45 CENTESIMI
This stamp was printed both on
handmade as well as on machine made paper
(from September 1856), with thickness
and quality very variable both using the "original" coat
of arms as well as the "revisited" one (see the introduction
to the issue in the "Going Deep").
As for the other values of this set it is possible to identify the parts printed
with the first matrix. The main identification sign is the same of the 30
centesimi (we will see later on the reason), that is a small interruption
of the internal line surrounding the coat of arms, to the left (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1: first matrix, interruption
of the surrounding line
For this value we can distinguish two main types, easily identifiable. This stamp was printed by using the stereotypes of the 30 centesimi where the number "30" was eliminated and substituted with the "45" value (this is the reason why the identification sign of the first matrix is identical to the one of the 30 centesimi). This operation made with a cutting tool left evident marks that are visible often on the first type where the line up of the 45 value is also different from value to value. Here is how to distinguish the two types of the 45 centesimi stamp:
1st TYPE: value 45 very much shifted through the word "CENTES" (Fig. 2)
Fig. 2: first type
2nd
TYPE: : number 45 spaced from the word "CENTES" and centered
between the left plug and "CENTES" (the parts on machine made paper
are of this type) - Fig. 3 -
