Philippines 1854-1863

 1854 Issue

Imperforate. Hand Engraved in sheets of 40 (5 x 8) with each stamp differing in design. Recess printed by Plana, Jorba y Cia, Plaza de Binondo, Manila. Course-Lined backgrounds caused by reengraving. 

Quantity: 5c and 10c – 5,000 each; 1r and 2r – between 2,000 and 3,000 each

Obviously the large quantity of designs poses a problem for the average collector to differentiate between genuine and forgery.

Genuine Issues

The top stamps show the differences between the fine and coarse lines varieties

Forgeries

5c

10c

Torres Forgery

1R

2R

Senf Forgeries

Fohl Forgeries

There is some convincing thought that these may be from Torres

1854 Sperati Forgeries

1854 Sperati Issue 10c

1. the central stoke of the "F" of "FRANCO" is very weakly printed

2. there is a white flaw on the top right of "0" of "10"

1855 Issue

Sc 6 Genuine

Forgeries

- A dangerous forgery.

- There are only 8 lines on upper left of the spandrel compared to 9 in the normal issue; and only 8 on the lower left of the spandrel compared to 10 in the normal issue. 

- The top of ‘5’ in ‘1854’ ends in large dot and almost touches to top frame line.  

- There is virtually no space between the ‘Y’ and ‘1854’ and ‘55’.

This may have been a trial-print produced in black by the Senf Brothers prior to the issued forgery. 

- The bottom part of the 'C' in 'CORREOS' consists of a straight line with no curve. 

- The top horizontal line in '5' of '1854' is thin. 

- The top of the '4' is thick. 

- Serifs in '55' do not incline upward and are away from the upper line. 

- The left vertical line in 'N' of 'FRANCO' is bent at the top. 

- The bottom curve of the 'C' in 'FRANCO' is very thin, ending with in a large dot. 

- The second horizontal line in the lower right spandrel is short and does not touch the right frame line.

- The 'C' of 'CORREOS' is away from the left margin

- The bottom stroke of the second 'R' touches the 'E". 

- Horizontal staff in second '5' in '55' has a short vertical line on the right side. 

- Top left corner of the 'R' in 'FRANCO' is broken. 

- The 's' in 'Cs' is not very curved and appears as a '5'.

- Tops of "5" are flat

- "5" of "1854" slants backwards

- First "C" is wider

- "S" is not slanted

- Eye is very different

- All bottom letters are different

- The ‘E’ in ‘CORREOS’ is malformed, with thick vertical line and virtually no centre line. 

- The ‘5’ in ‘1854’ has a very short top horizontal line. 

- The circle of pearls is not consistent, with quite a few pearls omitted providing gaps between pearls. 

- The diagonal line in ‘N’ of ‘FRANCO’ is very thick. 

- The top horizontal line of ‘5’ ends in a blob and touches the line above it. 

- The ‘C’ in ‘Cs’ is tall and touches the lines above and below.

Schroeder Forgery

- The "8" is too slanting 

- The "5" of the bottom inscription is too small. T

- The letters are slightly different. 

This forgery is an imitation of position 2 on the plate.

Senf forgery with "FALSCH" imprint

Torres from his catalog

This may be the source of several of the above forgeries

1855 Sperati Forgeries

Forgery Type A

1. There is a colored dot on the inner frame line above the "S" of "CORREOS"

2. There is a colored dot that joins the two frame lines to each other above the "1" of "1854"

Sperati Type B

1. There is a nick at the top right side of the first "O" of "CORREOS"

2. The top serif of the "N" in "FRANCO" is barely joined to the leg

3. There is a break in the frame to the left of the "F" of "FRANCO"

4. The end of the figure "5" terminates with a dot

5. The upper right corner is broken

Sperati proof Type B

1859 Genuine

Sc 10

Sc 11

Forgeries

5c

Torres Illustration

1R

2R

1863 Genuine

1863 Sperati Forgeries

Reproduction A

- The top of the "S" of "CORREOS" is faulty. 

- The "T" of "INTERIOR" has no bottom left serif. 

- The "O" of this word has a break in the lower left part. 

- The word "FRANCO" also has some defects, such as a small coloured dot on the upper left part of the "C" and white spots in the upper right hand side of the "O" of this word. 

Reproduction B

- The loop and right foot of the second "R" in "CORREOS" are separated from the vertical left part of this letter. 

- The upper right part of the "T" of "INTERIOR" is separated from the rest of this letter.

Reproduction Type E

1. there is a colored dot in the white space above the ring of pearls NE of point of wreath

2. the second "R" of "CORREOS" has no serif at top left