X+46 pp. - b/w and colour ill. - softbound - printed 1994
VALUATIONS IN IT LIRE
Italian text

ALBERTO DIENA A philatelist - His life, one of his works – "FLATTERING" CANCELLATIONS USED ON THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES AND OF NAPLES PROVINCES

The most fanciful postmarks of the world, the extraordinary "flattering" cancellations of the Kingdom of Naples have always been appreciated by Italian and foreign collectors. The present notes aim at resuming and, whenever possible, revising what has been so far published by the many experts, first of all Emilio Diena, the author's father.

This monograph, in addition to an introduction on the author, deals with the subject in the following chapters:
1 - origins of flattering cancellations;
2 - how many of them are known and where they were used;
3 - subdivision into six groups of six types each and their distribution;
4 - period of use;
5 - localities in which they were used;
6 - postage stamps on which they were used - some of the best known rarities - short notes on mixed franking;
7 - colours used for the impressions - attempts at identifying their origin even without the nominal postmark - postal frauds;
8 - in what types and colours the nominal postmarks were combined with the flattering cancellations;
9 - evaluation criteria for letters with postage stamps cancelled with flattering postmarks;
10 - evaluations of flattering cancellations on pieces or loose stamps.