Argentina 1892

 October 2, 1892. 
Commemorations of the IV Centenary of the Discovery of America.
Engraved and printed by the Compañía Sudamericana de Billetes de Banco. 
Watermark "sun boy"
Perfed 11.5

Quantity printed: 200,000

Genuine Set

2c Pale Blue, 5c Dark Blue

The 2c can be found with a double impression - very rare

1. The A of REPUBLICA and the first A of ARGENTINA are joined at the bottom.

2. The right part of the N of ARGENTINA is shorter.

3. The second N and the second A of ARGENTINA are joined at the bottom on the two centavos stamp only.

4. R and E of 12 OCTUBRE 1892 are joined at the bottom.

5. The three horizontal lines at the left of centavos are one at the left but have three points at the right.

6. The upper part of the T of CENTAVOS ends in two triangles.

7. The flag cross has three arms.

8. Topmast is bent to the left.

9. Ship's helm is straight and long.

10. There are seven birds flying between the first and second ships.

11. The U of REPUBLICA has a small line accent above the right side not in the forgeries

Brown trial print on card stock

Forgeries

1. The A of REPUBLICA and the first A of ARGENTINA are separated at the bottom.

2. The right part of the N of ARGENTINA is normal.

3. The second N and the second A of ARGENTINA are separated at the bottom on the two centavos stamp only.

4. R and E of 12 OCTUBRE 1892 are NOT joined at the bottom.

5. The three horizontal lines at the left of centavos, only the top one has points and lacks the vertical line on the left on the two centavos only.

6. The T of CENTAVOS at top is not complete.

7. The flag's cross has three arms.

8. Topmast at right is wide.

9. Ship's helm is short and narrow at the end.

10. There are six birds flying between the first and second ships, the five centavos has five birds.

11. The U of REPUBLICA does not have an accent

NOTE - the forgeries have an impressed watermark

This appears to be the only forgery but it is far more plentiful than the original.

It is noted to have originated in Italy and I have obtained an 1898 sales notice from the probable originator (Nicola Fiorentino). In the notice he mentions about supplying a large quantity.

Coincidently, Fournier offers the same forgery in singles and blocks.

The following are from the Geneva Fournier collection

As the genuine used copies are scarce, it is common to find forgeries with a specific fake cancel

- Special thanks to Big Blue 1840-1940 for  images of the original