living relatives in Italy

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Gina501
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living relatives in Italy

Post by Gina501 »

Does anyone know the best way to contact living relatives in Italy that you have never spoken to prior? I wish to contact a few relatives that I have found but do not know how to go about it. Do you just write a letter? How much information do you give? What is too much information and can border on risky? What is not enough information that can seem suspicious? Has anyone had success?
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by wldspirit »

Several members have used the following with great success:

http://www.anzwers.org/free/italiangen/ ... #relatives

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Gina501
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by Gina501 »

Thanks! The letter is great. I will use it. How do I got about the postage thing? Believe it or not I have never sent an airmail letter. Is there special stickers and amounts? Can I just go to the post office and they will know? And what about the return address letter. Do I need to put Italian postage?
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Searching for surnames Ignazio, Graziano, Trella, Del Principe, Biani, Subrizi, Della Valle

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Poipuo4
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by Poipuo4 »

You can just use a normal envelope for airmail. You can either write on the envelope air mail or the post office has a little air mail sticker. Depending on weight, I think it should be about 80 cents or so to send it. The post office will weigh it and let you know the amount of postage. Some people have used international reply coupons to provide postage to their Italian friends/family. My post office claims that they are no longer available. Others on this board will have a better idea of that. As for me, I would include your e-mail address and a self-addressed envelope (no stamp) and see what happens.
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nuccia
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by nuccia »

I just took a chance in mid February and actually emailed two letters to two comunes in Italy not thinking I would get an answer at all. I received a reply on Mon (only 15 days later) from one commune but nothing from the other. Take a chance and see what happens...what have you got to lose? As for international reply coupons, they're only available at most Main Post Offices here. The smaller Sub Stations that are located in stores and pharmacies won't have them unless they order them from the Main offices with their supplies. Thats why they're so hard to find. Here they cost about $3.50 each but I believe are cheaper in the US..if they're still available. A trip to the Post Office will confirm.

Actually just found this on International Reply Coupons..

http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub51/pub51_022.html#vnameref_1

As for postage...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2 ... ates_x.htm

Hope this helps some.
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Gina501
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by Gina501 »

Thanks poipuo and nuccia. That helps me a great deal!
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by wldspirit »

Letter writing guide by the Lds:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/search/ ... talian.ASP

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johnmilano
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Re: living relatives in Italy

Post by johnmilano »

yeah Gina,

if you live in/or near NYC, the main post office
on 36th& 8th is it... the one right near madison
square garden... it has them there. just ask, or i
believe window 33 distributes them. i just got
some the other day.

JOHN
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