Classic Stamp Forgeries: France - Napoleon 1852-1862

Although the main forgers/sellers were Fournier, Spiro and Sperati, only Sperati achieved a superb measure of similarity. His forgeries have been sold on many prominent auctions with neither the auction house nor the buyer aware.

Much of the forgery analysis will focus on Sperati forgeries.

Genuine Issues

1852, 10c Dark Bister on Yellowish Paper

1852, 25c Blue

Recognized by the “B” under the neck. Initial of Jacques-Jean Barre the designer and engraver

1853, 40c Orange on Yellowish Paper

1853, 1fr Lake on Yellowish Paper

1854, 5c Green on Greenish Paper

1854, 80c Lake on Yellowish Paper

1860 20c Type II

1860, 80c Rose on Pinkish Paper

Forgeries

Compared to genuine on the left.

1852 10c

Probably a Spiro forgery right
Although the header reads REPUB, the “B” is missing
Note also that the top and bottoms tablets have been added to the main central image. Both are out of alignment.
The pearls are not consistent in size or spacing.

Fournier forgery right
No “B” below the neck
The mustache and ear are very different.
The key ornaments on the sides are broken, distorted and missing

Sperati 10c Reproduction 'A' has some minor spots in the 'PO' of 'POSTES'.

Also, a horizontal scratch can be found in the last bottom 'C' extending towards the right bottom square.

Sperati Reproduction 'B' has a scratch in the design below the 'U' of 'REPUB'.

It was sometimes, but not always cancelled with a constant numeral cancel '2235'

However, other cancels exist: the numeral cancels '1128' and '2273'.

Unused Reproductions 'B' also exist

Sperati reproduction “C” right
Reproduction ‘C’ is actually Reproduction ‘A’, but with the cancel removed. In the right hand border halfway up there is a distortion.
There is a distorted pearl at 4 o’clock
Shading lines are lacking in the eyebrow
It also exists as a black ‘die-proof’ (see below)

Another Sperati with faults in the right border

1852 25c

Sperati 1852 right
Extremely dangerous
Small break in the frame line below the “FR” and a white spot below the break
Top of the “T” is slightly inclined
Top of the first “S” is shorter and more curved
Small dent in the top “P”

1853 1Fr

A very crude forgery easily distinguished from the original.

Fournier forgery right
The 1032 is known to be one of his cancels.
The lines in the neck are thicker.
The chin beard is thinner.
The ear shading is lacking.

Fournier forgery, probably a second choice one right
The shading lines in the ear are different
There are more breaks in the shading lines of the neck and cheek.
The letters and numerals appear to be shorter.
The S in POSTES has a narrow top section.
The last F is crude

A pair of Fournier forgeries
Many of the letter issues have been fixed so this is probably a first choice forgery.
The last F is still crude
The 1’s are slightly tilted as is the bottom of the T’s.
The shading lines in the ear are different

A pair of Fournier tete beche forgeries
Many of the letter issues have been fixed so this is probably a first choice forgery.
The last F is still crude
The 1’s are slightly tilted as is the bottom of the T’s.
The shading lines in the ear are different

1853 1Fr Lake on yellowish paper

Spiro forgery right
The pearls are too small
The mustache is different
The side keys are crude and missing sections
The letters are thin

An impossible pair from Spiro?

Very uneven letters

Pearls are too small

Sperati reproduction “A” right
Reproduction ‘A’ has some minor spots in the ‘PO’ of ‘POSTES’.
Also, a horizontal scratch can be found in the last bottom ‘C’ extending towards the right bottom square.
Reproduction ‘A’ has a numeral cancel ‘898’ and circular date cancels. Apparently, this cancel is always in the same position so this is a key feature

Sperati reproduction ‘C’ is very dangerous. right
There is a small scratch through the lower part of the first ‘S’ of ‘POSTES’.
Sometimes a white spot at the upper right part of the right ‘1’.
Some pearls are not uniform and the spacing varies

Cancelled reproduction C with the common 2273 cancel

Sperati reproduction “D” right
This forgery has a constant star cancel always in the same position.
He apparently copied a genuine cancelled stamp.
Some pearls around 11 o’clock are fused.
Some letters of EMPIRE are distorted.

Reproduction ‘E’ has a rather large break in the outer frameline, just before the upper left corner ornament.
A similar break can be found in the upper right hand corner.
There are some very small white dots in front of the first ‘E’ of ‘EMPIRE’ around the normal large dot.
Several hairs are dotted or broken instead of being solid.
The cancels ‘295A’ (below) and ‘698’are common to this reproduction

Sperati reproduction “F” right
A very dangerous forgery.
There are many weak areas on the outer frame.
The top of the “T” in POSTES is slightly shorter as is the top of the first “S”
Some hairlines are different.

A cancelled Type “F”

Sperati tete-beche Type L
An extremely dangerous forgery that has been sold as genuine
In the left stamp there is a very small white dot between the letters ‘R’ and ‘A’ of ‘FRANC’. The right hand side stamp has a broken line and white space below the
‘FR’ of ‘FRANC.

2 Type L with cancels "3383" & "1792"

Sperati reproduction M, these are affixed to fake covers and have the same flaws as the “L” above. The well designed fake cover below

The most common Sperati numeral cancels include;
295A 318 698 852 924 978 1032 1128 1129 1425 1632
1675 1792 1954 2221 2235 2273 3151 3383 4305

1854 5c

Avery crude forgery

Background lines straight

Distorted lettering

Heavy coarse shading

Forgery taken from Moskau catalog

Thin uneven letters

Rough facial shading

Broken wavy line background

1860 20c

Sperati reproduction of two 20 c tete-beche stamps only exists uncancelled.

Distinguishing characteristics of the left stamp: some small white dots can be found between the letters 'E' and 'M' of 'EMPIRE' and after the 'F' of 'FRANC'.

Also a second dot below the dot after the first lower "C"

Distinguishing characteristics of the right stamp: a white dot appears behind the 'P' of 'EMPIRE'.