Batum 1919 Aloe Tree

Batum 1919

Batum was transferred to Russia by Turkey in 1878 and reoccupied by Turkish
troops after the March 1918 revolution.

On December 1, 1918, a British warship landed an armed force and proclaimed Batum British, and it remained under British occupation until July 7, 1920 , when it was evacuated.

Postal services were restored very soon after the port was occupied.

At first, letters were impressed with a rubber stamp "No stamps available - Paid in cash" and the amount paid added or initialled by the postmaster.

No obliterators were available so a sealing stamp was used instead.

Later the aloe tree stamps were printed at the local mint.

On the discovery of stocks of Russian stamps , these were issued with various types of overprints produced locally.

On evacuating the port all remainders and the lithographic stones were destroyed.

The first issue of Batum made its appearance on April 4, 1919. It was lithographed on medium thick greyish white wove paper with yellowish crinkled gun and issued imperforate in sheets of 198 (18 x 11) stamps.

The sheets were made up in groups of 4 transfer subjects (A, B, C, D) which allows for easy identification.

There are numerous color shades of each value.

The inscription at the top reads BATUMSKAYA POCHTA , ( 'Batum Post ' )

The number printed varies with experts but this a general consensus:

5 Kop - 51,285

10 Kop - 51,482

50 Kop - 206,120

1 Ru - 102,832

3 Ru - 26,522

5 Ru - 20,922

Obviously this is a small number to be able to find genuine issues 100 years later and indeed, forgeries are VERY plentiful.

Kopek/Ruble Differences

The Kopek and Ruble stamps have definite differences. (Kopek = K, Ruble = Ru)

1. K the R has small top, Ru it is large

2. K the A has a wide top, Ru it is pointed

3. K there are 6 bars, Ru there are 7 bars

4. K has 6 dots on top, Ru has 7 dots

5. K the branch angle is narrow, Ru the angle is wider

There are also many other minor differences in the oval elements and foliage

Genuine Stamps

Genuine Set

Transfer Types

As noted the stamps were set in blocks of 4 transfers. By checking for the traits one can not only sort them by their types but also determine genuineness.

NOTE - these are not foolproof as variations do occur in the printing process.

5 Kopek

Type A

W shaped line between the TU

Type B

Dot between the YA

Dot left of the tree (found C also)

Small dot under right 5

Type C

Dot left of the tree

Dot left of left 5

Dot between branches

Line of dots above right 5

Type D

Dots between TU

10 Kopek

Type A

Dot at top between SK

Type B

Large dot on outer bottom frame

Type C

Dot above the M

Type D

Large dot between frames left of left 10

50 Kopek

Type A

Broken C at top

Left 5 close to frame and large space between

5 & 0

Type B

Small left 5

Right 0 close to frame, wide space between 5 & 0

Type C

Colored dot above PO

Type D

Left and right 0 close to frame

1 Ruble

Type A

Small dot right of 1

Large dot bottom right of A

Type B

White bulge above lower B

Type C

Stroke right of 1

Type D

Stroke under left 1

3 Ruble

Type A
Extension of letter T at right top
Type B
Spot below letters YA not shown
Type C
Dot inside left 3
Type D
Stroke above right 3 and dot below

The top 2 stamps exhibit a rare fold. A 10Kop block has been found with the same fold

5 Ruble

Type A

Extension on top of the right arm of K

Type B

A dot in the right numeral tablet

Type C

A dot in the left numeral tablet

Type D

Not Identified

Forgeries

It is speculated that there are some 5 or 6 types of forgeries

The first two are common

The third one was reprinted many times and generally shows wear

The fourth is crude and apparently mainly known with the "British Occupation" overprint. (No sample available)

The fifth forgery uses the same die for all the values and is milky in color. It generally has a constant bogus cancel

The sixth series is possibly a sub-type of the second with wider spacing between the stamps 

NOTE - my naming of the forgeries Type I, II, III etc. may not match some other authors nomenclature

Type I Forgery - very common

1. Large top of R

2. Thin letters

3. 7 dashes

4. 7 Dots on top instead of 6 ( in the Kopeck stamps)

5. Branch curves to the right

6. Element not found in genuine

7. Rose inner closed

Type 2 Forgery - very common

1. Small reverse R top as in genuine

2. Letters thick as i genuine

3. 7 dashes

4. 7 dots on top instead of 6 ( in the Kopeck stamps)

5. Branch curves to the right

6. In many cases the foot of the 1 is noticeably curved

7. Inner of rose is open

Type III Forgery - very uncommon - I have only seen the 10K
1. KA joined
2. Extension on top
3. Eye shape is closed - this is a key feature
4. Dots are very irregular
5. Branch lines up like the genuine
6. Large center shape
7. Very irregular undefined elements throughout  

Type IV Forgery -This is a catalog facsimile  

It is similar to the Type II

The left rose is more open

The letters are large - note the reverse R

Branches are similar to the Type II

Type V Forgery

This is also similar to the Type II but there are major differences with the size and shape of the top letters

Forgeries Type I & II

Forgeries Type I & II

Forgeries Type I & II

Common Constant Bogus Cancel

Costa Rica 1863

Costa Rica stamps are a favourite of Central and South America collectors. Their stamps are affordable with plenty of variations for the advanced collector.

As their main website says, “If you are looking for Elvis or Disney stamps, this is the wrong country to collect”
The first issue of stamps was printed by the American Bank Note Co.
Collectors frequently have some of the first issues and given their value would be surprised that they were extensively forged with many bogus (non-existent) issues.

The Genuine Issues Sc1-Sc4

Sc1 dark blue pair with lower margin inscription

Sc 1a Light blue Printed from a 2nd plate shows little or no sky shading

Forgeries

At least 6 different forgeries can be found. Original sources are not well determined for some and they may be different issues from one forger.

Earee First Forgery

These forgeries are described in the "Album Weeds" as his first forgery.

NOTE - they are generally attributed to Fournier - see Fournier Forgeries

Above, genuine on the left

Perf 12.75 instead of 12 (wrongly mentioned by Moens as perf 14)

1. The background lines are heavier, thicker and more broken than the genuine. 

2. The spear heads are not light and slender as the genuine but rather dark and stubby. 

3. The last star on the right is misshapen with the lower point much longer than the rest. 

4. The outer points of the stars on the left and the right touch the edges of the leaf shield.

5. The middle star is narrower

6. There are no pearls at the rims of the cups from which the leaves issue. 

7. There are no ornaments under the lower currency table8. 

8. The top letters are much thinner.

9. The main ship is smaller

10. The 1/2 is misshapen

The First Forgery Issues

Torres Forgeries
Torres was an illustrator from Spain who provided many of the stamp illustrations in the early WW catalogs.

He also published his own catalog of forgeries that were available.
Although somewhat unknown, he may well be one of the most prolific forgers. 

It is also know that he conspired with other forger of the period, Usigli, Spiro & Fournier

Often he provided several variations or bogus colors with some of them having intentional errors.  

There are 2 types (possibly more) Torres forgeries

Torres Type I Forgery

Comparison of forgery on the right with genuine on the left

1. Top letters are smaller

2. Background lines are coarse

3. Banner letters are irregular and generally thicker

4. The main key feature is the 6 sided middle star

5. Guide lines may be visible

Torres Type II Forgery

1. The top letters are shorter
2. The banner letters are thicker
3. The ships are very different
4. The middle star has been corrected
5. Guide lines may be visible (shown on bottom perfs of stamp)

Set of Torres forgeries with typical horseshoe cancel

Torres forgeries with typical cancels

 Value shows PESADA instead of PESO (later corrected)

A key feature for the Torres forgeries is the shape of the end of the scroll.

It looks like an awkward 2

Spiro Forgeries

Spiro forgeries are plentiful
1. Numerals are different in all the values
2. Spearheads are wider
3. Top letters are thinner
4. Stars are not well formed 
5. The background lines are thicker and broken

Fournier Forgeries

These pose a dilemma - see Earee First Forgery

The Fournier album shows a pair of stamps with the typical "FAUX" handstamp.

However, I cannot discern any differences from the originals.

So, is it possible these were remainders in his collection then subsequently considered as forgeries?

Fournier Album forgeries

Zechmeyer Forgeries

These forgeries are oddly printed as mirror images.

Although they have what appears to be a similar cancel to Torres (the first 2)
Zechmeyer made such reverse transfers.

Other unknown & crude Forgeries

None of these require descriptions.

Very little other than the theme compares to the originals

This forgery has an odd German State millwheel cancel

Haiti Liberty Heads

The Genuine Issues
Only one plate was used for all values of the genuine imperforate series of 1881
Removable numeral slugs were used to print the values. 
The perforated stamps of 1882 were printed from two plates. More color variations exist for these.

Below the original 1881 stamps.

Above genuine stamps with missing center perfs

Partial sheet of 2C

The Forgeries

The first Haiti stamps were forged in great quantities for the paquet trade

Postal Forgeries from Renie to defraud the government are plentiful.

Collectors need to beware of Fakes (altered stamps to increase values), forgeries from Moens, Panelli, Fournier, Mekeel/Maitreat, Baguet and some unknown sources.

Rather than post a lot of forgery types, I will illustrate a few and the traits to look for.

Postal Forgeries

Moens was one of the first to make note of these forgeries some time after 1886. The earliest known usage of a postal forgery is in late 1885.

He noted that they were originally perfed 16 and later 14 to more closely resemble the originals at 13.5.

Postal forgeries are extremely rare in unused condition. All values seem to have been forged.

The postal forgeries were likely produced by a businessman and collector, George Reine in Cap Haitien for use on his extensive business correspondence. 

Reine financed the printing of the Watermarked 1898 issue. 

His 3 nephews were all involved in the stamp trade and dealer business.

Each value has specific traits but the key is the constant shape of the tip of the ornament besides the value table shown above.

Below Postal Forgery examples.

The imperforates are probably fake trimmed stamps.

Fakes

These are often Re-engraved stamps from plates 2 & 3 with trimmed perforations to mimic imperforated stamps of greater value.  

These fakes are deceptive and can be detected by their color and plate varieties.

These are issues of 1886 that have trimmed perfs

The characteristics are:

In the left stamp, the Q has a long tail that curves to the right

The U is high

The neck shading lines are horizontal instead of oblique as with

the 1881 stamp.

The C of CENT is very large as are the other letters.

The above stamp is a cutout from a 1984 commemorative. Although perfect the newness and white paper gives it away

Baguet Forgeries

Alfred Baguet of Paris, made his forgeries around 1908.

Baguet seems to have been imprisoned in Paris in 1922 for 3 months for forging French and French colonies stamps.

Another French report notes that a printing press and stamps valued at 9 million francs (over $200,000,000 in 2016 value) were seized and Baguet faced 2 years in jail.

Again we have individual traits for each value but the key item for all the values are: 

1. The Q of REPUBLIQUE that touches both frame lines. 

2. The frame line below the L is broken and a break of the thin line below the T of the right CENT (not always visible)

3, The numeral shield has a double bottom frameline.

4. Port-au-Prince cancels dated 7/SEPT/81

Below unused Baguet Forgeries

Baguet uncommon block

Baguet Perf 13.5

Baguet forgeries are also found with 15.5 perfs but these may have been applied by a third party.

Mekeel/Maitreat Forgery

Charles H. Mekeel was one of America’s greatest stamp dealers and editors.
He became a dealer in 1877 and continued for the rest of his life. His editing
began in 1881 with The Stamp Collectors’ Bureau (later called The Collectors’
Bureau).
In 1885 Mekeel published the Philatelic Journal of America, which became
one of the country’s leading philatelic journals. proprietor of the C.H. Mekeel
Stamp and Publishing Co. of St. Louis. 

It is suggested the forgery originated with Miaximilian Maitreat, a New York dealer who operated under the name of " The Loyalty Stamp Company". 

A reference in the Stamp Press to his arrest stated that the officers found at his office "four sets of plates and one woodcut of the Haiti stamps.

The key feature is the 1 with the foot serif not found in the original.
No other values or used copies are known .

Maitreat Forgery

Fournier Forgeries
These are quite deceptive but they all have the same unique features.
There are 4 places where the frame lines are broken 

The eye has a large white pupil

The left side of the numeral frame has a much thicker line

Cancelled specimens generally bear a forged Cap Haitien cancellation dated 13/Sept./82.

Forgeries without cancels are considerably scarcer than forgeries with cancels. 

Fournier Features

Fournier’s stock was purchased from his successor by the Philatelique Union of Geneva. Stamps from this collection are marked "FAUX" on the front. Unmarked stamps come from stock prior to this sale.

Perf 13.5 Fournier Forgery

The following are from the Geneva 5 volume works of the Fournier stock acquired by the Philatelic Union. They are probably color trials

Panelli Forgeries

Angelo Panelli was a stamp forger or seller from Italy in the early 1920's to around 1940.

He sold products from the forgers Fournier and Oneglia, so the true identity of some forgeries attributed to him is questionable.

The key points of the Haiti forgery attributed to him include:

1. The U of REPUBLIQUE is high and touches the frameline.

2. The Q is lower than the other letters

3. The letters in CENT are tall and thick with the C very tall

4. The right flag touches the frame (key point)

5. They are perfed 11.5

Panelli Forgeries

Moens Forgeries ?

Jean-Baptiste Moens (1833-1907) was a famous Belgian stamp dealer. He published handbooks, catalogs and 'Le Timbre Poste' (a philatelic journal). 

Some of the images of his books were used as examples by others to make

forgeries. 

Many of his illustrations were produced by Placido Torres, himself a forger of a wide array of stamps from different countries.

It is therefore possible that these are Torres forgeries made or acquired by him from his associations with other forgers.

Moens journal “Le Timbre Poste” of 1881

The consistent characteristics include;

1. Awkward A in HAITI

2. Break in the top left corner - not consistent

3. Breaks in the round frame line under the D

4. Q with the tail on the right instead of the bottom

5. Color blotches in various places are often but not always present

6. The C in the left CENT is small and no dot at the end of the left CENT.

The dot cancel does not exist in Haiti

Unknown Source Forgery

The traits that are different from the genuine and other forgeries are noted.