Italian history is relatively little known in the U.S. Most of us have heard of Napoleon and Bismarck, Lenin and D’Israeli, but few know of Italy’s Victor Emmanuel II or Umberto and the fight to unify Italy.
As the western Roman Empire crumbled in the late fifth century, Italy became a series of principalities, states, and papal enclaves. Keeping up with the political jockeying in Italy until the Renaissance requires a pretty thick scorecard. And even after the various Italian city-states of the high Renaissance began projecting international military and political power, there were frequent political changes. Forward thinking Italians felt that Italy’s lack of political cohesion meant that economic development lagged the rest of Europe and consequently, Italy was treated with less respect than these patriots thought their homeland deserved. These smart Italians, like their German counterparts in the north saw that the large markets that came from political unity in the United States brought great economic benefits, and with economic strength came political and military importance. Under the banner of Garibaldi, Italy’s numerous states gave up their independence in 1870 and were led by Victor Emmanuel II. Victor Emmanuel died in 1878, and during Italy’s most interesting philatelic period (1878-1900) Italian stamps pictured Italy’s second king—Umberto.
The philately of Italy in the last two decades of the nineteenth century is wonderful. The stamps themselves are plentiful. Italy was becoming a great commercial nation and wealth was being transferred from the top on down. This meant that many poorer people from smaller town were becoming literate and using the post for the first time so small Italian town cancels make for fun collecting. Italy, like most European countries, had overseas aspirations, and so used abroads and post offices abroad make for interesting specialization. And there are shades and varieties galore on these stamps with a wonderful specialized catalog in the Sassone Italy specialized catalog.
But most fun of all for Italian specialists is the price point for all of this. For every ten Germans who specialize in German stamps there is probably only one Italian who does so for Italy. Very scarce to rare varieties and cancels that would sell for a hundred dollars or more if they were British or US or Germany sell for $10 or less when they are Italian issues. The hunting is good. And for Americans of Italian decent, the collecting of the stamps of Italy is a good way to connect with their past.