Express Mail- 30 besa

Express Mail- 30 besa

Year
1923
Face Value
30
Mint Value
-
Used Value
-
Print Run
-
Themes
Personalities

Catalogs References

Michel
IT-SO 45
Yvert & Tellier
IT-SO E1
Stanley Gibbons
SO E44

Technical Details

Colors
Red
Size
40x24 mm
Perforation
14
Printing
Typography
This stamp highlights the integration of the colony into the international postal network through the implementation of rapid delivery services, as indicated by the bold "EXPRÈS" and "UNIONE POSTALE UNIVERSALE" (Universal Postal Union) inscriptions. The illustration features a left-facing profile portrait of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy encased in a medallion, alongside the crowned heraldic shield of the House of Savoy, which carries a powerful message of sovereignty, imperial loyalty, and central institutional authority over overseas territories. Within the context of Italian Somaliland, the "SOMALIA ITALIANA" overprint and the specific surcharge in the local "BESA" currency signify a period of significant administrative modernization, linking remote colonial sectors with global communication networks. By merging the image of the ruling monarch with advanced logistical standards, the stamp projects a narrative of technological progress, state-backed efficiency, and the formalization of law and infrastructure in the Horn of Africa.