Italy 1933 – Galileo (pneumatic
post)
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) made his
first appearance on this stamp in 1933 for use in pneumatic
postal systems (hence the wording “Posta
Pneumatica” on the stamp). Pneumatic post involved
placing letters in canisters which were then shot along pipes
by compressed air from one Post Office to another. Pneumatic
postal systems were set up in several European and American
cities, including Rome, Naples, and Milan. Italy was the only
country to issue stamps specifically for pneumatic postal use.
Two of the designs showed Galileo – this one and a
modified version with different face value and colour issued in
1945. The portrait
is based on one by Justus Sustermans painted in 1636 when
Galileo was aged 72.
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