Samuel Allan Taylor - Locals Forgeries & Bogus Stamps - Part 1

 The Gang of Scamps 

Taylor

There is but one known "gang" during the period in question. This is the one organized by S. Allan Taylor, which operated in the mid-1860s, and is generally known as the "Boston Gang" because they operated out of that city. In 1866, members included the 28-year old Taylor, 20-year old Joseph Chute, teenager Charles A. Lyford, 18-year old Ferdinand Trifet (who repudiated the gang very soon thereafter), "Charles M. Seltz"(pseudonym for Boston dealer Frederick H. King) who supposedly died in 1868 according to Trifet.' Taylor's New York printer was David Rose and the New York distributor was the reputable William P. Brown.

Also involved was J. A. Nutter the Canadian teenager whose collection of locals inspired Taylor in the 1850s and his connection with George Bancroft, for whom Nutter and Taylor arranged the Bancroft locals of Canada. 

The following are some of his US forgeries of genuine local stamps and completely bogus issues.

It is noteworthy that Taylor appeared to use whatever type and color of paper that he had on hand. 

Apart from these US stamps Taylor, according to his published price list, sold packets of some 50+ countries.

Adams & Co's Express Forgery

Albany Letter Express Bogus

Barr's Penny Despatch Forgery C 

Barr's Penny Despatch Forgery E

Blood's Despatch Forgery B 

Blood's Despatch Forgery D

Blood's Despatch Forgery B

Blood's One Cent Despatch Forgery D

Bouton's Manhattan Express Forgery B

Bouton's Manhattan Express Bogus A

Bowery Post Office Bogus T1

Bowery Post Office Bogus T2

Boyce's City Express Forgery D

Boyd's City Dispatch Forgery B&C

Boyd's City Express Type V Forgery A

Bradway's Dispatch Type 1 

Bradway's Dispatch Type 2