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| Victorian Skep |
These two men were previous letter carriers for City Despatch Post and the U.S. City Despatch Post.
The company operated from 1846 to 1848.
The stamp was reproduced neatly engraved on metal, and struck off on glazed and grey paper (Sc 60L1 & 60L2)
The stamp probably finds its theme in popular Victorian Skep Beehives (shown right).
These beehives unfortunately had to have the bees removed to get at the honey and each year, the beekeeper would start anew.
Genuine stamps and features
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| Sc 60L1 & 60L2 |
- There is a thick inner frame and a thin outer frame line (Key Feature).
- There are five distinct flowers to the right of the beehive and four to the left. These and the leaves are not well defined.
- The ampersand is unique with a thin pointed upper arm and the lower arm being thick and pointed down (Key Feature).
- The “NNY” are joined at the top
- The right branch of the “Y” in “DUPUY” is at a greater angle than the left one.
- The dot on the bottom has a central point and the outer line is thick on the right but broken on the left.
- The top diagonal line of the “K” is much thinner than the bottom one.
- The diagrams inside the bottom letters are made up of triangular dashes with a dot between them.
- Only the right side of the hive support has vertical lines.
- The originals are engraved, forgeries are Typographed.
Forgeries
- There is a thick outer frame line only.
- The ampersand is very close to the S
- The ampersand has long arms and the left side of the bottom loop is flat.
- There are three flowers to the right of the beehive and four to the left.
- The U is narrower
- The right hand side of the hive support is closed.
- The "K" in "SCHENCK" is unique especially the intersection of the arms and the bottom of the upright.
- There are three aligned dots in the upright of the "P" in "PENNY".
- The hive opening is short
Woods apparently printed 6,000 Dupuy & Schenck forgeries according to his records
- There is a thick outer frame line only.
- The bottom loop of the ampersand is narrow where the lower arm passes over the upper arm. The arms form a larger "C" than the original.
- There are five flowers to the right of the beehive and four to the left.
- The right hand side of the hive support is closed.
- The "K" in "SCHENCK" has a thin upper arm.
- The "N" in "SCHENCK" has thinner legs
- The "C" in "SCHENCK" is tall and lopsided
- There is a thick outer frame line.
- The "H" of "SCHENCK" leans left
- The top of the "S" of "SCHENCK" is shorter and narrower than the bottom
- There are 7-8 leaves and flowers to the right of the hive and 9-10 to the left.
- The right hand side of the hive support is closed.
- The "K" in "SCHENCK" has a long thin upper arm.
- There are six dots in the upright of the "P" in "PENNY".
- The left leg of "N" of "SCHENCK" is longer
Taylor produced two Dupuy & Schenck forgeries, although it is most likely that the second is just plate wear that dulled the image.
Below, the first & later printings with the usual bogus colors.
Moens published two different illustrations in his catalogues. The first illustration, lithographed by F. Deraedemacker, was used to create Forgery D.
Moens used other illustrators for his publications after 1864. Torres might be the illustrator & source of some forgeries
- There is a thick frame line with a very thin outer frame line 1 mm outside the thick line.
- The top loop of the ampersand is very round and to the left of center. The arms are wide open.
- The hive opening is much wider
- The hive is shorter than the original
- The straw construction is not shown
- The "K" in "SCHENCK" almost touches the frame
- There is one outer line slightly thinner than the original
- The letters "PENNYPOST" are lacking dots
- The flowers are difficult to discern
- The letters in "DUPUIS" are smaller and further apart
- The left side of the ampersand is flat
- The hive lacks definition in the coarse shading
