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