Italy : On Steiner Pages.

From an old 2012 post of mine on Stampboards about these labels:

"In 1909, bicoloured triangular labels with common designs but with different denominations for ten countries were produced. They were sold in Austria (heller), Denmark (ore), France (centimes), Germany (pfennigs), Great Britain (pence), Hungary (filler), Italy (centesimos), Netherlands (cents), Russia (kopecks) and USA (cents)."

I copied this from an article on the Sandafayre site although the page no longer exists (at least with its old URL).

I think the article's an interesting one so I'll add it in a separate post here.

Here's the article from the Sandafayre web site.

Back in 2012 its URL was:

http://www.sandafayre.com/philateli...elabels.html

1908 Messina Earthquake Charity Labels

On December 28, 1908, at about 5:20am, a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Sicily and the Calabria region in southern Italy.

The epicentre of the earthquake was the narrow Strait of Messina that separates Sicily from the Italian mainland.

The ground shook for more than 30 seconds and a devastating almost 12m high tsunami followed shortly afterwards.

It is estimated that 100,000-200,000 people were killed during the disaster.

The town of Messina was virtually wiped out (91% buildings destroyed, 70,000 people killed), also the town of Reggio across the Strait suffered heavy damages.

The Italian army and navy immediately began with rescue efforts, with the great help of foreign navies - many British, Russian, French, US and other warships arrived with humanitarian relief, their sailors searched for survivors and helped with clean-up operations, and ships evacuated many victims.

The disaster shocked the world and funds were opened to aid the victims.

One method of raising funds was by the sale of charity labels.

In 1909, bicoloured triangular labels with common designs but with different denominations for ten countries were produced. They were sold in Austria (heller), Denmark (ore), France (centimes), Germany (pfennigs), Great Britain (pence), Hungary (filler), Italy (centesimos), Netherlands (cents), Russia (kopecks) and USA (cents).

They show ten different ancient landmarks and ruins of the region, with 'Sicilia' and 'Calabria' in the lower corners and the date of the disaster '1908' across the bottom. Each label was sold at 10c, 10pf, 1½d or equivalent currency.

The labels were printed se-tenant in sheets of 50.

The 'Views' sets accompany labels with similar designs but showing a portrait of the King and Queen of Italy, these were sold at 20c, 20pf, 2½d or equivalent currency.

In Austria, a 2h rectangular charity label was produced.

It shows a forlorn woman walking away from the still smoldering remains of her house, the inscription 'Fur die Obdachlosen in Suditalien' at the top translates as 'For homeless people in Southern Italy'.

These labels were printed in various colours on various coloured papers and exist perforated or imperforate.

In the United States, a triangular label showing a volcano and inscribed 'American National Red Cross Relief Fund Italian Earthquake' was produced by the Massachusetts branch of the Red Cross.

Sounds like there was a original set of 4 countries printed and then another group of countries were added .This would explain the various papers. The first group was printed in larger quantities that is why they are easier to find today .

Hi Rod,


The text here, "Anno V / Era Fascista", is a date in the Fascist calendar.

Year 1 (Anno I) E.F. (Era Fascista) started on 29th October 1922 after the March on Rome when Mussolini became prime minister of Italy.

So here "Anno V" (year 5) is the year 29th October 1926 to 28th October 1927.

Quite a few Italian stamps from the fascist period have year dates in this form.

For example, the child welfare set of 1937, SG 490-499, are dated "Giugno-Settembre XV" or "A. XV".

Hi floor trader,


Yes, that would make sense, and/or maybe they were printed locally in the individual countries with paper that was available and with the numbers printed based on estimated local demand.

I wonder how common the Hungarian ones are in Hungary or the Danish ones are in Denmark?

In any case, it's nice to see so many examples in your collection.

I only have nine stamps, each with different designs, in strips of three.

The individual stamps are all in single colours, 6 in French currency and 3 in German.

Wonderful Information!
Thank you Floortrader, lovely collection!
Look forward to digesting and saving all the new information Nigel.
esp. the Fascist Era stuff.

Meanwhile, I'll just post today's pages, I had ready.

"Italia 76"
The 200 Lira shows an early example of Postal Mechanisation
Very similar to the "Pearson Hill Parallel motion machine" (which improved Charles Rideout machine)
Image of similar machines used in Australia.

Pearson Hill Parallel Motion Machine (No genuine examples survive)

Australian Models.

1976 Steiner Page 3.

Messina Earthquake:
Noticed Floortraders' Triangular US , super.
I could not find the Austrian Earthquake example.

Here is a couple from my database.
First showing the Kopeck example (Not my stamps)


and.....the database threw up this Russian Block of 4
Sc#4701 1978 70th Anniv of Russian assistance at Messina, and Memorial.

Kelleher Auctions Messina

FYI.
Tangential Issues.
Stamp Territories and Territorial Philately:
Postage stamp territories - Padania and Italia Stato Federale
https://www.postoveznamky.sk/postag...ato-federale

Perugia Chocolate. Baci.

Sc#E3 1903 Espresso.
Vignette : Couple embracing.

Hi Rod,

Thanks for posting so many more fascinating items.

It's great to see the complete sheets of the Messina Earthquake triangles.

I wondered what the sheet layout would be like.

It's interesting to see the other related Italian labels

My favourite item in your recent posts has to be the Express stamp with the advertisement for Baci chocolates.

I've seen a small number of the small format Italian stamps with adverts like this but I didn't know this large format existed.

They are listed in Michel and this one appears to be the only large format stamp issued with an advert and this is its only advert.

The Michel number is Mi 160/R 13

where R stands for "Reklamefeld" (advertisement field)

and 13 refers to the 13th different advert that was used.

There are 7 different stamps, 13 different adverts and 21 different combinations.

This one was priced at 25 marks back in 1998 for unmounted mint but not priced used.

Here's a another current image of Baci chocolates:


They've not changed much in appearance since 1924/25!

Over recent years I've seen many references to the various political movements in Northern Italy but I didn't know that any labels had been produced.

Finally for now, that was a magnificent portrait of Queen Margherita and a very fine looking pizza.

My favourite Italian cinderellas are a group showing Italian battleships from 1915.

I have eight all with the same design apart from a different photograph in the centre showing a ship along with her name and a serial number.

This one is Regina Margherita completed in 1904 but sadly sunk by a mine in 1916 with the loss of many lives:

Thanks for the positive comments .

I have to come to my opinion from the evidence that is presented .

First notice the old newspaper article that was in my first scan .The author of that article says ..."the Italian Government authorised this series of 11 different stamps. A set was issued for use France ,Germany ,Great Britain and the U.S. for charity purposes " That is from the newspaper article,ok to collect funds .

Then we have sheets appear from Austria,Hungary,Denmark,Netherlands and Russia ....something is strange ??? These appear on different paper and not widely distributed , why ? My guess is these countries are not charity labels but Philatelic creations for selling not to charities but to stamp dealers ......that is my take on them .

Floortrader,
I think it is Philatelically prudent, we ask these questions.
Hopefully the truth is revealed one day.
Without firm evidence, I noted in my travels reseaching these, some were marketed by the "Tatham Stamp Company" I have foggy recall they were involved in the "Lundy stamps"
I have a feeling "Stollow" may be involved also
You may well be correct, we shall see..........

Also noted these full sheets come with differing Watermarks

Whoa! Nigel !
lots of tasty information......Thanks.



History: Not my stamp, I was outbid on it some years ago, on an album page
I think the page went for around $40 US.
If I recall it was not listed under Italy, and I thought it may have escaped
interest. I was sniped. (and that's OK)

I presume, like other Italian advertising labels, "imperf between" is standard.

Great Naval Cinderella! thanks for your contributions.

1932 Sc#293 Postmarks.


1975 Steiner Page 32.