Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country located in Southern Europe and one of the 27 sovereign states that make up the European Union. It is a parliamentary republic composed of 20 regions, which are further divided into 110 provinces.[9] Its capital and most populous city is Rome. Although almost all of the country's territory lies on the European continent, Italy is a transcontinental state, as it includes several small African islands near the coast of Tunisia.
Italy is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea: it occupies the Italian Peninsula, the Po Valley, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, and approximately 800 smaller islands, including the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea, the Campanian and Tuscan archipelagos in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Pelagie Islands in North Africa, among others. To the north, it is bordered by the Alps and shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.
Stamps in Italy have a rich history and play a significant role in both postal needs and collecting. Their issuance and distribution are managed by different entities, and stamps can be found at various outlets.
History and Issues
Issue Management: Although distribution is handled by the Italian Post Office, the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT) officially decides and issues Italian stamps, which are then printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato.
History of Collecting: Italy has a philatelic tradition that dates back to the years following the introduction of the stamp in 1840 in Great Britain. Collecting spread rapidly, with the emergence of catalogs and specialized magazines as early as the mid-19th century.
Rare Stamps: Some Italian stamps are particularly sought after by collectors due to their rarity or printing errors. Among the most famous are the "Gronchi Rosa" of 1961 and the "Sicilian Error of Color" of 1859.
Recent issues: Stamp issues continue to celebrate Italian history and excellence. For example, in October 2025, stamps dedicated to Grendizer, Italia Nostra, and figures such as Nanni Loy were issued.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1945.01
01.10.1945
Air
2l
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
5l
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
= 2l
1946.01
13.07.1946
Air
1945.01
25l
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Blue
1947.01
21.04.1947
Air
1945.01
25l
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Brown
1954.01
01.06.1954
Resistance movement
25l
78
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
1962.01
26.05.1962
Air
Star wmk
1945.01
5l
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
1978.01
03.04.1978
Environmental protection
4v set
170l
52
Audouin's Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii
1984.01
24.04.1984
Nature protection
4v set
450l
84
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
450l
93
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
and
20
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
1985.01
05.06.1985
Nature protection
4v set
500l
42
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
1985.02
25.10.1985
Roma '85
5v sheet
500l
8
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
1991.01
10.10.1991
Nature protection
4v set
500l
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
1995.01
11.03.1995
Birds
600l
70
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
600l
78
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
600l
78
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
600l
232
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis
1996.01
12.10.1996
Eugenio Montale
750l
84
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
1996.02
15.11.1996
Christmas
2v set
750l
13
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
1999.01
12.03.1999
Europa 1999: National parks
2v set
900l
52
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2001.01
21.04.2001
Nature protection
4v set
800l
64
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
1000l
Not identified Not identified
2007.01
16.03.2007
Regions
4v set
0.60€
35
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
2011.01
23.04.2011
Emilio Salgari
0.60€
52
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
2013.01
04.12.2013
Birds of the Alps
0.70€
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
0.70€
102
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus
0.70€
78
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
0.70€
80
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus
0.70€
13
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
2014.01
19.07.2014
Tourism
5v set, sa
0.70€
35
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
2015.01
24.04.2015
Fernet-Branca, Lavazza, Caffarel
3v set, sa
0.80€
78
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
2015.02
15.10.2015
Liberation
sa
0.95€
78
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
2015.03
24.10.2015
Philately Day
sa
0.95€
84
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
2019.01
04.10.2019
Europa
sa
B
78
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata
B50g
240
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
2024.01
03.08.2024
National parks
2v set, sa
B
78
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
2024.02
20.09.2024
Regional park of Porto Venere
sa
B
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
2024.03
26.09.2024
Lombard park of the Ticino valley
sa
B
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
