The Memphis, Tennessee provisional adhesive designs were engraved on wood and reproduced as stereotypes from which a plate of multiple subjects was prepared.
The printing of the adhesives and envelopes was done in the office of the Memphis Avalanche, owned by M. C. Galloway, who was also the Memphis postmaster.
These stamps are generally available but there are an abundance of forgeries. All an easily be identified.
Genuine 2c stamps
In particular the large diamond in the top D
2c forgeries
Possibly the model for other forgeries
Lithographed catalog illustration from Moens "Postage Stamps Illustrated" of 1864
Type 1 Forgery characteristics:
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. two dots in open area of "P" of "PAID"
c. outer frame line
Derived from Moens catalog illustration. Maker unknown.
Type 2 Forgery characteristics:
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. two dots in open area of "P" of "PAID"
c. no outer frame line
colors
a. 2c blue
b. 2c olive brown
Type 3 Forgery characteristics:
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. solid square below center stroke of "M"
color
a. 2c blue
Type 4 Forgery characteristics: :
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. solid square to left of "M"
color
a. 2c blue
Type 5 Forgery characteristics:
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. top left edge of "2" is broken
colors
a. 2c blue (shades)
b. 2c ultramarine (shades)
c. 2c red violet (shades)
Cut from J.W. Scott catalog of 1886.
Type 6 Forgery characteristics:
a. no diamond in "D" of "PAID"
b. three diagonal lines in "P" of "PAID"
color
a. 2c black
Facsimile written in lower left corner
