German States - Bavaria (1849-1862) - The Numeral Issues
Bavaria was the first German State to adopt postage stamps to prepay mail. The first day of issue was November 1, 1849.
An ordinance of King Maximilian, dated June 5th, 1849, authorized the issue of postage stamps and fixed the rates of postage.
Local letters and printed matter were carried for 1 kreuzer, subject to certain limitations of weight; the rate on ordinary single letters (weighing not more than 1 loth or 1/3oz.) was fixed at 6kr for distances up to 12 German miles (1 mile, about 7,500 m 24,606 ft.) while 6 kreuzer was the charge for carrying single letters for longer distances.
Postage stamps of these values were prepared according to an elaborate “code of instructions” dated October 25th, 1849.
They were to be placed on sale on the November 1st following.
From that day on all matter sent by mail had to bear postage stamps, which, according to the edict of October 21, 1849, had to be affixed in the upper left corner of the letter.
Genuine Stamps
Mi 1
The Plate II stamp has a much higher CV.
The Type I blue has a thick, even border with sharp corners
Mi 4 Type I (1849) & 2 (1850)
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| Plate I & 2 details |
Mi 2 Type I & II - Nov. 1 1849
The Type II has an uneven border with round corners and a dent in the white line under the bottom right 3
Production: Type I - 2,000,000, Type II - 74,000,000
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| Plate II detail showing dent |
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| Left, Proof, Right a label affixed to stamp packages delivered to P.O. |
Mi 3 Plate I (1849) & II (1850)
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| Type I, thin frame, round corners, Plate II, thick frame, sharp corners |
In the Type I the circle cuts into the side vertical frame line.
I the Type II it only touches the frame line.
There is also a difference in the scrollwork in the inner corners as shown below.
Caution - there is also a rare blue green which may be a chemical alteration of the olive
green stamp.
Note - the security silk thread is visible on the Mi 5.
Forgeries
The threads are often visible on the front side as they are imbedded in the paper.
GPS Type IIgreen stamp.
Note - the security silk thread is visible on the Mi 5.
Mi 6 (1858), 7 (1854) 8 (1862)
Mi 12, 13 (1862)
Mi 9, 10, 11 (1862)
Forgeries
The 1 Kreuzer Black
The design and engraving was made by the engraver Seitz, who, was found out later, included the initial of
his name (S) in the engraving.
The printing was done in simple typography by the University Press of Munich.
The printing itself was first done in sheets of 180 stamps, and later in sheets of 90 stamps.
The printing consisted of two issues: The first printing in deep black, and the second issue in gray black. This change in the color was made simply for the reason that a black cancellation on a deep black stamp was hardly visible.
In the second edition, the cancellation was clearly visible on the lighter background.
In the manufacture of the second issue several damaged spots showed on the plate. These are clearly to be seen in the frame lines of the large figure of value “1.”
Soon after the appearance of this stamp the forgers started to produce and market their wares.
The rare 1 k black has been the target of most forgers (more than 20 different kinds of forgeries exist), but the 12 k and 18 k values were also forged.
Some time later in the following issues the Bavarian Postal-Department began to protect itself against forgeries by using a special paper into which a silk thread was introduced.
Later on, for still further protection, embossed printing, watermarks, etc. were added, which made it more difficult for the counterfeiters.
Stamps of Bavaria 1 Kreuzer, black, with silk thread are proof from a single sheet, and do not exist in used condition. These are quite valuable.
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| Silk threads |
Double threads like the above are uncommon.
Some forgers did apply fake threads to the rear surface.
Genuine stamp and Features
Paper: off-white, medium to hard, hand-made.
1. Initials “fs” of engraver
2. White line thicker over “BA”
3. “W” shape
4. Point of “1” in middle of lozenge
5. Lozenge open at top
6. Middle stroke of this “E” is very short
7. M shaped item
8. Width 3.5 mm
9. Back of “K” slanted
10. “S” initial of Seitz
11. Corner open
12. Opening between 2 shapes
13. Crescent moon shaped item
14. Bottom stroke of “E” longer than others.
15. The white space area is not parallel to the bottom
one, but slightly inclined
16. The bottom left ’1” is generally shaded in Plate 2 (see below) and sometimes has light shading in Plate 1.
Also it is not centered in the square but offset slightly to the right.
This stamp may well be the most forged item of any of the German States.
Given those listed and described in several of the prominent forgery catalogs, I would estimate that no less than 30 forgeries can be found.
Lets start with some of the more obvious ones.
Sperati Forgeries
Sperati made several variations of this stamp.
All very dangerous but uncommon.
Most are probably still in collections as genuine.
The forgeries of Sperati Germany are listed in ANOTHER BLOG
Unlisted forgery
A hand drawn sample rather well executed and then lithographed.
Aside from the short 1, poor rendition of KREUZER and the background, the fuzzy texture is evident when the image is enlarged.
Unlisted forgery
Another hand drawn sampleThe quality is much poorer than the previous.
The letters are distorted and have rounded ends
The top corner 1's are tall
The foot of the large 1 is short
The large 1 has a lot of dark space
The top of the large 1 is very close to the gutter
Unlisted Forgery
The key feature is the extra narrow outside frame line
The foot of the large 1 is too thick
Unlisted Forgery
The corner 1's are too small
The background in no way matches the original
To many black small corner diamonds
The letters are thicker
Torres Forgery
Very thin letters
The top of the large 1 is not tilted
The small 1's are thin
The background has none of the original features
Unlisted Forgery
A decent forgery
The E in EIN is too short
Lots of black spaces in the 1
The hidden letters are missing
The top of the 1 is not inclined
Both E’s in KREUZER are short
Fournier First Choice,
His best attempts offered for 6 Francs although it was probably made by another forgery source
The hidden letters are wrong
The N of EIN is curved
The C of FRANCO has a bulge on top and the right side of the N is shorter
The letters in KREUZER are uneven
Fournier Second Choice
This was offered in his 1914 price list with 5 other values for 5 francs
The background scrolls have many dark areas as do the corner numerals
Overall, the letters are thinner than the original
Fournier sold forgeries from his contacts so the 2nd choice ones may be from another source
Good forgery
Corner diamonds different and larger
Notch below top branch of the top E
Corner numerals are slightly larger
The back of the F is slightly curved
E's are all too short with a long bottom leg
Letters are distorted
Corner 1's are too wide
The background is very different
GPS Type V
Peter Winter modern forgery
Hidden letters are missing
Letters are generally thicker
Background scrollwork is sparse
Middle bar of E in EIN is short
GPS Type VII
The hidden letters are missing
Top of the 1 is not slanted
A decent forgery
The hidden letter are missing.
The letters CO of FRANCO are too flat on top.
The top of the 1 is horizontal & not slanted
The E’s are too short
Hidden letters PH are missing.
Very heavy outer frame lines
All the E's have a large space before the lower leg
Most of the background scrolls are missing
Top of the 1 is not slanted
The E of EIN has a white spur pointing downwards
The E in BAYERN has a notch below the top bar
In KREUZER, the second E has a spur on the top stroke that points to the right
There is a white spur on the right outer frame line, opposite the U
Typographed on thin white paper
Frequently found with a 159 millwheel cancel
The frame lines are very irregular
Letters are very thin and misshapen especially the R's
All four small 1's are partly filled in.
Crude forgery
Letters do not match, bottom ones inclined
N of EIN slanted
Coarse sparse background scrolls
Short wide 1 with extended serif and lots of dark space inside
Mi 6 Forgeries
Overall a very crude forgery
Most of the letters are distorted.
In particular BAYERN narrows to the right
There is a protrusion inside the upper 2
Possibly a Peter Winter modern forgery
The numerals lack white spaces
The corner numerals are different
The space in the branches of the side F is larger
Fournier forgery with typical fake 257 cancel
The scrolls in the corners do not match and have more white spaces
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| Other Fournier fake cancels |
Mi 7 Forgery
Fournier forgery with Typical PASSAU VII 19 4 fake cancel
This is a very good forgery that has certainly fooled many collectors
The top of the F is slightly inclined as the the bottom left leg of the R
The bottom of the top B is not level with other letters
The diamonds in the corner squares are different
Mi 12 Forgery
With typical PASSAU 7A 8 5 fake cancel
The letters are generally too thick and not uniform
Dot top left of the large 2
The letters are generally too thick and not uniform
Dot top left of the large 2
Mi 13 Forgeries
Possibly a Fournier forgery
The letters are not well shaped and several touch.
Many letters are thicker than the original
The O in FRANCO is smaller and higher
Peter Winter Forgery
Modern 1980's forgery
Overall very good and dangerous
The corner scrolls are different
The top of the 1 is inclined
The diamonds in the corner numerals are different
Several letters are misshapen
This was advertised as a rare proof on a public auction It is more likely a forgery or bogus stamp
The openings in the 8 are too narrow
Most of the letters are too tall
The T is curved
The serif on the 1 is too short
Instruction labels
Instruction labels printed black on colored paper. They were attached to the wrappers of bundles of stamps sent to post offices so the clerk would know the contents without opening them.
Unusual find as most were thrown out. As labels they have no postal value.
NOTE - many of these stamps were included in modern anniversary or commemorative postcards and private stamp shows.
What is advertised might be a cutout from one such as this Menke-Huber postcard
References
Germany States - Muller 1933
DIE POSTFREIMARKEN DER DEUTSCHEN STAATEN - Hugo Krötzsch 1896
Germany States - Poole 1891
Klaseboer Forgery CD 2019
ALTDEUTSCHLAND SPEZIAL-KATALOG UND HANDBUCH - Grobe, Hans.
Germany States Forgeries - Hermann Schloss 1930
Germany States GPS Forgeries
Handbuch Der Neudrucke - Paul Ohrt
Album Weeds Earee
Timbrex - Schloss 1944
Forgeries of current interest and their marks of recognition - Erich Haide, 1948
Forgeries of Europe - Bynof-Smith 1993 reprint
Seranne Forgeries
Early Forged Stamps - Pemberton
Forged Stamps All Countries - Dorn
Fakes & Forgeries of Germany & Colonies - Germany Philatelic Society Inc, 1966
Various Billigs catalogs - 1930's
Forgeries Old and New - A. Johnson
Distinguishing Characteristics of Classic Stamps - SCHLOSS Hermann
Michel Specialized Germany - 2016
Images from personal collection, public auction sites and Germany forum members
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