[size=large]The St. Andrew's Cross placed on the front of an envelope or of a folded letter is an old distinctive postal symbol indicating exemption, pre-paid postal invoice or franking.
Such use originates in the first half of the 16th century and was inspired by a Burgundian symbol– a tangible sign of the adherence of Tassis’ post to the ideology of the Habsburg Empire.
This study in italian with rare images clarifies the origins of the postal St. Andrew's Cross that were not evident previously.
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[size=large]https://www.academia.edu/19277493/Croci…i_e_metodologia[/size]
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[size=large]Francesco[/size]