This striking 1.25 Lire Espresso stamp of Italy, originally depicting King Vittorio Emanuele III, was overprinted in 1944 by the Italian Social Republic (RSI)—the German-backed regime in northern Italy during the final phase of WWII. The red overprint features the bold fasces emblem along with the three-line inscription “Repubblica Sociale Italiana.” Such overprints were applied to pre-existing royal Italian issues after the monarchy’s authority collapsed in RSI-controlled territories. Highly sought after for its wartime context, political symbolism, and dramatic appearance, this stamp is a notable addition to any WWII or Italian postal history collection.