francobolli

Franco bolli are adhesive labels issued by postal administrations to prepay postage on mail. They are affixed to letters, parcels, and other items and are canceled with a postmark to show that the postage has been paid and to prevent reuse. In Italian, francobollo is singular and francobolli is plural.

Historically, the idea of prepaid labels emerged in the 19th century, culminating in the first widely used postage stamps in the United Kingdom in 1840. Nations soon followed, creating a vast variety of designs and denominations. In Italy, the first stamps were issued by the Kingdom of Sardinia in the mid-19th century; after national unification, Italian stamps featured portraits of rulers, state symbols, and later a wide range of subjects such as landscapes and cultural icons. Modern stamps can be perforated or gummed, and many issues since the mid-20th century are self-adhesive. Production methods include engraving, lithography, and intaglio, with varieties such as watermarks, plate numbers, and different perforation gauges. Denominations are denominated in the local currency and, in euro-era issues, in euros.

The study and collection of stamps, known as philately, is both a hobby and a field of research. Collectors classify stamps by country, era, design, and printing variations, including rare errors and misprints. Commemorative stamps, definitive stamps, and special issues remain common areas of interest. Beyond their postal function, francobolli are cultural artifacts and, for some, a form of investment, with catalogs and auction markets supporting research and exchange.