Romania 1903 Issue

 Issued for the opening of a new PO in Bucharest.

The originals were engraved and perfed 13.5X14

Genuine issues all have a common feature - a dot below the top "R"

There are 2 or 3 different forgeries.

Unfortunately, I have no specifics on how to distinguish them.

Here are comparisons of genuine (left) and forgery (right)

The 15b is the only counterfeit that measured 13.5 X 14, like the genuines.  25b and othersforgery examples are 13.5 X 13. The 40b  the forgery is 13.5 X 13.5.

Aside from being lithographs on white paper, forgeries have obvious color differences.

Forgery

Genuine

Forgery

Genuine

Forgery

Gemuine

I have seen 2 forgery types of the 5L

The one shown above with the large L close to the 5 and one more like the original.

Thia is apparently a proof (comes in various colors) but some authors note they are bogus,

Italy Tuscany - Shield Issue 1860

 Although not as plentiful as the lion forgeries, they still attracted the likes of Fournier, Spiro, Torres, Winter, Sperati and several others. 

Most if these genuine, given the very high CV, were obtained from certified auctions. In particular, the 3L is one of the most expensive stamp of all the Italian states.

Genuine Stamps

Genuine Features

Dimensions: 23 mm x 18.5 mm. Typographed

1. Cross lines up with left side of vertical of "T"

2. Corner elements in form of X surrounded by a circle

3. Rows of small pearls

4. 3 large irregular precious stones

5. Right object less inclined than left one

6. Right void larger than left one

7. Line out of alignment with corner frame

8. Thick irregular line

9. Top of "N" wider than bottom part

10. 5 empty spaces

11. 5 empty spaces

12. Notches on the ends

13. "B" lines up with top of shield

14. Frame line curves

15. Right side separated

16. Vertical lines are longer on the right side vs. left

17. Large irregular dot

18. Frame line extends to the outer unlike the top ones

19. Shapes look like 8's

Forgeries

Sold by Fornier from an unknown source

The key feature is the wide rough looking lower border

Modern forgery from Peter Winter

Note the constant dot in the frame line above the P plus the wide margins and white paper.

Another type sold by Fournier

Note the slanted "S" in "POSTAGE" and uneven letters

Spiro Forgeries

The cross of the crown points to the right of the"T" instead of the left

Also note the common Spiro cancels.

Torres Forgeries

Note the distorted appearance uf the crown and typical Torres cancels

Odd unknown forgeries

Bogus 3L in wrong color

Modern, possibly Winter

Fournier Sheets

Cancelled singles sold by Fournier from several different forgers.

Fournier US Locals

 It is not well known that Francois Fournier sold forgeries of US locals. The following are from his Geneva collection. Most were supplied by S.A. Taylor.

Italy Tuscany Lion Issue 1851-59

 Issue of 1851. Engraved. 1 Quattrino; 1, 8 Soldi; 1, 8, 4, 6, 9, 60 Crazie; blue wove paper, watermarked with crown, & c., on the entire sheet.

Issue of 1857. Poorly engraved. 1 Quattrino; 1, 8 Soldi; 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 Crazie; white wove paper, watermarked with waved crossed lines, forming ellipses, and the words "Poste Toscano" on the entire sheet.

NOTE - several forgeries have oil impressed watermarks but the original paper was never duplicated.

Genuine Issues

Genuine Issues with various cancels

Genuine Features

Lion Features - Typographed

Watermarked but several forgeries are also.

Height of top letters 1.25mm, Bottom letters 1.5mm

1. Center of the cross lines up with outside of the vertical in "T"

2. Rows of small pearls

3. Corner shapes are crosses surrounded by a circle

4. 3 oblong shaded stones and part of another on the right

5. Serif on left side of "T" only

6. 4 curves in hair outside

7. 3 toes over the shield with 1 extra off

8. Stem of flower detached

9. N's have very thick diagonal and thin legs

10. Curved lines made up of dots

11. 4 visible toes on each foot all pointing forwards. 

12. 2 dots on knee

13. 2 dashes behind knee

14. Small triangular detached section

15. Tail made up of 3 distinct and unattached sections

16. 3 separate tail strands not touching the shield

17. Space between crown and lion head

18. Side frame lines extend through bottom frame

Forgeries

These are dozens of known and unknown forgers who copied this series. This is a small sampling.

Modern 1921 Exhibition in Firenzi

These show up as proofs or mints and are obviouslt too "perfect"!!

These were well executed but far too neat and lacking inside frame lines extending through bottom frame line.

Here are 3 tied to a fake cover.

Here are the original 1921 exhibition labels

Backwards Front Toe forgery

The cross is located exactly under the "T". 

The crosses in the corners are also not as in the genuine stamps.

The easiest test is the fourth toe on the front leg of the lion, it is backward pointing. 

Also note the flattened face of the lion.

Given the cancels, this might be a Spiro product.

Bear Face forgery

There is no cross on the crown

Lion lacks any details and is mostly white

Rather crude overall

Copper Engraved Forgery

Letters uneven. Odd shaped "S"

Background wrong

Large Forward Tilted Crown forgery

Mane is neatly combed'

White Dot forgery

A white dot can be found between the crown and the 'A' of 'POSTALE'. 

The knee is broken. 

Line above values is continuous. 

Many fine details are missing

This is a common forgery

Monkey Face forgery

Oneglia forgeries

The forgeries are printed with large margins

These forgeries have an extra very thick outer frameline.

The "O" of "POSTALE" is too round. 

The nose of the lion is too big.

Sperati forgeries

The bottom left serif of the "T" of "TOSCANO" is broken

There is a dot of color between the "O" and "S" of "TOSCANO"

Short Tail forgeries

Tip of the tail is short

Front leg is damaged

Lion has long nose

All appear with same cancel

Primitive forgeies

These are just a few of the obvious forgeries

Tilted Crown forgeries

The crown is tilted backwards

The top "S" is oddly shaped

Less shading on the hindleg of the lion

Torres Forgeries

These appear in his catalog but may be Spiro productions

Peter Winter 1980's forgeries

These are very well done but easily distinguised by the modern paper

Fournier Forgeries

By far the most prolific of the forgeries

Samples indicate they were produced by at least 3 sources

Singles without the "FAUX" markings

Forgeries with postmarks applied

An offer for a pre-packaged set apparently produced in Florence Itely

And finally, sections of full sheets sold by Fournier