2019-01-18 Fri

Tuscany Lion stamps were the first stamps of state of Tuscany which appeared during the year 1851.

Tuscany's mail service may be traced to private letter services operating between 1300 and 1400. Tuscany signed a postal agreement with the Kingdom of Sardinia and with Austria which regulated postal rates and procedures for transporting mail between the countries and On April 1, 1851, Tuscany issued its first adhesive postage stamps.

Between 1851 and 1860, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, an independent Italian state until 1859 when it joined the United Provinces of Central Italy, produced two postage stamp issues which are among the most prized classic stamp issues of the world, and include the most valuable Italian stamp.

The stamps depict a crowned lion resting a paw on a shield with the fleur-de-lis. The image is based on the Renaissance sculpture by Donatello of a lion called the Marzocco the stamps shared a common design, differing only in color and denomination.

The stamps were initially issued in denominations of 1 and 2 soldi, and 2, 4 and 6 crazie. In July 1851, 1 and 9 crazie stamps were issued and in 1852, a 60 crazie stamp for international use was issued.

The Italian States stamps of Tuscany were further replaced by those of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1861.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com

Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world