These are 2 of the most unusual and classic stamps of Colombia that given their value and demand were forged in great numbers.
At least 80% of those on auctions are forgeries.
As they can be obtained for under $50 , the cost hardly warrants a certificate, so it’s buyer beware.
‘A’ (Anotacion) and ‘R’ (Registrado). Lithography printing by Ayala Medrano Ltd, Bogota. Marked E.(stados) U.(nidos) de Colombia / Correos Nacionales.
Genuine Stamps
1. Very short dashes after E & U
2. The right vertical side of the N is slightly curved & NA appears joined
3. The C is almost closed
4. 8 lines inside
5. Second R is larger
6. Tip of leaf generally appears as a dark blob
7. C touches the inner leaf only
8. Note dot location, level with the base of the T and left of the small S
9. C & E generally joined
10. 24 lines
11. 18 lines
12. 17 lines
1. This dash often appears
2. This dot often appears
3. A fifth brick is outside the circle
4. This line is often connected to the 5. Note that there are some bricks besides the 5 bottom
5. This is a short dash
6. This 5 is inclined
7. The top of the S is much smaller than the bottom
8. The S touches the star
9. The B is larger than other letters
Forgeries
Fournier & Spiro (Earee Album Weeds First Forgery)
It is known that both forgers worked together and sold their forgeries and those of other less known period forgers so attributing them specifically to either is conjecture. The above have been contributed to both forgers. Note the top right one has the word "FAUX" from the Fournier Album
1. The 5 almost touches the leaf
2. The dot is directly below the small S
3. None of the leaves touch any part of the word CORREOS.
4. The top leaf in the right-hand branch is very blunt and rounded
5. There are four visible oblique lines of shading in the triangular hollow of the A, eleven below the cross-bar, eleven down the right-hand side, sixteen on the left foot, and sixteen on the right foot
It is known that both forgers worked together and sold their forgeries and those of other less known period forgers so attributing them specifically to either is conjecture. The above have been contributed to both forgers. Note the top right one has the word "FAUX" from the Fournier Album
1. The 5 almost touches the leaf
2. The dot is directly below the small S
3. None of the leaves touch any part of the word CORREOS.
4. The top leaf in the right-hand branch is very blunt and rounded
5. There are four visible oblique lines of shading in the triangular hollow of the A, eleven below the cross-bar, eleven down the right-hand side, sixteen on the left foot, and sixteen on the right foot
 |
| From the Geneva Fournier Collection |
Zechmeyer (Earee 2nd ) Forgery
Attributed to Zechmeyer around 1866
1. The wreath is extremely dark and heavy, as compared with the genuine, and the first forgery.
2. The stop after the E. touches the wreath.
3. The point of one of the leaves not only touches the C of CORREOS, but seems actually to go through, into the hollow of the letter.
4. Another leaf is firmly joined to the first R of CORREOS.
5. All the fringing-lines are blended into solid masses of shading that cannot be counted
2. The stop after the E. touches the wreath.
3. The point of one of the leaves not only touches the C of CORREOS, but seems actually to go through, into the hollow of the letter.
4. Another leaf is firmly joined to the first R of CORREOS.
5. All the fringing-lines are blended into solid masses of shading that cannot be counted
This forgery has some similarities to the Spiro/Fournier along with other unique traits
1. No dots after the E & U
2. The NA are not joined
3. 6 lines in the A
4. The dot is below the S which is shaped oddly
5. There is a complete separation here
6. The 5 has a flat top
7. & 8. Certain letters touch the leaves
9. The top left leaf tip is quite blunt
10. The left foot has 16 lines
11. The right foot has 17 lines
Torres Forgery
Easily recognized by the deep yellow paper
The image on the left is from his 1896 catalog of available forgeries and overall is a decent copy
1. Heavy shading throughout
2. The top of the 5 is very upturned
3. The small S is too small
4. There are too many slanted lines around the A
Easily recognized by the deep yellow paper
The image on the left is from his 1896 catalog of available forgeries and overall is a decent copy
1. Heavy shading throughout
2. The top of the 5 is very upturned
3. The small S is too small
4. There are too many slanted lines around the A
1. Lithographed in a greasy-looking black, on yellowish-white wove very thick paper
2. There is a thick dash after the E of the inscription
3. The 5’s are thin
4. The end of the R does not curve upwards
5. All the letters of the inscription are thick and clumsy, and many of them are blotched
6. The C is very close to the star, the S is touching the star
1. Lithographed, on medium, greyish-white wove paper.
2. There is a dash after the E, longer than the central tongue, but not so long as the lower limb of that letter, and a somewhat longer dash after the U.
3. The C of COLOMBIA is firmly joined to the outline of the star.
4. The В is too large, and the I is too short
5. The foot of the first N of NACIONALES cuts into the outline of the star.
6. The L is taller than the other letters, and the E seems to have fallen below its proper level.
7. There are only twenty-three courses of brickwork behind the central R.
8. The tips of several 5's touch the star frame
 |
| Same forgery from the Geneva Fournier Collection with "Spiro" cancel |
1. Nicely lithographed, on very thin, greyish-white wove paper.
2. There is a thin dash after the E, nearly as long as the lower limb of that letter, and a more or less wedge-shaped stop after the U.
3. The word NACIONALES appears to be in three syllables, NA CIO NALES, as the divisions between the letters are wider at those places
4. The S of that word touches the outline of the star.
5. The lettering is nicely done, but the V of centavos is barred, making it an inverted A.
2. There is a thin dash after the E, nearly as long as the lower limb of that letter, and a more or less wedge-shaped stop after the U.
3. The word NACIONALES appears to be in three syllables, NA CIO NALES, as the divisions between the letters are wider at those places
4. The S of that word touches the outline of the star.
5. The lettering is nicely done, but the V of centavos is barred, making it an inverted A.
1. This appears to be the most common forgery and the most dangerous
2. It is probably a Spiro/Fournier fabrication or co-operation
3. The T has a longer stem than the original
4. The dash after the E is very long
5. The S of ALES is further away from the star
6. The top bricks are larger
7. They lack the extra #3 brick shown in the original.
It may of course have been produced by another source for him.
1. Lithographed, in very dark black, on thick, yellowish-white wove paper.
2. The C of COLOMBIA is closer to the star
3. The E of E U is followed by a dot rather than a dash
4. The brickwork does not touch the 5 as in the original
5. The 5’s are thinner
6. The top left extension of the R is thinner
1. Lithographed, in very dark black, on thick, yellowish-white wove paper.
2. The C of COLOMBIA is closer to the star
3. The E of E U is followed by a dot rather than a dash
4. The brickwork does not touch the 5 as in the original
5. The 5’s are thinner
6. The top left extension of the R is thinner
These do not match any descriptions
There are many differences in the shape of the 5's and position of the letters
The key point in both is the very poor brickwork with half bricks and tiny ones
No comments:
Post a Comment
THANK YOU for the feedback. Your comment will be reviewed and appear on this blog within 24 hours
Do you have any pic to share? Use this code [img]your-image-url-here[/img]