Please see this official pictorial postmark on this stampless cover. What objects are depicted in it?

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Jin Peng
Yuhai Topicals
http://www.5iyu.com

Hi Jin,

the postmark says: "Card. Commissario per le 4 Legazioni", that could be translated into "Cardinal Commissioner for the 4 Legazioni". The "4 Legazioni" were 4 districts, inside Papal States, such as great provinces or small regions, and they were located in Bologna, Ancona, Perugia and Velletri: a fifth "legazione", called "Comarca di Roma", was located in Rome. Inside each "legazione" there were more smaller "legazioni", called "delegazioni". These 4 great "legazioni" existed from 1850 till to 1870.
Before 1850 the "4 legazioni" were only smaller provinces, located in Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì and Ravenna; all the others 14 "legazioni" were called "delegazioni".
So, the postmark probably regards the particular activities of a Commissioner for these 4 "legazioni", probably located in Bologna, and of course his letters could be shipped in franking exemption.
The image depicted inside the postmark is the "coat of arms" of these 4 districts, as you can see by this document:


Cheers, Marco.

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Tematica: Geologia
Storia Postale: Funicolare vesuviana - Postumia
Open Class: Into the ring of fires
Responsabile Servizio Clienti Delcampe Italia

Thanks for so much information on the postmark.

I am wondering what is around the shield. Religious appliance or just decoration of the coat of arms?

Thank you in advance.

_________________
Jin Peng
Yuhai Topicals
http://www.5iyu.com

Hi Jin,

I suppose that it's just a decoration, but it's only a my idea.

_________________
Tematica: Geologia
Storia Postale: Funicolare vesuviana - Postumia
Open Class: Into the ring of fires
Responsabile Servizio Clienti Delcampe Italia

Hi,
on top and around of the shield we have the hat of the cardinals with plaits, it was used until the nineteenth century and it was usually depicted in the cardinal's coat of arms.