Romania King Carol 1903

Features of originals and forgeries

There appears to be 2 types of forgeries. 

However Billigs only notes 2 on the 50b stamp.

It is generally accepted that genuine stamps are perfed 13.5 X 14 and forgeries are different.

However, it appears that the 15b value forgery in black is found with 13.5 X 14 perfs

The originals are engraved and the forgeries appear to be lithos.

The originals are found on toned paper while all the forgeries I have seen are on white paper.

The originals all have what might be described as a "secret mark", a small dash below the right leg of the "R". I do not know if this was intentional. None of the forgeries appear to have this mark 

NOTE - originals on the left, forgeries on the right.

15b

In the forgery, the face is very different and lacks the fine details

The right "1" bottom left does not touch the ornament as in the original

The tail of the "5's" end in a ball on the genuine stamps

The top curve of the "5's" is more pronounced in the originals.

25b

The face has the same issues as the 15b 

The bottom left of the right "2" is not touching the flower ornament as in the genuine

The letters "ANIA" are higher

This item was advertised as a proof. The crudeness suggests that it is a primitive forgery

40b

This again appears to be the same forgery type as the 15 & 25b

The numerals "40" are more filled in on the forgery. The original has fine detailed lines.

50b

The facial features are the same as the previous forgeries

The right "5" is further away from the flower and the top section is shorter than the original

1L

The facial features are noticeably different from the previous forgeries and suggest a different type.

The "1" is closer to the flower in the genuine compared to the forgery. The "L" is higher than the "1", in the genuine, they are of the same height.

2L

The facial features resemble the 1L

The perf is 13.5X13.5 instead of 13.5x14

Overall the details are better than the previous forgeries

The left original is in the common orange color error instead of the normal dull red

5L

The facial features match the 1L & 2L

The "5" is larger and the "L" is much larger

Billigs notes 2 types of forgeries for this value

The top one resembles the original, the bottom one is the same as the previous image.