There are three types of forgeries: two with different plates and a fraudulent reprint, made in Spain, with original plates, which is the most abundant and very dangerous.
It is difficult to determine the forgeries because original stones were used as transfer stones to produce the new unofficial printing stones and "reprints".Genuine Features
The ornament shape is important especially the lobes
The circles below should only be partially shaded
The river should distinctly show the left bank made up of several lines
This of course does not apply to the reprints
The Genuine Stamps
Comparison of genuine and forgery Type I
Bottom - reprint with marks of the 1st transfer,
- Colored dots outside the upper margin on the left curl and “OS” for “CORREOS”
Forgery left, genuine right
- Tear in the lower frame below the “E” of “APOTHEOSIS"
Forgeries
As mentioned there are 2 types of forgeries
A very common type I and a very scarce type II
Type I Forgery
It is easily distinguished by the left frame
- The ends of the floral element are much thicker in the forgery
NOTE - ALL 5c, 10c, 25c tete-beche are forgeries or reprints
- The shading in the balls is much more prominent
- The shading line to the left are wider and poorly defined
NOTE - with the 50c and 1b which are often overinked, these traits may be harder ti ID.
Common postmarks include
- CORREOS DE VENEZUELA – CARACAS, 13 ENE 97”
- CORREOS DE VENEZUELA – CARACAS, 5 JUL 97"
- and the rare “CORREOS DE VENEZUELA – BARCELONA 5 FEB 97
Some Type I Forgeries
Note also that in the forgeries the left bank of the river looks like a solid line while in the genuine ones the 4 adjoining lines are clear
Fournier Type I forgeries
Fournier sold tete-beche stamps of all the values
Although the Scott catalog notes them for the 50c & 1b it is the general consensus amongst experts is that they are all reprints
Type II Forgery
I have no examples
- The most distinguishing feature are the words "GUAYANA VENEZOLANA" on the left bank of the river. In the Type I and reprints the letters are curved but in the Type II thay are in a straight line
- Also the river is narrower and the tributaries less defined
Reprints
I have saved this for last as it is the major issue with this stamp.
As noted they were produced from the original stones with new transfers made.
They are thus nearly indistinguishable from the originals and more plentiful.
Fortunately they have all been plated and the 8 transfers of each value can the matched to any stamp.
5c Reprint Transfers
There is a noticeable flaw at the top edge, above the left “5”.
Green speck in the river that comes out of the "S" of "CORREOS", and a blur of color when it joins the dividing line.
Two strong color spots above the river, above the letters “OT” for “APOTHEOSIS”
Small tear in the lower frame, below the “A” of “APOTHEOSIS"
Small tear in the upper margin of the stamp in a vertical line with the first “R” of
"POST"
Colored line on the white line, over the “P” of “APOTEOSIS
Break of the outer line of the lower frame below "EO" of "APOTHEOSIS"
Color point near the double rectangular dividing line, between the two converging lines
dotted
Color point in the lower circle surrounding the right “5”
10c Reprint Transfers
Defect in the bottom lines, especially on "VE" of Venezuela.
Two points after "English"
Small tear in the left margin, near the top corner.
The lower right circle has a tear, opposite the corner of the seal.
Color spot to the right of the curl, on “EL” of Correos.
Color spots in the margin and on the outer right edge of the stamp.
White spot on the second “R” of “CORREOS”
White line through the curl at the end of the band that surrounds “CORREOS DE VENEZUELA”
Blue stain on the left curl at the beginning of the arched band that surrounds “CORREOS DE VENEZUELA"
25c Reprint Transfers
Vertical white fault through the “5” and the “C” of “CORREOS”
Yellow dot outside the upper frame in correspondence with the second “R” of “CORREOS"
50c Reprint Transfers
Defect in the upper right circle
Color spot in the “Y” of ENGLISH GUIANA
Tear in the lower margin below the “P” and “E” of APOTHEOSIS”
Red spot on the river, in correspondence with the first "A" of GUAYANA
Defect in the upper left circle.
Tear in the lower line, under the "E" of "APOTHEOSIS"
Elongated white fault on "VENEZUELA"
Notable failure of the border line on “ENGLISH GUIANA”
White Splash over top letters
Two noticeable color spots in the river that runs near the dividing line.
Color splash near left inner frame
Elongated white error in the lines about "OS DE VENEZA" of "CORREOS DE VENEZUELA"
1b Reprint Transfers
Colored dots outside the upper margin on the left curl and “OS” for “CORREOS”
Tear in the lower frame below the “E” of “APOTHEOSIS"
Breakage of the lower frame under the “M” of “MIRANDA”
Color dot on the “S” of “CORREOS” and small white fault on the “V” of “VENEZUELA”
Small spot on the dot that follows "ENGLISH"
Small flaw on the right edge, near the top corner
Small flaw on the left edge, in front of the central ball of the ornament
Tear in the lower margin below the “T” of “APOTHEOSIS"
Group of specks at the head of the tributary that runs inside the curve
Round white flaw in bottom stripes over “DE”
A small speck between the two rivers near the left bank (Appears in most cases)
Inclined line of color, outside the upper margin, on the "VE" of "VENEZUELA"
Some Reprint Examples
Reprint Transfer 6
Reprint Transfer 4
Full block transfers
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