On March 23, 2023, Poste Italiane communicated the issue, by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, of a series of eight stamps gathered in a sheet, dedicated to the Italian Air Force, on the centenary of its establishment, relating to the value of tariff B equal to €1.20 for each stamp.
This issue is accompanied by two others, both consisting of a single stamp, one of which is issued jointly with the Vatican City and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
- Sheet with six stamps
The six stamps are delimited, at the top, by a tricolor band which ideally unites two planes of different eras in stylized graphics and, at the bottom, by the coat of arms of the Air Force. Complete the leaflet, at the top, with the legend “AERONAUTICAL MILITARY CENTENARY”.
The cartoons of the six stamps, arranged on two lines, reproduce the image of some aircraft which, over the course of the 100-year history of the Air Force, have marked its evolutionary path: Aeritalia (Lockheed) F-104S “Starfighter”; Aeritalia (Fiat) G.91 R-1B; Sikorsky HH-3F “Combat Sar”; SIAI Marchetti S.82 “Marsupliale”; Panavia “Tornado” IDS; Eurofighter EF-2000A “Typhoon” Lockheed-Martin F-35A “Lightning II”.
The stamps are completed by the legend “CENTENARIO AERONAUTICA MILITARE”, the respective names of the aircraft, the wording “ITALIA” and the tariff indication “B”.Circulation: 80,000 sheets, for a total of 480,000 stamps.The stamps are printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato SpA, in rotogravure, on white, neutral coated, self-adhesive, non-fluorescent paper. Sketch by Sergio Petruccioli.
- Single stamp
The stamp vignette reproduces, on a white field, the logo of the Centenary of the Italian Air Force. The stamp is completed by the legend “IN FLIGHT TOWARDS THE FUTURE”, the wording “ITALIA” and the tariff indication “B”. Edition: 250,020 copies, in sheets of 45 copies. The stamp is printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato in rotogravure, on white, neutral coated, self-adhesive, non-fluorescent paper. Sketch by the Philatelic Production Center of the State Mint and Printing Institute SpA
- Joint stamp with the Vatican City and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
It is a leaflet reproducing a vintage photo depicting three aircraft, one of which is highlighted on the stamp. The SIAI Marchetti S.82 “Marsupiale” type aircraft of the Air Force, supplied to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which fly over Rome and the Vatican City in which Piazza San Pietro with the homonymous Basilica and the Colonnade of the Bernini; on the stamp you can see in particular the dome of St. Peter. The Centenary logo of the Air Force is reproduced in the center of the leaflet.
The leaflet is completed by the legends “AERONAUTICAL MILITARY CENTENARY” and “JOINT ISSUE OF THE VATICAN CITY – SMOM – ITALY”. Circulation of 50,000 copies. The leaflet is printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato SpA, in rotogravure, on gummed, fluorescent, non-watermarked coated paper. Sketch by the Postal and Philately Service of the Vatican City and optimized by the Philatelic Production Center of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato SpA
For the occasion, a five-fold A4 philatelic folder was created, containing the sheet with the 6 stamps, the single stamp and the joint stamp with the Vatican City and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; eight first day covers and the illustrative bulletin, at the price of €30.
Furthermore, six double-fold A5 philatelic folders were produced containing the single postage stamp with the Aeronautica Militare centenary logo and a franked and canceled postcard with one of the six stamps contained in the package. Price €10 for each folder.