Labuan 1879-1894

Initially, Labuan used stamps of Straits Settlements, but in May, 1879, Labuan began issuing its own Postage Stamps. The first stamps of Labuan featured the bust of Queen Victoria with the denomination written in three languages – English, Jawi, and Chinese. For about 15 years, multiple issues were printed with various colors and watermarks.

1879 Original Issues (Sc 1-4 Engraved)

The red diamond cancel is typical of early Labuan stamps

1883-85 Issues (Engraved)

1885 Sc 17

1883 Sc 24

1892 Issues (Sc 33-37 Engraved)

1894 Issues (Sc 42-44 Lithographed)

Engraved VS Lithographed

The differences are quite visible

The lines in the neck and hair are much finer and detailed in the engraved.

Sc 36 vs Sc 45

Forgeries

The forgeries are somewhat difficult to differentiate.
There are 2 main forgers Fournier & Imperato (referred to as the "Italian" source)

As well Kamigata made forgeries.

Imperato Forgeries

Features

Heavy outline around the head

Coarse irregular neck shading

Thick lips with long crease

Short blunt lower corner arrows outside frame

Hair below the ear is one thick line

Fournier Forgeries

Very similar to the Imperato forgeries

Heavy shading in lips and crease less pronounced
Shading in hair clearer

Kamigata Forgeries

A decent forgery

Facial features and shading are the best of the 3

The corner arrows are almost nonexistent

The postmarks are in Japanese characters or will read "IMITATION" in a circular postmark

Others

A rather crude forgery from an unknown source

Corner floral elements are all wrong
Large openings in the corner features

Lacking facial shading

Torres taken from his 1896 catalog

Spain 1874

 Engravings by Eugenio Juliá Jover. 

Printed in letterpress at the National Stamp Factory. 

Size 20x25mm. Sheets of 100 stamps or 200 stamps. Perfed 14, comb.

Circulation: July 1, 1874. Validity until October 1, 1874 (10 c.) and July 31, 1875 (the rest).

Genuine Issues

Ed 141 & 142

Ed 143

Ed 144

Ed 145

Ed 146

Ed 147 & 147a

Ed  148

Ed 149

Ed 150

Ed 151

Ed 152

Forgeries

Ed 141

Type III
Bottom letters too thick – T tops not slanted
Brick like sections in the crown are very different
Shape in lower right of shield is awkward

Type VI
D in DE is slanted
C of CENT has large serif
Tower on shield is wrong

Ed 144

Segui Forgery

Printed by lithography on medium white paper. 

1 White spot in the "S" of SPAIN. 

2 Line perfed 14 1/4 instead of comb 14 

Segui Block

Ed 145

Type I

Thin left frame

Missing a lot of shading & details

Type II Segui forgery

Typical dot in S

Bottom numerals and letters are larger

Type III

Shape of the face and chin are wrong
Missing genuine traits

Type V

Well executed forgery

Left side of last A in ESPANA is curved

White dots in letters

Unknown forgery

4 is inclined

Missing many details

Ed 146

Segui Forgery

Printed by lithography on medium white paper. 

1 White spot in the "S" of SPAIN. 

2 Line perf 14 1/4 instead the genuine  comb 14

Segui Block

Unknown unique postal forgery

Lacks many finer details

4 left side not curved

Ed 148

Postal forgery

Very well done except for missing fine details

Ed 150

Segui forgery

Printed by lithography on medium white paper. 

1 White spot in the "S" of SPAIN. 

2 Line perf 14 1/4 instead the genuine  comb 14

Forgery Type I

Genuine elements missing
Face is very different
Large 1’s too thin

Type II – telegraph use
Shading lines missing
Major difference in letters especially UNAPESATA

Type III
Excellent forgery
Minor differences in letters and the face
Tilde over the N is thinner

Unknown forgery

Very good forgery
Much heavier shading
Wide tilde over the N
Dots along the outer frame are smaller and less prominent

Ed 151

Type I
Lacking genuine details
Thinner letters
Face is different
Large foot on the top 4

Type II

Lacking genuine details
Thinner letters
Face is different

Type III – crude forgery – telegraph use
Lacking genuine traits
Face very different
Corner elements are wrong

Unknown type

Large 4

Face is different

Side letters increase in size

Sperati forgery – excellent forgery
The second I of COMUNICACIONS is broken
The A of this same word has a bad right leg
Break in the S of PESATA

Ed 152

Type I
The 8 is malformed
Several letters are broken
Genuine traits are lacking

Type II
Large tilde
The face is wrong
Very dark shading

Segui forgery – as previous with dot in the S

Segui Barrados

Sperati forgery
The first N in COMUNICACIONES is broken
The second E of PESETA is broken at the top
The 1 of 1874 has a black spot on the left hand side.

References
Introduccion al estudio y relacion de los sellos falsos postales de Espana – Francisco Graus
Michel Europe West 2012
Spain & Dependencies – Edifil.2009
Focus on Forgeries – Varro Tyler
Spain Specialized Vol.1 1850-1931 Edifil Tome 1
Catalogo dos Sellos De Espana – Antonio Duro
Seranne Guide to Forgeries
Torres Catalog 1879
Las falsificaciones del Sello Espanol – A. Monne 1965
SPAIN FORGERIES 1850 to 1925 by De Haene
FFE #7 FORGERIES SPAIN
Timbrex – H. Schloss
Forged Stamps of all Countries – Dorn
HANDBUCH DER BRIEFMARKENKUNDE HEFT 6: CARLISTISCHE POST – H. NEUES
Album Weeds – Earree
Tedesco Forgery Index
Handbok Fer Filatelister – S. Tullberg
Guia del coleccionista de sellos de Correos de España, 1850-54 – Tort
Members of Spanish forums
Forgeries of Europe - Bynof