A stamp for the 185th RRAO "FOLGORE": celebrating Italian military excellence

On 3 April 2025, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy will issue a commemorative stamp dedicated to the 185th Parachute Regiment Goal Acquisition Reconnaissance 'FOLGORE', known as 185TH RRAO, a unit of the Italian Army belonging to the Special Forces, specialised in advanced reconnaissance and target acquisition operations in highly critical environments.

Stamp features

The stamp - designed by the designer Fabio Abbati - depicts an operator of the 185th RRAO deploying an instrument to collect images and target location data. At the top right stands the target acquisition patentsurrounded at the bottom by the Italian tricolour and from the motto of the Regiment: "Videre nec videri" - 'Seeing without being seen'a perfect summary of the unit's operational mission.

Completing the stamp is the legend:
"185TH RRAO PARACHUTE REGIMENT TARGET ACQUISITION RECONNAISSANCE "FOLGORE"",
the inscription "ITALY' and tariff indication "B".

Technical Data

• Print run200,025 specimens
• Print: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., in rotogravure
• Colours: five
• Paperwhite, neutral coated, self-adhesive, with optical brightener (90 g/sqm)
• Support: 80 gsm single-sided siliconised kraft paper
• Adhesivewater-based acrylic, 20 g/sqm (dry)
• Paper/printing format30 x 40 mm
• Plotting format37 x 46 mm
• Notching: 11 (die-cutting)

The context: between philately and memory

Postal values fall into two broad categories: ordinary stamps e commemorative stamps. Each issue has its own course of validity, but during periods of political or administrative transition it can happen that formally 'out-of-date' stamps are used. These, even though they are not valid for official franking, are particularly sought after by collectors, as they represent evidence of historical and administrative transitions: precisely because of this 'formal irregularity', they can achieve high quotations on the market.

Stamps commemorative or celebratorysuch as the one dedicated to the 185th RRAO, are designed to honour people, institutions or events of national importance, whether cultural, political, artistic or social. Traditionally, they do not portray living people, with the exception of the Papi or of the Heads of State.

The role of the Italian State Printing Works and Mint

After the ministerial decision, the stamp production process passed into the hands of thePolygraphic Institute and State Mint (IPZS)which develops a series of sketches submitted to the Commission for the Study and Processing of Postal Value Maps. This body provides the opinion on the graphics, while the technical specifications - such as value, format, perforation and number of stamps per sheet - are laid down by a subsequent ministerial decree.

The IPZS carries out the entire design, both digital and manual, including burin engraving for printing, guaranteeing high quality standards and continuity with the tradition of Italian philately.

The role of the Italian Post Office

La dissemination of philately and the sale of philatelic products are entrusted to Italian Post Officewhich has numerous philatelic counters throughout the territory. In addition to stamps, related products are offered such as postcards, folders, first-day covers, philatelic cards, special cancellations and more.

In this sector too, the creative and organisational contribution of the Company is fundamental: Poste can count on teams of professionals specialised in the world of philately, who guarantee its quality, dissemination and cultural value.

This stamp dedicated to the 185TH RRAO 'FOLGORE' fits fully into this tradition: a small paper object that becomes symbol of history, military pride and national valourdestined to occupy a special place in collectors' albums and in the country's collective memory.

Source: https://www.mimit.gov.it/it/comunicati-emissioni-francobolli/francobollo-celebrativo-del-185-reggimento-paracadutisti-ricognizione-acquisizione-obiettivi-folgore