Provisional Government Stamps Appraisal

Romagna 1859 Provisional Government Postage Stamps

This image features two postage stamps issued by the Provisional Government of Romagna during the Italian unification period in 1859. The left stamp is a 1 Baiocco value printed in black ink on gray-colored paper, while the right stamp is a 4 Baiocchi value printed in black on reddish-brown or buff paper. Both stamps exhibit the characteristic typography of this issue: a rectangular border containing the words 'FRANCO BOLLO POSTALE' (Postage Stamp) and 'ROMAGNE' at the bottom, surrounding a central numeral value '1' and '4' with the currency 'BAI.' (Baiocco). The stamps are imperforate (cut by hand) and appear to be mounted within black protective philatelic mounts on an album page. The 1 Bai. stamp shows a faint linear cancellation mark, while the 4 Bai. stamp displays a heavier circular or oval postal cancellation. Regarding condition, both stamps show irregular margins typical of hand-cut specimens; the 1 Bai. stamp specifically appears to have tight margins, possibly touching the outer frame line at the top. The paper shows age-related toning, and the ink remains legible though somewhat weathered. These stamps were only in use for a brief period between September 1859 and January 1860 before being superseded by Sardinian issues, making authentic examples highly sought after by collectors of Italian States philately. The craftsmanship represents mid-19th-century provisional printing, characterized by utilitarian design and coarse paper stock.