Montagnana Castle Stamp Appraisal

Italy Castles Definitives Stamp - Castello di Montagnana (1000 Lire)

This is a vintage postage stamp from the Italian Republic's 'Castles of Italy' (Castelli d'Italia) definitive series, which was first introduced in 1980. The stamp features the Castello di Montagnana, an impressive medieval fortification. Physically, the stamp is printed on paper with standard perforations on all four sides. The design employs a multi-color rotogravure printing process, showcased through the brown, green, and blue-grey tones used for the central architectural illustration, which is set within a circular frame. The denomination '1000' is clearly visible in the top right corner in a bold blue font, while 'ITALIA' appears at the bottom left. Specifically, the bottom margin bears the inscriptions 'I.P.Z.S. ROMA' (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) and 'G. VERDELOCCO INC.' indicating the engraver and state mint origins. Its condition appears to be used or previously hinged, showing some minor yellowing and foxing consistent with age, particularly along the top edge near the perforations. The centeredness of the image is slightly shifted toward the top left. The stamp remains fairly intact with no major tears visible. This series is well-regarded among philatelists for its detailed representations of Italian heritage and medieval architecture.