Italy, Scott #C89 used (o), 1937, Child of Balilla, 25cti, dark green

Item Specifics

Country

Italy

Catalog Number

C89

Stamp Type

Air Mail

Condition

Used

Centering

XF

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

Organizations - Other

Year of Issue

1937

Item Description

Italy, Scott #C89, used (o), 1937 air mail, Child Welfare Series to fund Summer Camps for Poor Children under the auspices of the National Youth Organization (Opera Nazionale Balilla), stamp shows a Child with a Rifle in a Balilla Uniform, 25 centesimi, perforated: 14, watermarked: crown (Scott watermark #140), photogravure printed, dark green, Scott 2019 catalog value: $27.50. Very slightly off-centered, slanted, horizontal, message box cancellation over the top of the stamp and into the central image, sound back, hinge remnant, good perforations; valid postal use warrants a selling price premium. This is not a 'bait-and-switch' offer. The stamp you see will be the one you receive.

At catalog value $27.50/used and $8.00/mint, you have to worry about a forged cancel as forged cancels are endemic during this period between the world wars in Italy. It is at the point where it is not valuable enough to send off for certification, but this stamp has a key indicator that it is likely authentic: it has a large message box cancel covering the main image. As a collector of used stamps, I have been studying these forged cancels for years both with Germany and Italy. Most forgeries have light, off-center circular cancels that lack mailing details; I have not seen a forged example with a message box cancellation; as they are too much work for the forger. So, I feel certain this stamp has been correctly postally used in the period of issue.

Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.40 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.60 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used. 

By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.

Seller Information

Seller

JDumville (4387)

Registered Since

06/10/2018

Feedback

100%

Store

Worldwide Used Stamps

Item Location

Virginia, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.