The revenue stamp - general introduction

As we saw already for other Duchies (Lombardy-Venetia, Parma, Modena) to try (unsuccessfully, looking at the results...) to oppose the expansion of the out-of-State political ideas, especially the Sardinian ones, a tax on the out-of-State newspapers was instituted, in particular for those of politic content. Nevertheless the Tuscany one is a story a bit unusual: in fact the Grand Duchy Government was not made aware of this decision taken by the Austrian Postal Council, and noticed the fact only when saw its own newspapers taxed... in Parma.
Almost to counter this the decision to adopt the tax was taken. It was supposed to be applied on the "Gazzette" (newspaper) coming from Lombardy-Venetia (and therefore from Austria in general), from Parma and from Modena, avoiding those States where the tax was not applied and therefore, what a paradox!, even avoiding the Sardinian ones!

The stamp, or better, the revenue stamps, has been issued in October 1st 1854.
It's a print with double circular frame with at the center the indication "2 SOLDI" and all around between the two circular frames the label "BOLLO STRAORDINARIO PER LE POSTE". At the bottom there is a small decoration. The print diameter was about 2.4 centimeters. It was printed in black on paper sheets bought locally, very thin, yellowish, practically transparent (to this look contributed also the gum placed by hand on the back). The sheets was crossed by squares of pink-red color of about 4 centimeters by side; in each of these squares one revenue was printed.
The sheet was composed by 80 pieces in 10 rows of 8. The revenue stamp, that was never cancelled because not in sale to the public, was cut often very close to the circular print before being applied to the newspaper (we know cases where it was cut circularly around the central print).
Between the known varieties we have the tête-bêche, back print and double prints.
It was valid up to November 1859. We don't know the quantity printed.

.