Italian Post Office in Levant

1874 "ESTERO" overprint on Italy 20c Reproduction

Sperati's reproduction of the overprinted 20c is a composite of a 20c stamp design and the "ESTERO" overprint. He used genuine, decolored stamp paper with original watermark and perforations. Proofs were reported in Sperati I and since then ten finished reproductions were found in the Sperati archives (see Sperati II).

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Italy 20c with 1874 "ESTERO" overprint

1. the right square at top right has a break at foot 2. there is a break in the second frameline below the "PO" of "POSTALE"

2. there is a small bite from the left side of the left outer frameline opposite the second "A" of "ITALIANO"

3. on the forged overprint the top right of the "S" is detached and the serif on the right leg of the "R" is pinched at its joint with the leg

additional information from Sperati I:  Plate 66   Italian P/O. in Levant Text

additional information from Sperati II:   Italian P.O. in Levant Text

Richard Frajola (May 12, 2020)