World War I Censured Cover From Cosatto, Italy To Pittsburgh

Italy hoped that by joining the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia) in World
War I against the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and the Ottoman
Empire) it could significantly expand its territory. On May 23, 1915 Italy entered the war.
The "Italian campaign" refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-
Hungary and Italy in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918.


Italian troops engaging Austrian forces at the Isonzo river in 1916

This registered cover was sent on July 16, 1916 from Cossato, Italy at the height of the
Italian campaign. It traveled south to the port of Genoa (Genova) and was passed by
government censors before proceeding on to arrive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 1,
1916. The United States did not enter the war until April 1917.





The cover is franked with a Scott #105 50c violet stamp showing the Victor Emmanuel III,
the King of Italy from July, 1900 to May, 1946.

Very nice piece of World History, thanks for the post

Superb cover and nice history lesson. Thanks tom. The Italians have a really interesting history as it relates to their modern government including the election of a porn star queen to their "congress."

Thanks for showing that..my Mom was born in 1916 in the Trento or Trentino province then the Austrian-Hungary empire ..this was the front line in the Dolomites changing hands all the time..sometimes Austrian, sometimes Italian..my Grandmother had a little tavern of sorts while Grandpa was away in the East..of course she spoke German and the Italian dialect...

Italy paid a very high price for any gains..well they got Venice and Verona back..but if you see their casualties dead and wounded in that war it was horrific !!

Great history lesson Tom and wonderful cover.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Dianne