Simple Definitives
Intaglio (calcografia in Italian) is a printing method where the image is cut into a metal plate, usually copper, and the cut lines hold the ink. The surface is wiped clean, and damp paper is then pressed into the grooves under high pressure. On Italian stamps it is often combined with offset, because intaglio gives a raised effect and the offset passes add the color. It was first used for the Christmas stamps of November 2007.
In 2008, many stamps were still printed in rotogravure (rotocalco), like the ones on the first row. However, in July 2009 Italy issued the first four stamps of the new Posta Italiana definitive series, the ones on the second and third row here. They’re self-adhesive and were printed in intaglio, which is rare for definitives. They also used microprinting and metallized ink, which both were used for the first time. These stamps were supposed to be difficult to copy, but the series was counterfeited about a year later.
Note
Here we have more boring designs. The definitives with images of women on the previous pages are so impressive. I’m amazed that such drab designs are used by the same postal administration. This is the land of Raphael, Leonardo, and Michaelangelo. Can’t we do better than this?
Contains 8 spots: own 8 – 8 unused, 0 used.
Page is finished.
Stamp Details
The table below lists information about the stamps shown on this page of Lighthouse’s stamp album. For more details about a particular stamp, click on its description. That will take you to the related web page of Colnect.
spot |
own |
catalog |
subject |
description |
comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
✓ |
2932B |
80c (jun 2008) |
|||
✓ |
2932E |
€2 (jun 2008) |
|||
✓ |
2932F |
€2.20 (jun 2008) |
|||
✓ |
3102 |
60c (jul 2009) |
|||
✓ |
3103 |
€1.40 (jul 2009) |
|||
✓ |
3104 |
€1.50 (jul 2009) |
|||
✓ |
3105 |
€2 (jul 2009) |
|||
✓ |
3105A |
€3.30 (oct 2009) |
Footnotes
Spot refers to the postion of the stamp on the album page (e.g., 3.2 indicates row 3, position 2).
Amt. is an abbreviation for the face amount of the stamp.
Own indicates the stamp status: ✓ for unused; ✗ for used or canceled; ⭑ signifies I ordered one; ; ✨ indicates it was bought recently; ✠ means an auction bid is pending; and ◎ is used, and it costs too much for unused.
To search by catalog number, go to the search box and enter it in the catalog number box. However, it’s a bit broken; I need to fix it.
