Vatican City overprinted a set of ten stamps on January 9, 1946. The set was originally issued on March 5, 1945 (Scott Nos. 91-98) and is identical in design to another set issued March 12, 1940 (Scott Nos. 72-76). The overprinting provided for new, higher stamp values in three bars of black or blue, canceling the value from the original printing.
The set includes 20-centessimi on 5-cent (grey), 25-cent on 30-cent (brown), 1-lire on 50-cent (green), 1.50-lire on 1-lire (black and brown), 3-lire on 1.50-lire (black and red), 5-lire on 2.50-lire (black and blue), 10-lire on 5-lire (black and lilac), 30-lire on 20-lire (black and green) values.
The significant increase in overprinted stamp values demonstrates the impact of post-war inflation on the Italian lire and the consequent need to adjust postal rates.
Due to separate printings, the new 25-cent and 1-lire values contain millimeter variations in the size of the bars. Some imperforate pairs, both vertical and horizontal, exist in this set.
The stamps' design includes the Coat of Arms of Pius XII (20-, 25-cent and 1-lire). The 1.50-, 3.00-, and 5-lire values feature a vignette of Pius XII facing left. The 10- and 30-lire stamps feature a vignette of Pius XII facing right.
References:
Vatikanstaat," in Michel Europa Katalog, band 3, Südeuropa, Unterschleißheim, Germany: Schwanberger Verlag GMBH, 2008.
"Vatican City," in Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue, part 8, Italy and Switzerland, 7th edition, Ringwood, Hampshire, England: Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., 2010.
"Vatican City," in Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue, volume 6, Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Company, 2006.