This project began in 2020 out of curiosity about the rates applied to some parcel post forms in my collection. However, the many additional services available made manual calculation using traditional rate tables particularly cumbersome. This led to the idea of creating a tool to automate postage rate calculations .
Over time, the study of postal rates was naturally complemented by the classification of postal documents in my collection or found online. The result is an archive of approximately 1,500 documents (and constantly growing), including parcel post forms and other postal forms, classified according to numerous parameters such as date, weight, place of origin and destination, additional services, characteristics of the form, labels and postage stamps.
These activities led to the creation of the Parcel Post Portal , conceived as a comprehensive tool for the study of the parcel post service. The portal currently covers the period from 1946 to 2000 and focuses on domestic parcels in the Italian Republic , with some extensions covering San Marino and Vatican City. It offers three main tools: automatic postage rate calculation, consultation of rate tables, and searches within the document archive.
Rate calculator:
This section automatically reconstructs the rate for a postal parcel
using the information available on its form.
The essential data are the date of dispatch, the weight of the parcel
and the value of the form; additional services and other characteristics
of the consignment can also be specified.
By pressing the calculate rate button, the applicable
rate period is identified and a description of the consignment is displayed,
together with a breakdown of the rate into its various components and the
relevant regulatory references.
Access the rate calculator »
Postal rate tables:
This section allows the rates for the various services and their evolution over time to be consulted through two different search methods.
- Consultation by rate period:
selecting the period of interest provides access to a table listing the rates for the various services. Where available, links to the archive make it possible to view documents associated with a specific rate or service.
- Consultation by service:
selecting a specific service makes it possible to view the chronological evolution of its rate in a single table.
Access the rate tables »
Search the archive:
This section allows the archive to be searched by combining one or more criteria. Documents can be searched according to information about the consignment, characteristics of the parcel form, applied items, postal services, cash on delivery, insurance and special contents.
The search returns documents that simultaneously satisfy the selected criteria, arranged chronologically and accompanied by their descriptions. The archive mainly contains parcel dispatch forms, as well as other postal stationery related to the postal parcel service.
Access the archive »
Research, publications and outreach:
The systematic analysis of the collected documents, combined with the study of postal regulations and philatelic literature, has made it possible to investigate numerous poorly documented aspects of the parcel post service. The research has helped to refine usage chronologies, supplement existing classifications, identify previously uncatalogued types, and document particularly rare rates, services and usages. The results progressively obtained have provided the basis for several publications and dissemination activities.
Since its earliest versions in 2020, the development of the Portal has been documented on the Filatelia e Francobolli
The study of the parcel post service has led to the publication of 11 articles on Il Postalista Use of the Parcel Post Portal
In 2022, the project was presented at the 20th Postal History Colloquium
In 2025-26, two articles, mainly focused on postal stationery, were published in L'Intero Postale
Essential bibliography:
Aristide Donà, I pacchi per l’interno , QUI FILATELIA, April-July 2005.
Antonio A. Piga, I bollettini per pacchi a decalco , storiapostalefilatelia.weebly.com.
Claudio Scapaticci, 1978-1992 I Pacchi… Regalo , L'Arte del Francobollo, October 2013.
Franco Filanci, Luigi R. Cataldi, Novellario - volume 6 .
Gianluca Di Lauro, Il servizio pacchi postali della Repubblica nel 1946 , L'Intero Postale, nos. 139-140.
Emanuele Gabbini, Catalogo Unificato di Storia Postale 2009/2011, vol. 1 – Servizi , CIF/Unificato.
Franco Filanci, Carlo Sopracordevole, Domenico Tagliente, Interitalia 2022 , 17th edition, Laser Invest.
