Italy Modena 1852-55

 The original dies were the work of different designers

1852 issue was made by Tomasso Rinaldi, that of the 1859 issue by Carlo Setti and

that of the 1859 newspaper tax by Felice Ricco.

The printing material was supplied for the 1852 by the firm of Rocca, Rinaldi and Algeri of Modena and for the 1859 issue by the engraver. The 1852 issue was printed by the Cameral Printing Office of the Ministry of Finance in Modena, the 1859 issue by the printer Carlo Vicenzi of Modena. 

The 1859 newspaper tax stamp were printed singly with the original die by the printer Carlo Montroccoli of Modena.

The dies of the 1852 and 1859 issues had no value indication and the outside frame linc of the value tablet was omitted at the bottom.

This was done with the purpose of having the same stereotypes that could be used for all denominations and inserting a type-set value in each issue.

This resulted in a basic stamp face with many variations of the position, alignment and in particular the size, position and sometimes lack of the period after the value.

The CENT shows up as CNET (5, 19 and 40c), CEN1 (5c and newspaper 10c), EENT (10c), CE6T (10 & 40c), CENE (10 & 40c), CETN (15c) as well as 49 and 4C instead of the 40c value. There is a 1 invert on the 10c and sideways E (5c) and N (10c) in CENT.

In all, over 100 variations are noted in the Unificato catalog. Some of these are rare and increase the CV considerably.

Generally the 1852 printing was better performed than the 1859 resulting in clearer better defined stamps with less over-inking.

Although there was, except for the 20c, only one printing of each denomination,  there are many distinct shades exist.

All Modena stamps were issued imperforate, the dividing lines serving as the only separation aid.

There were considerable remainders of most issues and they were sold to dealers.

There is speculation that although some values had large quantities of remainders, their values are basically equal indicating that much of the remainders may have been destroyed.

The amount of remainders probably accounts for unused ungummed stamps being relatively easy to acquire.

Genuine Stamps

Note 25c Color Error

Quantities Issued
5 cent. Green 1,812,720
5 cent. Olive Green 120,000
10 cent. Rose 526,080
15 cent. Yellow 838,080
25 cent. Chamois 998,160
40 cent. Light Blue 17,280 (very high CV Unused)
40 cent. Blue 501,600
I Lira White 48,000

Genuine Features

1. Top of S wider than bottom
2. Bottom foot of I generally missing on the right
3. Horizontal bar of cross slightly tilted
4. Large round dot
5. Broken frame line
6. Generally open on left, right side may also be open
7. Triangles inside the crown are uniform very visible
8. Beak is slightly open - note the curve on the beak
9. Left claw is horizontal
10. Left ribbon behind twig, right side in front of twig
11. Frame line open both ends
12. Weak spot, may be open
13. Decorations joined

Difference between First & Second printing

The 2nd printing (right) shows better detail

Chemical Alterations

I point out 2 possible Chemical alterations.

Sc 5a Pale Blue - Beware - any Sc 5a unused (very high CV) might be a chemically altered Sc 5

Sc 6a Olive Green. Beware - the Sc 6a might be a Sc 6 chemically altered to increase the value

Errors

There are many errors in the first issues not to be taken for forgeries. Here are a few...

CETN instead of CENT

Sc 4c Color Error

Sc 7c CE6T instead of CENT

Sc 5ab CE6T instead of CENT

CNET instead of CENT

Forgeries

As genuine unused stamps are relatively easy to find, most forgers concentrated their efforts on producing fake cancellations.
Forgeries of the unused stamps are VERY plentiful but easy to recognize.

Fournier/Spiro Forgeries
The same forgeries show up with both resellers. So perhaps they both acquired them from a 3rd party or Fournier may have purchased the stock from Spiro after they ended their business.

1. The top letters are uneven - the last 3 in particular
2. The frame corner breaks are missing
3. The crown lacks the triangular projections
3. The eagle head is very different and most of the items noted in the genuine (left) are missing

4. The numerals are large in comparison to CENT

5. There is a thin line under CENT

6. These is a scratch through the S of POSTE

Spiro Forgery that matches the ones from Fournier.

Fournier full sheets - from Spiro?

Torres Forgeries

Placido Ramon De Torres was a period illustrator of many well known stamp catalogs
Born in Estepona, Malaga in 1847, he collaborated with other well known Spanish forgers of that period.
Although few experts attribute forgeries to him, he was perhaps one of the most prolific forger as his personal 218 page forgery catalog of 1896 illustrates.
Although he made some good forgeries, many are rather crude and in bogus colors.
The Italian States are well represented in his catalog

The left side of the next 2 is his catalog image

Bogus Colors

Unknown Forger

1. The letters are very different
2. The crown is crudely shaped
3. No breaks in the frame lines
4. Very large claws
5. Corner elements have no shading

Unknown "masked bird"

1. Small crown

2. Values are thick

3. Bottom right corner element distorted

4. Claws are flat

5. Feathers are well detailed

6. Head appears to be masked

Crest Head - Unknown Forger

1. Odd looking head on the eagle
2. The crown is short
3. No right break on the top inner line
4. An extra left side tail feather
5. Different font on the 40c

Hook Beak - Forger Unknown

The eagle has a pronounced hook beak
2. The breaks are as with the genuine
3. There is a break in the crown left of the cross
4. The numerals are large and appear to have a disturbed frame line either above or below
5. The cancels match those of the Fournier/Spiro forgeries but I have no other information

Martin Forgeries - 1930

Martin of Treviso Italy
These are attributed to a dealer (Mr Martin?) but I have no other information
They are found without gum and often in pairs.
1. The corner elements are almost completely shaded
2. The frame lines have no breaks
3. The cross is very small and not well defined

Double frame forgery - Forger unknown

1. There is a complete thick double frameline 

2. No break on the right top inner frame
3. The eagle head is very different
4. There is a tiny dot on the end of the right leaf twig

Head touching frame forgery - Forger unknown

1. Head of bird touches the crown

2. Head different from genuine
3. Lower frame line not broken
4. 5 is larger than original

Round Beak Forgery - Forger unknown

1. The crown is large
2. The eagle has an odd rounded head
3. The side ornaments are thin with no end curls
4. The corner elements are large

Unknown Fake

1. Made to look like error with CE6T instead of CENT
2. Head and beak very different
3. Top inner right line has no right break
4. Left corner elements are incomplete
5. Too much blank space in body

Primitive Forgery

1. No details in crown
2. Side ornaments very crude
3. Odd eagle head
4. No shading feathers on body
5. No breaks in frame lines

Modern Double frame line forgery - forger unknown

1. Extra frame line on 3 sides

2. There is no dot on the end of the right leaf twig

3. Top inner corner is not broken

4.  Tail feathers all same length

5. Claws even goth sides

Log Sitting Eagle - Forger unknown

1. Crown is small
2. Eagle has large curved beak
3. Eagle is resting on a log
4. No breaks in frame lines
5. No dot above right leaves
6. Odd corner elements

Large crown forgery - forger unknown

1. No breaks in frame lines
2. No dot above right branch
3. Pointed tail feather
4. No claws on left foot
5. Beak not open
6. Large ball under cross

7. Wide crown

Tilted cross forgery - forger unknown

Well executed forgery
1. Top letters are uneven
2. No break in the inner right frame line
3. The cross is slanted
4. The central tail feather is pointed and inclined left

Short Beak Forgery - forger unknown

1. The beak is too short
2. The neck and breast lack feathers
3. The pearls in the crown are lacking
4. The cross is not distinct
5, Frame line above the 5 is very thick

Thin Letters forgery - forger unknown

1. Thin printing on top
2. Cross has no horizontal
3. Corner elements all different
4. Top side ribbons have an incomplete curve

Reported Usigli Proof?

Provisionals & Newspaper Tax stamps to follow...