Argentina 1862-64 "Escuditos"

 Escuditos

1862, January 11

Printed by: Banco y Casa de Moneda de Buenos Aires without watermark.

Lithographed on plain white thin paper, imperforated

Designred by Roberto Lange

Plate: 70 stamps (7 x 10)

WITH TILDE ON THE "U" OF REPUBLIC

5c rose, 10c green, 15c blue in a wide variety of shades and varieties

The 15c pos 08 is a tete-beche and very expensive ($75M)

NOTE position 51 of the 15c has no tilde

WITHOUT TILDE ON THE "U" OF REPUBLIC.

5c rose

10c green

The 10c has many plate varieties

1864, January 

5c - narrow ."C" in CENTAVOS

Genuine stamps

Originals with accents on the U

NOTE many authors maintain that all the genuine stamps have 72 pearls in the ring and 11 horizontal lines in the shield. This is not the case.

5c with and without accent on U - 74 pearls & 14 lines

Scarce lilac color and worn plate

10c with and without U accent - 78 pearls and 14 lines

Color variations of the 15c - 71 pearls & 14 lines

The 15c is only found with the U accent but it may be very faint if the die is worn

Missing accent is a good reprint/forgery indication

1864 issue with narrow C - 72 pearls & 11 lines (same as most reprint/forgeries would have)

This one is a real challenge as the general features do not all match the previous issues

Note the pointed A's as example, The top of the 5 is longer and curved

This Roberto Lange design is almost identical to his "reprints" that would follow.

Authentication is required

Different authors have noted that the number of pearls and lines of forgeries are:

72.,10

72, 11 (main one I found)

73, 11

79, 11

80, 11

81, 11

Genuine Features

Overall the stamp has sharp clear details

1. A's have flat tops

2. The rays are distinct

3. The R has a lump in the leg and it extends below the letter

4. The bottom arm of the E is shorter with a much smaller serif

5. The lower curve of the S is wider

6. The right arm of the V is much thinner

6a. The ends of the decoration are generally not attached to the center dot

7. The right leg of the N is shorter than the left one

8. The lower arm of the E is longer

9. A distinct dash that often appears as a large dot on the forgeries

10. The top of the 5 is straight and short

11. The arm and hand are distinct

12. The veins in the leaves are visible unless the die is worn

13. The cap is distinct with oblique lines on it

Lange reprint/forgeries

All 72 pearls & 11 lines

Lange varieties

Lange gutter pairs

1864 genuine left, Lange forgery right

Lange 1864 narrow C forgery/reprint

Raoul Ch. de Thuin Forgeries

Raoul Ch. de Thuin was a philatelic forger in the mid 20th century.

He was born in Belgium, but he moved to Mexico in 1931 where he became naturalized Mexican. 

He had his own stamp shop (Maya Shop), but also operated under different names: 'Gilda Rivero Mendozo', 'Thelma Salazaar', 'R.G.Knapen', 'Belgian Export company' and 'French Philatelic Agency' 

He made many forgeries (mainly forged overprints on genuine stamps, turning them into rarities) of many countries, but he seems to have specialized in South America and specially Mexico.

All are 72 pearls and 11 lines in the shield

These are almost identical to the Lange which he probably copied later

The small face is different and the position of the CE

The numerals are different. The C is slightly lower, the 0 in 10 is higher and the 5 in 15 has a longer top 

Fournier

He probably sold those of Lange. These appear in his catalog. All 72 pearls, 11 lines

Sperati

As expected, he made an excellent copy of the 15c

It is a scarce item with high CV

These are the features to look for

Another Sperati with fake cancel

Unknown sources

These have different numbers of pearls and lines

74 pearls and no shading

81 Pearls and 11 lines, The 5 is curved

75 pearls and 10 lines, Face similar to Torres Uruguay

The 2 below have 75 pearls and 10 lines. The AAR is joined together. The face is large and very similar to Torres Uruguay forgeries

The difference is very noticeable when compared to the original on the left below

Addendum

Kneitschel advertising label 1950's

Serbia 1904 Coronation Issue

 The Coronation Issue of 1904

A special set of stamps commemorating the crowning of King Peter and the first Serbian uprising under Kara George, was issued the day of the coronation, September 8 1904.

The stamps were designed by Djoka Jovanovich of Belgrade.

The engraving was done by E. Mouchon in Paris where the cliches were also prepared.

All the stamps have the name, "Dj. Jovanovich in Cyrillic in the lower left corner and E. Mouchon in Latin letters in the lower right.

It was printed at the new Stamp Printing Works of the State Monopoly by typography.

They are line perforated 11.5

Used, these stamps are much rarer than unused, and many forged cancellations are being circulated.

Genuine covers are not common, since the stamps were in use a little over three months, September 8th to December 31, 1904.

After demonetization, sets of these stamps were sold at a reduced rate at the Belgrade post office from April 1908 to August 1911. The remainders were sold at auction in January 1911.

Quantities printed

1,950,300 copies of the 5 para 

1,962,800 copies of the 10 para 

491,000 copies of the 15 para 

493,600 copies of the 25 para 

489,500 copies of the 50 para 

196,400 copies of the I dinar

98,850 copies of the 3 dinar

99,100 copies of the 5 dinar

The Death Mask

This stamp is often portrayed as having the shape of a death mask when viewed in a certain direction. 

Contemporary philatelists noticed that when the stamps with portraits are turned upside down a ghostly face may be seen in the space where the two heads overlap. 

Many stamp collectors believe this is the death mask of Aleksandar I Obrenović, the assassinated king. 

The coincidence has been attributed to macabre humor of Mr. Jovanović. 

The engraver Mouchon has stated this was not his intent.

Genuine stamps

There are varieties such as gutter pairs, proofs and full imperforate complete sets and partial imperforates in the 5, 10 & 15 values

Imperforate top

Forgeries

There are 3 forgery types all sold by Fournier with one attributed to Smeets.

Original

Fournier Collection forgery

This is a relatively common forgery and almost certainly not his work.

1. The distinct feature is the top of the P with a straight lower horizontal line instead of sloping as in the original - Key feature

2. There are breaks in the faces and coarse lines background throughout

3. The names are blurred

4. The bottom banner  words are not clear

5, The right leg of the letter that looks like an H is shorter and the last 2 letters are shorter than the first ones

The same stamps were also offered perfed with a typical Fournier Serbia cancel

Smeets forgery

Very common forgery

Overall the design is accurate and the most dangerous of the forgeries.

The 'N' and 'J' of the word CPbNJA overlap each other slightly - this is the key feature

Lucian Smeets was a stamp forger from Brussels Belgium around 1910.

There is a record of Smeets being part of a group of forgers in Brussels consisting of Vanderberghe, Smets (Smeets) and Delsiune.

His forte was bleaching out parts of stamps and reprinting them or adding details.

The stamp dealer Louis Pasche from Lausanne also offered these Smeets forgeries in 1928 in a pricelist he send to several clients.

He offers 10 sets of all values for 50 Swiss Francs and 100 set for 400 Swiss Francs.

This gives one some idea of the number of these stamps on the market

3rd forgery - source unknown, may be a later printing of the first forgery 

The overall stamp is very rough

I have only seen it as an imperf

Colors appear darker

The 2nd letter "P" has a rounded top as in the "Fournier" forgery

The last 3 letters of the 2nd word are all the same height unlike the first forgery shown.

Overall very rough forgery with heavy background lines

Fournier Collection

The Geneva collection with blocks taken from 4X4 sheets

Romania 1864-72 Imperfs

Carol I

1864 unused issue

The large circle surrounding the head is the key feature versus the narrow oval of the later
issue

The stamps of this issue can be found in several transfer types shown below

2pa

1864 2pa Type 1

5pa

1864 5pa Type 3

20pa

1864 20pa Type 3

1865

The first stamps for postal use inscribed "POSTA ROMANA" were issued in January 1865; the three values depicted Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in profile, facing right.

These did not last long in use, as Cuza was deposed the following year, and new stamps depicted Prince Carol I, also in profile, but facing left, and in a style very similar to contemporary French stamps

1865 Genuine stamps

There are 2 types of the 20b

Type I left - The central oval does not touch the inner frame. 

The "I" of "DECI" extends above and below the other letters.

Type II right - The central oval touches the frame at the bottom. 

The "I" of the "DECI" is the same height as the other letters.

Fournier forgeries?

These are taken from the Fournier Geneva 4X4 sheets

All the samples show coarser features and shading than the originals

The 2 & 5pa are similar to each other but the 20pa has many differences with the other 2

The eyes. bushier beard, shading lines and letters are different

Since Fournier sold stamps from different forgers, this is an obvious conclusion for the differences

1866 Issue

 

NOTE the 20pa comes in 2 Types

Look at the top left & right meandering mandrels.

In the Type 1 (left) the top ones point in the same direction

In the Type2 (right) they point in opposite directions

Genuine Features

The best way to eliminate forgeries is to plate the stamp to see if it matches a Transfer Type. 

With the limited transfer types, it is very simple.

2pa

2 pa transfer types

Sc 29 Left: type 4, right: type 5

5pa

Sc 30 Type 5

20pa

Sc. 31 Type I & 2 Transfer 6 & Transfer 4

Here we have a Type 1 & 2 with Transfers 4, 5, 6

NOTE the center stamp is the much scarcer dot in the top right meander Sc 31c.

1868-1870

Sc 33 - 36

Genuine set C33-C36

The 2b can be found in orange and yellow equally

1868 Types

2b

Type 6

3b

Type 1

4b

Types 1 to 8

18b

Type 3

1869 Sc 37-43

Complete series

5b

Sc 37 Type 4

10b

Sc 38 Light Blue Type 1 & 2

Sc 38 Deep Blue Types 4 & 1

15b

Sc 40 Type 3

25b

Sc 41 Types 1, 2 & 3

50b

Sc 43 Types 3 & 4

1871-72 Sc 43-49

1871-72 Sc 43-49

5b

Types 1,2,3,4

Types 5,6,7,8,9,10

10b Blue

Types 4,3,6,5

10b Orange Yellow

Sc 44 - 1-2 3-4

15b

Type 3,4,7,8

25b

Type 4 & 8

50b

Sc 48 67 67

Forgeries

NOTE - the forgeries are VERY plentiful and I cannot for blog size show all of them or the entire numerous full sheets I have.

Most of these as originals command higher than average values so they are more likely philatelic forgeries for collectors as the Spiro & Fournier full sheets indicate.

1865 Forgeries

Genuine left, forgery right - this type is one of the more common ones

The differences in the face, numerals and side letter spacing are obvious

Probable Torres forgery with typical cancel

The following are sections from 5X5 Spiro sheets with typical cancels

These are from sheets found in the Geneva Fournier Collection. 

Most are from 4X4 sheets.

Original forger is not likely Fournier

1866-67 Forgeries

Common well designed forgery (right)

Vertical line below the top right 2 is open

Wide space in the outer frames

Some pearls are larger

Colored space at 3 o'clock between frames

Notch on the end of the meander

Top of the R slopes down

Block from a full 4X4 Fournier sheet

All in sheet have a dash on the forehead

King appears to be looking up

The "angry king" from a Fournier collection

A group of "Fournier "Angry Kings"

1868 Forgeries

A rather crude forgery from an unknown source

Torres Forgeries

The nose is set closer to the face

The line of the upper lip touches the nose

Overall the face has a softer look

There is no dark band in the front hair section

Typical VA cancel of Torres

These are the 2 forgeries that show up most frequently

The left one found in the Fournier Geneva files. It is very close to the original except for several facial differences and minor ones in the letters

They originate on 4X4 layout sheets

The right one "The Angry King" is from 5X5 sheets attributed to Spiro with his common cancels

"Fournier" examples

Spiro examples - "The Angry King"

1869 Forgeries

This group appeared to have the most  types 

Full forgery set with similar features

Below the similar blocks cropped from the Fournier Geneva Collection.

These were in 4X4 sheet layouts

Other types

A very crude forgery

Very pointed nose

No details in hair & beard

Thick letters

Sparse hair

Thick side meanders

Small eye

Sparse hair details

A in BANI is tall

The sleepy eyed king

The CE letters of DECI are shorter than the other letters

The numeral 0 is wide

Large bottom letters

This is the only sample I have of this type

Mouth - moustache very long

Pointed nose

Eyes open wider than others

A fairly common forgery

Narrow pointed nose

Thick lines in facial hair

Top letters are short

Large rounded nose

Sparse facial hair

Heavily shaded eye

Forgeries with common SIBIESCO signatures that are different

Block cropped from the Fournier Geneva Collection 4X4 sheet

Very sparse hair details

Odd ear

AN of BANI distorted

1871-72 Forgeries

Sibiesco forgery

Top letters are thicker than original

Neck shading is shorter

Shading in hair & beards heavier

BANI letters are much thicker

Block from a Geneva Fournier full sheet that matches above

Note the very wide margins

Tall A in BANI

Sparse hair & small eye

Tip of nose rounded

Top letters are thicker

Pointed nose

Side letters very thick

Very coarse facial hair and neck shading

Top letters are uneven and several are very narrow

Crude sparse hair

Lots of artifacts

Right letters very thick

Torres forgery

Large shaded eye

Heavy sideburns not in original

Thick side meander

Sperati Forgeries

1871 Sc 44a 10b (on vertically laid paper)

1. there is a dot of color above the serif of right hand "1" of "10"

2. there is a double break in the foot of the "S" of "POSTA"

1871 Sc49 50b

1. there is a dot of blue color above the top right corner

2. there is a break in the inner frameline below the "50" at right

Below blocks from 4X4 Geneva Fournier sheets

Very deceptive

Nose has pointed "hook"

Eye is not as well defined

All values appear to have a top left curved serif on the I of BANI

Forgeries on thick pink paper from the Geneva Fournier collection
There appears to be 2 different types

Additional forgeries

These 1885 forgeries are well done and from the Geneva Fournier collection

The following full sheets are all from the Geneva Fournier collection

1868 Sc 33

1868 Sc 33a

1868 Sc 34

1868 Sc 35

1868 Sc36

1868 Sc36a

1869 Sc38

1869 Sc41

1869 Sc42

1871 Sc44 

1871 Sc45

1872 Sc45a

1872 Sc49

1872 Sc52

1885 Sc83

1885 Sc84

1885 Sc85

1885 Sc86

1885 Sc87