Paraguay is somewhat unusual in that although a few regular issues between 1869 and 1881 were forged, the
emphasis was placed on forging the airmail issues between 1929 to 1937.
Most collectors think that forgeries are relegated to only older expensive stamps however Paraguay is proof that this is not the case.
There is not a lot of information available on these but my research indicates that probably more than one forger was responsible as there are quality forgeries and some that are somewhat crude.
Forgeries are often found with postmarks which may indicate that the purpose was primarily postal counterfeiting in nature.
Given the low issue quantities, airmails of Paraguay are relatively low in value. This may in most cases be due to the large quantity of forgeries.
Genuine and Forgery Comparisons
Overall the forgeries are quite good and will fool most collectors
1929 Sc C7 Genuine left. Forgery right
1. Typically the forgery has heavy shading around the star and in the wings2. The left top U.P.U. Is smaller and not aligned, the right has a large P.
3. The middle bar in the E of PESOS lacks serifs, those on the S are stunted.
1. In the forgery, the middle bar in the E of PESOS lacks serifs, those on the S are stunted.
2. There is no white dot in the eye
3. The oval lines around UPU are broken
1931 Sc C10 same characteristics as the previous C9
1. In the forgery (right), the middle bar in the E of PESOS lacks serifs, those on the S are stunted.
2. The letters U.P.U. are distorted and too small
3. The top letters are uneven
4. The pattern in the wings is heavily shaded
5. The pattern in the lower wheel is indistinct
A genuine rare Sc C11a imperf pair
1930 Sc C19 - Genuine left, forgery right
1. In the forgery, the hat and lion face are very different
2. Many breaks in the rays
3. The dots in U.P.U. Are not visible
1. In the forgery, the hat and lion face are very different
2. Many breaks in the rays
3. The dots in U.P.U. Are not visible
1. In the forgery below the cross the round area has 3 distinct vertical lines not in the genuine
2. There is no accent on the O of ASUNCION
3. The real key is the color, this forgery was printed in brown instead of violet
4. As with other forgeries the perf is different and usually 11 instead of 12
Copies are difficult to find and Ihave no forged ones to compare.
However as with the others, look for uneven lines, distorted letters and an overall lack
of fine details
1931-39 Sc C39 - C53 - Gunboat "Paraguay"
This series appears to have the most prolific forgeries
This series appears to have the most prolific forgeries
There are many fine detail differences but 2 traits in particular show up in all the forgeries
1. The genuine has 2 or 3 short lines just above and to the left of the ship’s bow. These are missing in the forgery
2. In the forgery, there is no tilde over the first "N" of "CANONERO" as in the genuine stamp.
3. The letters in the bottom frame tend to be uneven and defective in the forgery.
Below other values (Sc C46 and C49) show the same traits.
Below other values (Sc C46 and C49) show the same traits.
1931-36 Sc C56-C73
This is another set with plentiful forgeries
This is another set with plentiful forgeries
1. The forgery on the right has very poor details
2. The inscription below the monument is unreadable
3. The stars are very crude and lack the outer details
3. The stars are very crude and lack the outer details
1. The issue with the right forgery is again a lack of detail
2. The top area with the stars is particularly at fault
3. The UPU has no dots after the letters
4. The key feature is the base of the left tree - see below, forgery on the right
The key features of the forgery are;
The irregular veins in the mate leaves and the unreadable inscription below the plane as shown below on the right
This is a reasonable forgery but a lot of details are lacking in the bottom of the stamp.
The main issues with the forgery are;
1. Very coarse shading lines in the wings and background
2. Letters are uneven - note the L & C of REPUBLICA
3. The letters in CENTAVOS are thinner
It should again be noted that many forgeries are used which points to their main use to defraud the postal authorities.
1932 Sc C74-C78
Paraguay is one of the few countries that zeppelin stamps remain affordable. The many forgeries may account for this.
Paraguay is one of the few countries that zeppelin stamps remain affordable. The many forgeries may account for this.
Overall the forgery is well made.
1. The bottom left star is heavily shaded and all the details in that corner are lacking
2. The UPU letters are thick and crude
3. The rays are heavily shaded
These zeppelin forgeries are not easy to ID given the poor quality of most online auction images.
Sc C80 genuine left, forgery right. In the forgery;
1. Shading lines tend to be coarser and more broken
2. Several letters are awkward such as the L, C and the DEL
3. The key factor is the imprint of the artist’s name RODOLFO. In the forgery the
letters are uneven, illegible and a few touch the frame.
1934-37 Sc C84-C87
C85 Genuine left forgery right
The key feature as with many other stamps is the lack of details
1. The forgery has coarse broken lines
2. The letters in UPU are smaller
Some authors mention the bird under IC of REPUBLICA having a missing wing in the forgery but this is wrong as this is not a wing as seen in the proof shown below
The catalog mentions plentiful excellent forgeries but in reality they are rather crude
The forgery on the right shows a noticeable lack of detail in the plane, tobacco and background
The inscription is not clear and the letters are uneven
Note again that both the C98 & C100 forgeries are cancelled.
1935-38 Sc C102-C106, Genuine left, forgery right
The forgery lacks many fine details, in particular the cloud lines are coarse and broken.
The lower letters are very distorted
THe key feature of the forgery is the missing top curved line as shown below.
References
Scott WW Specialized to 1940
Airmail Stamps - Fakes & Forgeries - Newall
Focus on Forgeries - V. Tyler
Billigs Volume 12 - 1935
Klaseboer Forgery CD Vol 2 2019
South America - Michel Vol 2 2015
Various auction sites and S.A. Forums
American Philatelic Society - Genuine or Forgery website
Catalog of the Stamps of Paraguay - Victor Kneitschel
Borek 1976 Briefmarkenkatalog Paraguay
Scott WW Specialized to 1940
Airmail Stamps - Fakes & Forgeries - Newall
Focus on Forgeries - V. Tyler
Billigs Volume 12 - 1935
Klaseboer Forgery CD Vol 2 2019
South America - Michel Vol 2 2015
Various auction sites and S.A. Forums
American Philatelic Society - Genuine or Forgery website
Catalog of the Stamps of Paraguay - Victor Kneitschel
Borek 1976 Briefmarkenkatalog Paraguay
Very nice page on these less known forgeries. Every online seller should take a look before offering these airmails.
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