New issue honors former Italian prime minister

By Linn’s Staff

A Sept. 29 issue by Poste Italiane (Italy’s postal administration) honors Italian entrepreneur, media tycoon, team owner and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (1936-2023). Denominated €1.25, the stamp covers the Zone 1 (Europe and the Mediterranean) letter and postcard (up to 20 grams) rate.

The stamp pictures Berlusconi against the flags of Italy and the European Union. To the left of the image is “SILVIO BERLUSCONI” in white text above the dates “1936 - 2023.” At the bottom left is the word “ITALIA,” and the Zone 1 postal rate is indicated with a “B” at bottom right.

Printed in rotogravure by Poste Italiane’s security printer Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A. in Rome, the stamp measures 40 millimeters by 28mm and is perforated 11 by 11. A quantity of 350,000 self-adhesive stamps were printed.

Born in Milan to a middle-class family, Berlusconi rose into the financial elite of Italy in the late 1960s as an Italian media tycoon and statesman. At the time of his death in 2023, he was the third wealthiest person in Italy.

According to a Poste Italiane press release written in part by Berlusconi’s children, he created and was the controlling shareholder of Fininvest (now Mediaset), a publishing and television company that became the largest mass media outlet in Italy.

Berlusconi also owned the highly successful Italian soccer club AC Milan from 1986 to 2017.

Equally prominent in politics, Berlusconi served as Italian prime minister in four governments from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011 for a total of nine years, making him the longest-serving post-war prime minister of Italy.

Other philatelic products available with this issue include a first-day cover and serviced and unserviced postcards. Designed by Filatelia di Poste Italiane, the circular black cancel used for servicing includes first-day information and Berlusconi’s name, both of which encircle an illustrated portrait of Berlusconi taken from the stamp.

For ordering details and further information, contact the philatelic service of Poste Italiane.

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