The 
  " Little Fasces "
(Fascetti)
The early days of the Italian Social Republic were characterized by a general reorganization in all the fields, including of course the postal service, awaiting to be able to issue their own stamps, the ministers decided to use the ones pre-existing during the Reign of Italy, and particularly the ones named series "Imperiale", issued in 1929 that had been used for Ordinary Mail as millions of exemplars. Such series which to many collectors has no need for presentation, besides representing the Lupa Capitolina, Augusto Giulio Cesar and Italy Turrita, were defective because they also represented Vittorio Emanuele III, who was of course not well liked by the new republican government. Thus zinc plates with the symbols of the new Republic were created, with the only aim of overprinting stamps with the royal effigy, to show disdain. The stamps with the effigy of Vittorio Emanuele III without overprinting were declared out of circulation since March 15th - 1944. The plates with the new overprinting were initially prepared in Rome, but from these originals some copies were later distributed to the most important postal districts like Verona, Milan, Florence, Genoa and Turin, probably because of the difficulties caused by adverse war events while distributing postal values all over the territory of the Social Republic. The values of the Imperial Series with the overprinted real effigy were issued simultaneously in all the cities on January 21st 1944; these stamps are known to collectors with the name of "Fascetti ". In the picture below one of these series issued in Rome can be seen, where the various adopted types of overprinting can be seen. It is not always easy to distinguish to which issue one of these stamps belongs, especially if analyzed separately, but it becomes easy if comparing them with large blocks or sheets or if you are so lucky to run into a stamp with the characteristic of a special issue. The zinc plates distributed in these 6 cities, even if originated by only one original, as was already said, show some details that make them be distinguishable one from the other, thus creating characteristic varieties of press. There are also differences as for inking and press pressure, sometimes these are remarkable sometimes these are not, but they can contribute to the definition of the issue . It is not my intention to introduce within this study quotations, since there are many catalogues for this purpose, I will simply expose the various result that I have otained by comparing many hundreds of these stamps and in some case also sheets, trying to establish the city of issue. 

Rome overprints
The Roman issue of the Fascetti certainly is the most common and these stamps had been distributed to all regions of the Republican territory, excluded therefore Campania, Puglia,Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia already conquered by Allies. On June 4 1944, Allies occupied Rome, and The State Polygraphic, obviously, stopped every stamps overprint.
 
 
    

Printing impression
The Roman issue of Fascetti have, usually, a strong overprint impression visible on the back, especially for red ink overprints( 30c. - 50c. - 1,25L. ).For stamps with big fasces ( 30c. - 1,25L. ), this impression causes an ink spreading along the right edge of the fasces, it is the ink ejected by press punch. 

Inking
On stamps with black overprint, the ink is usually light black or dark grey and clotted. On stamps with red overprint, the ink is normally brick red. In spite of strong impression, red and black overprints have bad quality and the inking is not uniform. We can see many little holes inside red overprints and many ink spots around characters for black overprinted stamps.
 
Impression features
The most important feature is, for black overprinted stamps, the final A of REPUBBLICA and ITALIANA. Often, the right stem of this letter is short. Moreover, the first I of ITALIANA is often short on the top. All stamps issued in Rome have overprints smudged and buckled. 
Verona overprints
Also this issue, like Rome, is very common. Verona's Fascetti were overprinted by Chiamenti's Typographic Industries. They were distributed in all Northern Italy. 
                                         

Printing impression
The overprint impression of this issue is usually light and it is not visible on the back, moreover it is uniformly applied on sheet. The letters and characters are clearly impressed without holes inside overprint. 
Inking
This is a good quality inking. Red inks have variable colours, from transparent red to dark brown red. The ink density is variable too, from little to very hidding.Sometimes a little percentage of white lead was added to improve hidding quality of overprint ( this is the most important feature of Florence issue). Also black inks appear not very hidding but homogeneouses.
 
Impression features
Impression is usually clear and slimeless, letters and characters are well done and without deformations although the top of fasces in black ink overprints, appears not well definited and without details. Altogether I think this issue is the better in quality. 

    Florence overprints
The stamps of Florence's issue are uncommons and they are only stamps that can be always identified, even though isolated. Florence's Fascetti were overprinted by Valgiusti's Typographic Industries.The issue of Florence was the worst of all overprints studied. Letters and draws are rounded, shortened and smudged. This issue was distributed in Tuscania and east Liguria. 
 
  

Printing impression
Printing impression is extremely irregular. Usually the lower part of the overprint is more impressed than upper part ( for black ink overprints only ), while red ink overprints have the ribbons of fasces and the cutting edge of axe more impressed than stem. 
Inking
Black inks are plentiful, clotted and mixed, while reds have good quality and they are variable from deep red to lilac and carmine.To improve hidden quality of overprint sometimes was added a lot of white lead( Biacca),only for red ink overprints, stamps with this colour ink can be always identified. White lead reduce the transparency of red inks, so the overprint is more visible. 
Impression features
This is a very poor quality print.In black ink overprints there are many ink stains and spots around draws and letters, and some letters are buckled and shorted.The top of fasces is often buckled and pike is often without points. Red ink overprints have often fasces ribbons shorted. 

Milan overprints
This issue is uncommon and these stamps are not always distinguishable from other issues but, some stamps have ink and print feature that can be easily recognizable. These stamps were distributed in Lombardy, Northern Liguria and east Piedmont. Values of 30c. and 1,25 Lire ( big red fasces ) were not overprinted at Milan. 
 
     

Printing impression
Printing impression of these stamps was not strong and not visible on back. 
Inking
Black inks are oily and greasy while red inks are variable from red to red vermilion. The value of 50c. with red vermilion ink is easily recognizable. 
Impression features
Stamps with black ink overprint have bad quality and the ink generates a veil that coming out from the letters, moreover in the values of 25c. and 75c., the final part of the right ribbon of fasces end like a shaped hook. The top of fasces is often confused and splashed,while the top of axe and the top of upper pike often are folded between themselves ( cat's ears ). A lot of the value of 50c. was overprinted with vermilion red, the letters of the last row of this overprint ( ITALIANA ) are often welded between themselves. 

Genoa overprints
This rare issue was made with extreme accuracy, the zinc cliches were the better between all other issues. Stamps were overprinted by Marini's Typographic Industries and distributed in Liguria only. 
                                
 

Printing impression
Printing impression of this issue is very variable but never strong. In some stamps it is visible on back. 
Inking
Red and black inks usually have not good qaulity, blacks are generally very strong but not uniformly distributed, it can originate little cracks, reds are strong too and, in some cases, they tend to lilac. 
Impression features
Usually It is very difficolt to define if values of 30c. and 1,25 Lire can belong at this issue, in some stamps the print is well done, others have, instead, a very bad print, similar at Rome overprints. Stamps overprinted by black inks ( 25c. and 75c. ) have clearly print but, head of fasces usually is not well done. In some sheets U and I of REPUBBLICA are lightly shorted.

 

 

Turin overprints
Maybe overprinted by Dragonero's Typographic Industries, these stamps were distributed in all Piedmont and in part of Liguria. This issue is uncommon.
 
                           
           

Printing impression
Between all issues studied, these stamps have the lowest printing impression, never visible on back. 
Inking
This issues usually has good quality inks, red inks are fluids and variables from watered red to orange red, in some cases there are many little dots ( ink drips) around the stem of fasces. Black inks are usually clotted and not uniform. 
Impression features
Black ink overprint stamps, usually have the letters U,L and I are shorted on top, while letter A is shorted in its lower part, like a capital delta. The values of 30c. and 1,25 Lire have, as above wrote, many little dots around the stem of fasces. The value of 50c. usually has a strong inking and the ink spreads around the letters.