US - Confederate Stamps Part 1
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| 5c Green Lithograph 1861 - CSA 1
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stamps in 1861 like the stamps currently being used by the United States and the major European countries.
However skilled engravers were not available and it would not be until 1863 that higher quality stamps were produced.
It was designed and engraved by Charles Ludwig and printed by the Hoyer & Ludwig firm of Richmond. Virginia using the stone lithography process. Four different stones were used, Stone A and B, Stone 1, and Stone 2. from mid-October 1861 and was in print for only a few months.
Jefferson Davis was a plantation owner from Mississippi. A graduate of West Point Military Academy who served in the Mexican War. He was the Secretary of War and a United States Senator from Mississippi. His popularity with the gentry and politicians allowed him to secure the Confederate presidency.
Qty Issued: 9,250,000
Earliest Use: Oct 16,1861
Forgeries
Few stamps were forged as much as the Confederate issues
Given the historical significance of the period, these stamps were in great demand in Europe
Given the historical significance of the period, these stamps were in great demand in Europe
Most catalogs identify 5-6 forgeries but I have noted several more.
Many may seem very crude but period collectors especially in Europe did not have much information on how to check for forgeries so the stamps proliferated there.
The most “dangerous” one would be the “Birmingham” forgery named after the apparent
town of origin in England some time in the later 19th century.
town of origin in England some time in the later 19th century.
1. The lines are much sharper
2. The right top ornament is larger
3. The bottom right scroll is different
4. The pupils are very distinct
5. There is a small diagonal line through the frame line besides the 2nd A of AMERICA
This forgery may appear in early catalogs
It appears in Green, Blue, Red and Black
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| Birmingham Forgeries |
2. Springfield Forgeries
There are also blocks produced in 1941 by H.E. MacIntosh
They are printed in pale pastel colors on sulfured paper.
Finer details are missing
Tatham produced "educational' booklets that contained their reproductions often in blocks.
3. Upham Forgeries
When the Civil War ended in 1865, a Philadelphia shopkeeper named Samuel Curtis Upham boasted that he had helped defeat the Confederacy.
His claim to fame was based on the large number of forged confederate stamps and bills he sold for the Union cause.
He also is credited with having created the bogus “Confederate Blockade” fantasy issues of 1864.
Although rather crude, his stamps are found in many older collections and catalog images
4. J.W. Scott Forgeries?
This forgery is attributed to Scott of the catalog fame.
However it is more likely the woodcut to produce the catalog image fell into private hands and all the confederate stamps were forged as per the catalog image.
A good cover since the stamps matched the images in the most popular catalog of the period.
5. Unknown Forger
These is a solid background
The top line is almost square
Davis appears to have a long beard
6. Unknown Forger
The obvious issue is the face being so different from the original.
7. Unknown Forger
The facial features are slightly different
The top letters are thicker
The letters around the head are larger and extend further
Minor differences in the frame
A forgery of a forgery?
8. Unknown Forger
Another Upham look alike
In this case the top letters are smaller and distorted
The letters around the head are much smaller
The bottom letters are smaller
Minor differences in the frame
9. Moens?
9. Moens?
I have seen notations that it was never used to create forgeries. The above appears to contradict this.
10. Unknown Forger
Many letters around the head are cut off
The facial features bear no resemblance to the original
11. Unknown Forger
12. Unknown Forger
Another very crude forgery
Many letters are distorted
13. Unknown Forger
Large spaces between the words surrounding the head.
14. Unknown Forger
The heavy mark over the cheek is noteworthy
The letters are cleaner than the Springfield
This is probably what is known as a "Swiss" 1950's reproduction
15. Unknown Forger
The design is well detailed
The letters are very uniform but larger than the original
The bottom scrolls resemble the original but do not match
The eyebrows are thicker
16. Unknown Source
Image from a early 1900 article
