Italian post in Saseno
Encyclopedia
Saseno is the Italian
name for Sazan Island
which is a small island strategically located between the Strait of Otranto
and the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë in Albania
.
in 1913, Italy
and Austria-Hungary
pressed Greece
to evacuate the southern part of modern Albania. Finding the island too unimportant to risk war with Italy, Greece evacuated it and it was in turn occupied by Italy on 30 October 1914. Italy posted a military commander on the island. This was later ratified on 26 April 1915 by the secret Treaty of London.
After World War I
, Albania formally ceded the island to Italy on 2 September 1920 as part of the Albano-Italian protocol. The island remained part of Italy from 1920 until World War II
.
s of Italy were in use. However, in 1923, eight contemporary stamps of Italy were overprint
ed "SASENO" by the Sazan Island post office for local use. These are all definitive
types which show a portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
and are denominated in the Italian currency of 100 centesimi
(c.) to one lira
with values of 10c., 15c., 20c., 25c., 30c., 50c., 60c. and 1 lira. The values have individual colouring, mainly using shades of orange, brown and blue.
The eight stamps are not particularly rare, although uses of the stamps on covers
are uncommon. A recent price for the full set was US$75.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
name for Sazan Island
Sazan Island
-Fauna of Sazan:Sazan Island contains 7 species of amphibians of which 3 are rare species. The island contains 15 species of reptiles of which 13 are rare species. Some of these amphibian and reptile species include the:* Blue-throated Keeled Lizard...
which is a small island strategically located between the Strait of Otranto
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.- History :...
and the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Historical background
After the end of the Second Balkan WarSecond Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
in 1913, Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
pressed Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to evacuate the southern part of modern Albania. Finding the island too unimportant to risk war with Italy, Greece evacuated it and it was in turn occupied by Italy on 30 October 1914. Italy posted a military commander on the island. This was later ratified on 26 April 1915 by the secret Treaty of London.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Albania formally ceded the island to Italy on 2 September 1920 as part of the Albano-Italian protocol. The island remained part of Italy from 1920 until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Italian postage
During most of this period, postage stampPostage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s of Italy were in use. However, in 1923, eight contemporary stamps of Italy were overprint
Overprint
An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp or banknote after it has been printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail...
ed "SASENO" by the Sazan Island post office for local use. These are all definitive
Definitive
Definitive may refer to:* Definitive , an American music television series* Definitive stamp, a postage stamp that is part of a regular issue of a country's stamps available for sale by the postal service...
types which show a portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
and are denominated in the Italian currency of 100 centesimi
Centesimo
Centesimo is an Italian word derived from the Latin centesimus meaning "hundredth". It was equal to 1/100th of currencies named lira. However, not all lira-denominated currencies feature centesimo as their 1/100th subunit...
(c.) to one lira
Lira
Lira is the name of the monetary unit of a number of countries, as well as the former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican City and Israel. The term originates from the value of a Troy pound of high purity silver. The libra was the basis of the monetary system of the Roman Empire...
with values of 10c., 15c., 20c., 25c., 30c., 50c., 60c. and 1 lira. The values have individual colouring, mainly using shades of orange, brown and blue.
The eight stamps are not particularly rare, although uses of the stamps on covers
Cover (philately)
In philately, the term cover pertains to the outside of an envelope or package with an address, typically with postage stamps that have been cancelled and is a term generally used among stamp and postal history collectors. The term does not include the contents of the letter or package, although...
are uncommon. A recent price for the full set was US$75.