Typographically printed, at the beginning on hand made paper with central watermark KKHM (Kaiserlich und Koenigliches Handels Ministerium), every sheet were made of 256 stamps (including 16 Andreas crosses), and was unperforated. Colours appeared in various shades during its eight years.
Each of the 5 stamps has its own features that allow to divide the stamps in different types and subtypes. This is due to changes made to correct bad looking defects.
Official reprints were made by the Vienna Postal Authorities due to the great demand by collectors for philatelic purposes. Only Type III, on machine made paper without watermark were officially reprinted.
Genuine Stamps
Unused stamps have a much higher CV
Stamps were first printed on a rough hand-made paper of uneven thickness with watermark in script letters K.K.H.M. (Kaiserlich Königliches Handels-Ministerium). Only 16-20 stamps out of 240 on a printing sheet are watermarked.
5c
10c
Type I:
The lowest horizontal line in the second letter E in CENTES is broken,
the lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line, only in cases of clear print this line appears to be split in two.
Type III
The letter E not broken anymore,
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of two lines.
Type I:
Both numerals in denomination are of equal height,
Inscriptions on top are damaged: the second letter K in KKPOST is broken and the first letter E in STEMPEL has short horizontal stroke on the bottom.
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line.
Type II:
Numeral 5 in denomination is standing higher than the numeral 1.
Numeral 5 in denomination is enclosed on the left side.
Inscriptions on top are complete, without damage.
The second letter E in CENTES. is broken (just like Type I of 10 centesimi stamp).
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line.
Type III:
Numeral 5 in denomination is standing higher than the numeral 1.
Numeral 5 in denomination is not enclosed.
The second letter E in CENTES. not broken anymore.
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of two lines.
30c
Type I:
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line.
Type III:
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of two lines.
Type I:
Number 45 is positioned lower than the inscription CENTES. The distances between the upper line and individual numbers in denomination varies.
The distance between the numeral 5 and the letter C in CENTES. is between 0.2 and 0.7 mm.
the lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line.
Type II:
The number 45 is at the same height as the inscription CENTES.
The distance between 5 and C is 0.6 mm.
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of one thick line.
Type III:
The same as Type II.
The lower outline of the coat of arms consists of two lines.
Forgeries
5c
The feathers are indistinct
The outer frameline is too thick in spots
The middle bar of the first "E" is too low
The "S" is too small
10c
"10" too large
Feathers very crude
"CENTES" too thick
"S" lower than other letters
"1" wrong shape
Base of "1" wrong
Haeds have too much white
"C" has no serif
"S" too high
Very common forgery
"1" wrong shape
Rough uneven outer frame
15c
Torres forgery
"15" wrong compared to genuine
Fournier forgery
"CENTES" too largr
Bird heds wrong
Tail lacking ornament.
"15" too high and thick
Fournier forgery
30c
Well executed
Large "3"
"CENTES" too low and letters uneven
Tail wrong
45c
Fournier forgery
"45" wrong shape
op "T" too low
Background dots missing
Wings wrong
Unusual "S" shape
Many background dots fused together
Postal Forgeries
Postal forgeries of that period appeared in 1853 and 1857-1858. These are known as Milan or Verona Forgeries.
Verona Postal forgery
Unlike private or later reproduction forgeries, Verona postal forgeries were made to circulate as real postage during the 19th century. Because they are scarce and historically significant, authenticated pieces command high prices at specialized auctions—often ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of euros depending on the condition and whether they are tied to a piece or cover.
Verona Forgery
In the 15c, the "15" is very close together.
The "S" has a flat top.
In the 30c, the "C" is shorter
The "S" is oddly shaped and shorter
The "3" is lower
Milan Postal forgeries
They typically differ slightly in dimensions or height from genuine stamps (which measure 21 mm tall)
As with the Verona forgeries, these command very high values especially tied to a cover.
Wide space between "15"
Thick "C"
Partial serif on "1" and "T"
Thick "C"
Short "ES"
Base of "4" inclined
"T" short right serif
Very tall "S"
"5" higher
Very tall "S"
"45" separated
"S" not as tall
Reprints
Reprints only as Type III, on white machine made paper without watermark were officially reprinted in 1865, 1871, 1885 and 1889 (the most common).
Modern Forgeries (1960?)
Modern online auctions in large quantities under the title 'ristampe' (reprints), made somewhere in the 1960s
