The "Aquilotto" - general introduction

The creation of this value is due to a precise event: the Sardinian Postal Administration made an official complain because they thought that the newspapers sent in the Duchy were charged with a postal fee and not with a "political" type one (due also to the similarity between the 10 centesimi and the ordinary mail stamps). The misunderstanding was cleared but anyway a new revenue stamp has been issued, completely different, without any possible doubt on its usage.
The implementation of the minting die was left to the goldsmith and engraver from Modena Felice Riccò who engraved it in brass. To this tool was attached an handle to press by hand the single prints.
In rectangular shape, it measures 20.5 mm each side and represents the Estensi eagle surrounded by two concentric circles with the label "TASSA GAZZETTE" on top and "CENT. 10" at bottom. The drawing is framed and closed at the four corners by triangles. It is found used starting around February 1859.
As said, the prints were made one-by-one by hand, on machine made paper sheets, rather this and of poor quality, in 240 stamps for each sheet. The parts were divided by thin parallel lines separated 23.5 mm that are found both vertically and horizontally. The type of printing "handmade" adopted obviously created irregular prints, misaligned, shifted, double and so on; with the progress of the operation also the tool deteriorated to the point that it broke down. The "poor guy" who did this job (Carlo Montruccoli) "printed" all together 61,200 stamps.
It has been used until the fall of the Duchy, that means June 11th 1859.