposal, almost unknown to collectors, of having the stamps manufactured by the Imperial Royal Printing Office in Vienna, the temporaty employment in the Provinces of Massa and Carrara of Sardinian stamps before the special issue for the Modenese Provinces, the interesting use of postmarks with the arms of Savoy to cancel the Ducal issues, then the list of Preface. v. various printings and the supplies of each value issued and sold to the public, together with many other facts, deserve to be carefully explained with the guidance of documents. Nor have I confined my investigations to documents alone, but I have made use of hundreds of letters and papers relating to the postage and newspaper stamps of Modena, without which it would have been impossible to settle several important points, and particularly to determine the differences in the sundry printings, the order of succession of the various kinds of postmarks and so forth. In Italy, where the collection of stamps is still considered, even by people of culture, a childish amusement, it will be thought a strange fancy to compile a work of this description. I shall not attempt to convert those who think thus ; they need only disregard this volume, which is intended for philatelists. Unfortunately they do not, or will not, see how closely connected research of this kind is with historical geography, heraldry, numismatics, and sphragistics. Here it seems fitting to observe how much greater importance this subject acquires if one reflects that during the period in which the Ducal Stamps were used (1852-59), and afterwards those of the Provisional Government (1859-60) no special coinage existed.1 Stamps being the only money-values issued during that period (if we except the “ carte bollate”) assume a greater historical interest; whatever, therefore, refers to their origin deserves, for this reason alone, to be known. It would have been, perhaps, wiser to publish this work in French, German, or English, since in the former language there appeared in 1878 an important treatise, although incomplete and of much smaller proportion than the present one. Still I preferred to publish the result of my labours in Italian because it treats of Italian Stamps, although knowing that the number of readers will in consequence be restricted. If, however, I gain the approval of those interested in studies of this 1 After 1796 no money was coined in Modena. The Austro-Estensi who obtained the Government of the Duchy for the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, coined none. Duke Francesco V. thought of establishing a mint at Modena, and by a Decree of February 19th, 1859, ordered the issue of a series of coins, which was announced on August 10th, 1858, but had not time to carry his intention into effect. (See Collez. Generale delle Leggi, Cost Un zioni, Editti, Proclami, <5jc., per gli Stali Estensi, Voi. XXXVIII., Part I., p. 22, and Part II., p. t). VI. Preface. nature, I shall feel largely compensated for the indifference of the many and glad to have produced the first philatelic monograph in the Italian language. In these pages may be found certain bombastic and servile passages and expressions, and in some places a style rather barbarous than otherwise. I could not avoid quoting decrees, regulations, and correspondence written in language neither elegant nor pure. In some letters even the grammar seems weak. I had to reproduce the documents exactly as they appear: any one will recognise that the fault is not mine. I cannot refrain from renewing my very sincere acknowledgments to those who, with remarkable and often repeated kindness, have facilitated my researches and placed at my disposal anything which would be useful, and to the few friends who have allowed me to examine the Modenese stamps in their possession, and been generous in information and suggestions. To all I am greatly indebted, and will gladly recognise my obligation by any means in my power. I shall welcome reviews and criticisms of this book and pay the greatest attention to any fresh information communicated to me. Modena, April, 1894. TABLE OF CONTENTS. P a g e Preface .. iv. Bibliography xi. Introduction 3 The Stamps of the Duchy of Modena and the Modenese Provinces. H istorical P art. D ucal Period. Postal Convention between the Austrian Government and the Duchies of Modena and Parma . .. .. .. .. .. .. ., .. 6 First mention of the introduction of stamps (bollini) ,. .. .. .. .. 9 Proposal to make the Estense and Austrian postal systems uniform .. .. .. 9 Mention of the offer of the Austrian Government to produce the stamps at Vienna 10 Approval by Duke Francesco V. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. to Request for delay in introducing the reform into the Duchy .. .. .. .. 10 Anticipated quantity of stamps required .. .. .. .. .. 12 Promised visit of the Lombardo-Venetian Postal Secretary to Modena .. .. 13 Table to regulate the exchange of the values of Austrian stamps into Italian lire .. •3 Cause of the delay in carrying out the reform .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Négociations between Modena and Parma as to the value to be given to each kind of stamp .. .. .. .. .. 16 Acceptance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Parma .. .. .. .. 17 New adjustment of the values of the Austrian stamps and those of Modena .. 19 Letter Tariff ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Table of stamps arranged to be ordered from Vienna . .. .. .. 21 Uncertainty as to the manufacture of the stamps.. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Unwillingness to manufacture stamps of higher value than i lira . 23 Suggestions of designs for reproduction on the stamps .. .. .. .. .. 25 The word franco-bollo first used in Estense official correspondence . ., .. 26 Suggestions of the Imperial Postmaster-General of Austria .. .. .. .. 26 Decision to have the stamps manufactured elsewhere than at Vienna .. .. 28 Request to the Director of the Post of Tuscany for information about the manufac ture of stamps .. .. .. .. .. .. - .. 29 His reply.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 The matrices ordered from the engraver. Rinaldi .. .. .. ,. 31 Notice of the Austro-Estense Postal Convention of October 29th, 1851 .. .. 32 Intimation that the matrices of the stamps were ready .. .. .. .. .. З6 Administrative Regulations for the stamps, &c, .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Arrangements of the Minister of Finance for the printing of the stamps .. .. 40 Invoice of the engraver, T. Rinaldi .. .. .. .. .. 4° Rules for the supplies of stamps .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 41 Notice of the issue of stamps on June ist, 1852 .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 Regulations concerning the introduction of the new system from the General Directorate of the Estense Post to the Minister of Finance .. .. .. 43 Complaints, &c., by the Minister of Finance . 43 Reply of the Postmaster-General in his own defence 44 Supplies and small demand for stamps .. 46 Request for instructions as to cancellation .. 47 Proposal to adopt special cancellation stamps 47 Rules for their application .. .. .. 45 Invoice of the engraver, F. Ricco .. .. 48 Regulations for the Letter Post (September 4th, 1852) 49 viii. Table of Contents. P a c k List of the Post Offices of the Duchy .. .. .. .. .. 5t Opening of two additional Post Offices .. .. .. .. 52 Stamps to be sold by the Magaziones .. .. .. .. .. 52 Notice of new Agreement with the Sardinian States .