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