Issue of 1851. Engraved. 1 Quattrino; 1, 2 Soldi; 1, 8, 4, 6, 9, 60 Crazie; watermarked with crown, & c., on the entire sheet.
The various stereotypes for the printing were done by Alessandri foundry and the printing was executed by the "Tipografia Granducale F. Cambiagi e Co." from Florence.
The sheets comprehended 240 pieces, organized in three groups one on top of the other of 80 (5 rows of 16 pieces), separated from each other by a very small inter-space, about 1.5 millimeters.
Issue of 1857. Poorly engraved. 1 Quattrino; 1, 2 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. it is in reality just a change of watermark.
NOTE - several forgeries have oil impressed watermarks but the original paper was never duplicated.
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
Watermarks of 1851 & 1857
The 60c is extremely rare, both used and unused. The 2s was not used very much and was suppressed in 1852 (it is also a very rare stamp). Most common are the 1c, 2c, 4c and 6c. The distance between the stamps is less than 1 mm as shown below in the proof sheet, it is therefore difficult to find stamps with all four margins intact. Something to look for in forgeries.
1921 Firenza Exhibition
These are decent forgeries that show up as genuine "Proofs"
The side frame lines do not extend beyond the bottom frame line.
They are probably cut out from the 1921 Firenza exhibition.
Here is a cover with 3 of these forgeries.
1980's Peter Winter Forgeries
Peter Winter has made forgeries of all values (even in non-existing colors).
These forgeries are rather common, with probably millions of them printed.
Obviously the paper is modern and stamps are very neat.
Obviously the paper is modern and stamps are very neat.
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.
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.
The above forgery type has no spike on top of the crown.
The face of the lion looks more like a bear.
The foot of the lion is very poorly done
1 Soldi instead of Soldo
Combed Mane Forgery
The crown is tilted forwards
The mane is neatly combed
The eye is dark.
Copper Engraved Forgery
This forgery is listed in the Billig's guide as being engraved
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
The cross on the crown exactly below the center of the "T" of "POSTALE".
The face looks more like a monkey than a lion.
The foot on the shield is very poorly done.
The lettering is different from the genuine stamps
The forgeries are printed with large margins
These forgeries have an extra very thick outer frame line.
The "O" of "POSTALE" is too round.
The nose of the lion is too big.
Torres Forgery
The face is flat
The cross is under the "T"
The front leg lack any detail
The end of the tail is large
The toes are misshapen.
Forgeries with the crown slanting backwards.
Less shading on the hindleg of the lion.
Very pronounced cheek.
Short Tail Forgery
The tail of the lion does not go low enough.
The dots on the shield are mostly missing.
The cross is in line with the "T"
Note the shape of the letters.
The foreleg is very badly executed.
They all have the same cancel.
Fake Color Proofs
Sold on auctions as color proofs.
Lion back lacks details
Side fames do not extend to edge
Letters uneven
Sold as proofs
White smudge left of crown
Cross in line with "T"
Lacks lot of detail
Mouth too wide open
The right side serif of the "T" of "POSTALE" is broken
There is a dot of color between the "O" and "S" of "TOSCANO"
These have appeared and sold on auctions. On closer look the reveals they are photographs
Fournier Forgeries
These are by far the most common forgeries. He sold forgeries from several suppliers as shown below.
These are some of the cancels he provided.
These are strips he made available. They are quite dangerous.
Here is one of the many full sheets he sold.
Primitive Forgeries
These came from actual auction offers.
