Denmark - 2 RIGSBANK-SKILLING

MARTINUS WILLIAM FERSLEW 

 On March 11, 1851, Denmark introduced the 4-Rigsbank Skilling (RBS) and 2-RBS. 

The 2-RBS was prepared early, due to some technical issues it was issued on April 28, 1851, nearly 1 month after the 4-RBS.

The first master die or cliché for 2-RBS was designed and engraved by M. W. Ferslew under the firm of Drewsen and Sons.

The printing process was required two plates of 100 stamps each plate and a plate for the burelage (a root printing of wavy lines to prevent counterfeit).

There were two types of burelage; Type 1a for Plate 1 and Type 1b for Plate II. 

The “Ferslew” burelage printing was taken over by “Thiele” printing in 1852.

As far as quantities, the Ferslew printing was 1,018sheets of 100 stamps per block, whereas the Thiele printing was 3,775 sheets

The 2 Rigsbank-Skilling stamps were officially withdrawn 1st January, 1875, but remained valid for franking until  15th January,1891.

Ferslew left, Thiele right

These stamps will not be found in many collections given their very high value.

However forgeries abound so best to be on the lookout for them

Genuine Features

1. Sharp point on the 2

2. Rounded tip with slight left inclination

3. The top K legs are closer and tighter to the main upright

4. The dot almost touches the frame

5. There is a wide space between the N & G

6. The letters KILLIN are joined

7. The SBA letters are shorter

8. The I is taller than the other letters

There are 10 plate varieties but opinions seem to differ on the points.

Types I & II

Types III & IV

Types V & VI

Type VII & VIII

Type IX & X

Reprints

Reprints are noted in 1885 and 1901

1885 on yellow & white paper with & without burelage

1901 with burelage

There is a very considerable difference in CV for reprints so it is definitely cause for certification on ANY auction site.

1885 reprints with & without burelage

Forgeries

Rather crude

-Point on 2 left side missing, point right side points in wrong direction

-KILLINN letters not joined

-Legs of both K's are the same spacing

-Small cross & white

-Crown is very wide

- The joined AE has been replaced by an A

- The 2 is thinner and the bottom right upturn is larger and points right

- The crown is a different shape

- The posthorn does not match

- The central letters are thinner and most not joined on the bottom

A decent forgery with a good color and background

- The crown top is wider

- The letters in the circle are thicker

- The central letters are tall & thin

- The posthorn is thicker

- The cancel is fake

Good background copy

- Tall thin letters in circle

- The K in BANK is taller than the other letters

- Base of the 2 is narrow

- Crown has large ball below the cross

- The S & G of SKILLING are shorter than the other letters

VERY crude design

This one needs no comment just the background says it all

- The base of the 2 is very rectangular

- The crown has too much white space

- The letters KILLIN are separated and none are joined

- The last G is lower than the letters preceding it

- The letters in POST are wider

- The first I is not taller than the R

- The last G appears to be tilted left

- The crown and cross are badly formed

- The left base of the 2 is not pointed enough

- Lots of artifacts in the circle

- The posthorn has a lot of white space

- The crown is poorly depicted with a large amount of white space

- The right lower legs of the K's extend too far

- The loop of the posthorn is narrow

- The 2 lower left is blunt

- Letters KILLIN are not joined

- The base of the G extends out and the S is shorter than other letters

- No dot after SKILLING

Odd looking & crude forgery

- Central letters are very small

- Circle letters are very tall

- The background is poorly defined

- The 2 lacks curvature in the foot

NOTE - based on B/W images in old reference books several more forgeries exist

References

2 RIGSBANK-SKILLING Postal History by Sten Christensen

Expertisation Early Denmark Stamps

Danmaek Forgeries - Billigs

Klaseboer Forgery CD 2021

Denmark 1851-1951 - Schmidt Andersen

DANMARKS GENNEMSTUKNE FRIMÆRKER - Schmidt Andersen

Denmark Facit 2019

Various auctions

Scandinavian Forum members

Frimaerke Samleren, 1950 - O. Heie

EVOLUTION OF THE DANISH POSTAL SERVICES - H. E. Tester