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1 Lira Serravalle Scrivia - n. 5

Issuer Campo Concentramento P.G. n. 5 (Serravalle Scrivia)
Year 1939-1945
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Value 1 Lira (1 ITL)
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Obverse description Black letterpress on cream paper with a decorative border of repeating ornamental units framing the note on all four sides. The denomination numeral '1' appears at left alongside a circular handstamp, with the serial number and 'BUONO per LIRE UNA' in bold type at centre. The camp commandant's manuscript signature and a restriction notice appear in script at lower right and bottom respectively.
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Reverse description Plain unprinted cream paper, with faint show-through of the obverse letterpress text visible in raking light. The right edge shows a perforated margin.
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Campo di Concentramento P.G. n. 5 at Serravalle Scrivia was an Italian prisoner of war camp operating under the Fascist regime during the Second World War. The internal scrip issued there — denominated in lire but valid only within the camp perimeter — was a condition imposed by the Geneva Convention, which required detaining powers to pay enlisted prisoners a nominal wage while preventing that money from being used outside the wire.

F. Apollonio e C. printed several Italian POW camp series, making them the de facto specialist printer for this peculiar wartime niche. Survival rates are low; most camp scrip was confiscated or discarded at liberation.

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