Neapolitan Province - Napoli 1861

 Neapolitan Province - Napoli 

Although Naples was a part of the Kingdom of "Two Sicilies", many of the services were conducted independently in both kingdoms. Among others, the postal service was separate.

All the stamps are in Grana currency except a green mezzo (1/2) issued first and later followed by a 1/2 Grano

There are eight values ​​made in Turin by Matraire, supplier of stamps to the Sardinian State.

Lithographic printing in sheets of 100: 2 blocks of 10x5 side by side.

Already a few weeks after the issue, postal counterfeits appeared  of the 2, 5, 10 and 20 grana. 

The leftovers or incomplete stamps had effigies applied or sold as frames only

This series also is very similar to that of the 4th of Sardinia & collectors often confuse them.

NOTE - this blog is a work in progress so initially the goal will be to list the 1861 genuine issues with their features and later to add forgeries

Genuine stamps

1. The break in the line below the P is common

2. The bottom serif of the S is long & pointed

3. The top of the T appears rounded

4. The inner frame has breaks particularly in the area noted

5. The lower part of the C is thinner and more curved than the top

6. The right side of the N of FRANCO is shorter than the left side

7. The frame line above the value tends to have weak areas

8. The bottom right cross is the largest and often blends into the space on the left

1. The top of the P often has a small break or weak spot

2. There is a dash between the frame lines between PO

3. Above the left bottom cross there is a large color dot

4. On the right side above the cross there is a colored dash

1. There is a dark area below the top left cross

2. The T has a short right foot

3. The bottom branch of the E is longer than the top

4. The bottom of the B is larger than the top

5. There are many breaks in the inner frame line

6. The R has a long pointed foot

7. There is generally a white area in the vertical background lines

1. The frame line under POSTE is weak and often broken on the left side

2. There is generally a break in the inner frame below the OS

3. The bottom of the B is larger than the top

4. The N of FRANCO has a weak left leg and the right side is shorter

5. The frame line above the value is often broken

6. The A's of GRANA appear curved on the left side

7. The key feature is the dash joining the frames on the right side

1. The top left cross tends to have a damaged bottom

2. The inner frame line has breaks particularly at the top

3. The right side of the N is shorter than the left side

4. The bottom of the B is larger than the top

5. The key feature is a small dot top left of the lower C

1. The frame line is generally thicker at the top and there is a small break

2. The lower section of the C of FRANCO is more curved and thinner than the top

3. Depending on inking the branches of the F of FRANCO appear joined

4. The key feature is a very small dot bottom right of DIECI

5. The bottom curve of the G if often leaning right

1. Inner frame line is broken mainly on the left side

2. The right side of the N is shorter than the left side

3. The 2nd O in BOLLO has a white spot

4. The right side of the bottom right cross is generally damaged

1. Inner frame line is broken mainly on the left side

2. The lower section of the C of FRANCO is more curved and thinner than the top

3. A key feature between the N and the head there is a small dot

4. A key feature on the right side frame there is a thin dash

5. The tail of the Q is thick and generally angled to the right.

A 2 Grana showing the reverse side

A block of the 50 Grana in gray, the second main color

MORE TO FOLLOW.....