Classic Stamp Forgeries: Karelia 1922

The Karelia independence attempt occurred nearly two years after the North
Ingermanland independence attempt failed.
The Karelia 15 stamps were valid for almost 2 months in 1922 – from 31 January through 16 March 1922.

Some postmarks indicate later use.

Apparently the Postal Service was withdrawn across the Finnish border to Suomussalmi where the stamps remained valid until February 16, 1922

All of the values were counterfeited soon after. The stamps were lithographed by F. Tilgmann , Helsinki and issued on white paper with slightly yellowish gum.
The values 5 penni through 1 mark each had 20,000 printed, the values 2 marks through 25 marks had an even smaller number printed – only 15,000 of each
value.
The 10 p., 40 p., 75 p., 3 mk., and 20 mk. are perforated 11 ¼
The 20p., 50p., 1 mk., 5 mk., and 15 mk. are perforated 11 ¾
The 5 p., 25 p., 2 mk., 10 mk., and 25 mk. have both perforations
It is suspected that there are perhaps 3 or 4 different forgeries.
They are attributed to N. Imperato out of Genoa and an unknown source in Switzerland. They appeared in 1923

Important Genuine Feature

The genuine values below 1 mark have a distinctive mark..

There is a chain the runs along the bottom of the central design, below the bear’s hind legs.

At about the “8 o’clock” position, just below two complete circular chain links on the left side, the third link has one side of that link open.

This distinctive feature does not occur on the 1 mark and higher values, nor on any of the forgeries.

The characteristics of the forgeries can be summed up as those that are common and those that are inconclusive.

Common traits

4. The billhook points to the R in the forgery and to the K in the genuine

5. The zig zag northern lights are shorter in the forgery, they tend to have a U shape instead of a V, the last one ends further away from the billhook (sword).

7. In those issues with a 5, the top of the 5 tends to point upwards in the forgery

NOTE the forgeries are all perfed 11.5 – this is a point of contention as some “experts” note they only found them as 11.25. This might be so if different forgers

were involved.

Inconclusive traits

1. The oblique line of the K is shorter in the forgery.

2. The tip of the J is shorter and less curved in the forgery. NOTE , this is often noted as a prime trait but it is definitely inconclusive.

Note also the dent in the R on the right forgery

3. Facial features of the bear are lacking in the forgery.

6. A common trait mentioned is the break in the chain in the genuine that is lacking in the forgery.

8. The 1 tends to be shorter and the 2 either does not have a curl in the forgery or it is much more curled.

9. The margins tend to be larger in the forgeries.

Forgeries are brighter

The quality of the reproduction printing of the forgery image varies, and even more so among the different denominations of the forgeries, hence traits that are visible in one denomination may not be visible in others.

A few samples of Genuine vs Forgeries

Genuine left, forgery right