Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History

The first volume of the Memoirs of the Italian Academy of Philately and Postal History, edited by Clemente Fedele and Thomas Mathà, marks the revival of a distinguished scholarly tradition linking philately, postal history, and cultural research. Heir to the earlier Academy of Philatelic and Numismatic Studies, the institution renews the practice of publishing memoirs as tools for knowledge sharing and preservation. The theme of this inaugural volume, “Epidemics and Communications,” stems from the 2023 Bolzano conference and explores how disease outbreaks shaped postal systems over time.

The editors’ introduction, Lettere appestate, frames the topic through historical and philatelic lenses, revealing how letters—despite being potential carriers of contagion—remained essential for information exchange and crisis management. The essays that follow examine postal disinfection, sanitary controls, and the intertwining of public health and communication routes, with case studies spanning Trentino–Bolzano, Verona, Tuscany, Corsica, Liguria, and beyond. A notable feature is Fedele’s extensive bibliographic section containing over 600 references, alongside indexes and member lists that enhance its research value.

More than proceedings, the volume is a reflection on resilience, communication, and collective memory. It highlights disinfected letters as historical witnesses rather than curiosities, offering insight into past strategies for confronting epidemics—an echo profoundly relevant in the post-pandemic present.

Details: size 28 × 21 cm, 144 pages, fully in colour, hardcover, ISBN 9791224302964. Available from Vaccari, €40.

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