Italian Stamp with King Vittorio Emanuele III

This item is a vintage Italian postage stamp, featuring a portrait of King Vittorio Emanuele III. The stamp is predominantly red in color with a rectangular shape and perforated edges, indicating its primary function as a postal artifact. The central image is a bust of King Vittorio Emanuele III, facing towards the left, depicted in a somewhat faded, lighter red shade against a darker red background. Below the portrait, the text "POSTE ITALIANE" is visible, confirming its country of origin, alongside a numerical denomination that appears to be "ONE IND" and "10" though the exact value is partially obscured. The stamp exhibits significant signs of post-use, including a prominent circular handstamp cancellation mark that reads "COBRE" or "CORRE" diagonally across the king's face, making the specific postmark location and date difficult to discern definitively. The perforation condition appears relatively intact, although some edges show minor wear consistent with handling and age. The overall condition suggests it is an authentic, used stamp, likely from the early to mid-20th century, given the reign of Vittorio Emanuele III (1900-1946). The paper quality seems standard for postage stamps of that era. The heavy cancellation mark, while obscuring some detail, is also an integral part of its philatelic history. The craftsmanship aligns with mass-produced governmental issues from that period.