CNGEI — Prince Umberto of Savoy, Primo Esploratore d'Italia

A fundraising label of the Corpo Nazionale dei Giovani Esploratori Italiani, denominated 10 centesimi, honouring the crown prince as S.A.R. IL PRINCIPE UMBERTO DI SAVOIA · PRIMO ESPLORATORE D'ITALIA — first Scout of Italy.

The title has a precise origin. In May 1915, as Italy entered the war, the CNGEI was placed under the high patronage of the king, who permitted the enrolment of Prince Umberto — born in 1904 and, for thirty-four days in 1946, Umberto II — in the corps. Queen Elena later obtained the same for Princess Giovanna in the girls' branch, and the royal insignia were authorised on the badges of the royal Scouts, following English practice. The label cannot predate that spring.

The design shows a Scout in CNGEI uniform walking with his staff, the Savoy eagle at the upper left and the corps name across the foot beside the CNGEI fleur-de-lis, with the value at the right. The example held is used and struck with a red handstamp, so it served its purpose rather than staying in a dealer's stock.

This is not part of the Marche Nazionaliste Serie XIV, though the two are contemporary and share a subject. That set was a commercial publisher's issue in Milan, without face value and numbered in a run of eight; this one was issued by the association itself, carries a value and was sold to raise money. Whether the corps issued further values or designs alongside it is not established in our sources.