Classic Stamp Forgeries

Escuditos

1862, January 11

Printed by: Banco y Casa de Moneda de Buenos Aires without watermark.

Lithographed on plain white thin paper, imperforated

Designred by Roberto Lange

Plate: 70 stamps (7 x 10)

WITH TILDE ON THE "U" OF REPUBLIC

5c rose, 10c green, 15c blue in a wide variety of shades and varieties

The 15c pos 08 is a tete-beche and very expensive ($75M)

NOTE position 51 of the 15c has no tilde

WITHOUT TILDE ON THE "U" OF REPUBLIC.

5c rose

10c green

The 10c has many plate varieties

1864, January

5c - narrow ."C" in CENTAVOS

Genuine stamps

Originals with accents on the U

NOTE many authors maintain that all the genuine stamps have 72 pearls in the ring and 11 horizontal lines in the shield. This is not the case.

5c with and without accent on U - 74 pearls & 14 lines

Scarce lilac color and worn plate

10c with and without U accent - 78 pearls and 14 lines

Color variations of the 15c - 71 pearls & 14 lines

The 15c is only found with the U accent but it may be very faint if the die is worn

Missing accent is a good reprint/forgery indication

1864 issue with narrow C - 72 pearls & 11 lines (same as most reprint/forgeries would have)

This one is a real challenge as the general features do not all match the previous issues

Note the pointed A's as example, The top of the 5 is longer and curved

This Roberto Lange design is almost identical to his "reprints" that would follow.

Authentication is required

Different authors have noted that the number of pearls and lines of forgeries are:

72.,10

72, 11 (main one I found)

73, 11

79, 11

80, 11

81, 11

Genuine Features

Overall the stamp has sharp clear details

1. A's have flat tops

2. The rays are distinct

3. The R has a lump in the leg and it extends below the letter

4. The bottom arm of the E is shorter with a much smaller serif

5. The lower curve of the S is wider

6. The right arm of the V is much thinner

6a. The ends of the decoration are generally not attached to the center dot

7. The right leg of the N is shorter than the left one

8. The lower arm of the E is longer

9. A distinct dash that often appears as a large dot on the forgeries

10. The top of the 5 is straight and short

11. The arm and hand are distinct

12. The veins in the leaves are visible unless the die is worn

13. The cap is distinct with oblique lines on it

Lange reprint/forgeries

All 72 pearls & 11 lines

Lange varieties

Lange gutter pairs

1864 genuine left, Lange forgery right

Lange 1864 narrow C forgery/reprint

Raoul Ch. de Thuin Forgeries

Raoul Ch. de Thuin was a philatelic forger in the mid 20th century.

He was born in Belgium, but he moved to Mexico in 1931 where he became naturalized Mexican.

He had his own stamp shop (Maya Shop), but also operated under different names: 'Gilda Rivero Mendozo', 'Thelma Salazaar', 'R.G.Knapen', 'Belgian Export company' and 'French Philatelic Agency'

He made many forgeries (mainly forged overprints on genuine stamps, turning them into rarities) of many countries, but he seems to have specialized in South America and specially Mexico.