Description
This poster stamp was issued by the Comitato centrale antiblasfemo di Verona (Central Antiblasphemy Committe of Verona) after 1930. In that year, Italy enacted Article 724 of the Penal Code, making it an offense to publicly blaspheme against the divinity, symbols, or persons venerated in the state religion (Catholicism) punishable by a fine ranging from 100 to 3000 lire. Many poster stamps were issued by various antiblasphemy committees and this one invokes Dante's "pure" Italian language as propaganda.
The stamp features a portrait of Dante in the upper left corner, St. Peter's Basilica in the upper right corner, a perched eagle clutching a fasces and banner with "S.P.Q.R." in the lower right corner, and "PREGA" (Pray) in the lower left corner. In the center of the stamp is text as follows: "L'armonia Divina / della lingua di / Dante serva ad esal- / tare la Grandezza della / Patria, la Santità della / Religione, l'amore della / Famiglia, la bellezza / della Natura e dell'Arte. / NON CONTAMINATE LA / LINGUA ITALIANA / CON LA / BESTEMMIA" (The divine harmony of Dante's language serves to exalt the greatness of the homeland, the sanctity of religion, family love, the beauty of nature and art. Do not contaminate the Italian language with blasphemy). Below the main text is additional text as follows: "COMITATO CENTRALE / ANTIBLASFEMO / DI VERONA" (Central Antiblasphemy Committee of Verona) and "SOTTO LA PRESIDEN- / ZA ONORARIA DI S.M. IL RE" (Under the honorary presidency of His Majesty the King). The printer's name and city are at the bottom: "MARENGHI & VOTTA - DESENZANO".
Contributor
Comitato centrale antiblasfemo di Verona (Verona, Italy)
Marenghi & Votta (Desanzano, Italy)