Alessandra Zanaria, Milanese by birth, brings with her an ancient family tradition in the field of philately: the designer's grandfather, Mario Zanaria, devoted himself to it from an early age. His adventure begins in the '30s in Paris and in Germany
and continues to Milan where, in 1935, he set up his historic shop in Brera, the most frequented philatelic meeting place of the antebellum. Mario Zanaria kept up a relationship of privilege with the Government of San Marino, so much so to be awarded the Knighthood
of the Republic. At the end of the war he was a founding member of the National Philatelic Exchange, of which he was an adviser for several years. He organized, at the Palazzo Reale in Duomo Square in Milan, the first postwar international stamp exhibition.
The sons Angelo and Daniele would later open the offices and shop in Via Santa Margherita, still frequented today by the Italian cultural elite.
Daniele Zanaria, Alessandra's father, founded a publishing house and an auction house in Monte Carlo, where he received numerous international awards thanks to the private collections and the valuable historical works written, still regarded today as key
texts for the history of world philately .
The last book by Daniel Zanaria, published posthumously, thanks to friends Serra and Del Negro, is still one of the basic texts for the history of world philately.
