1896 (Unissued)
Printed by A. Maury in Paris by typography in red or black on the 1895 issue.
All values are the Menelik II design.
Never placed in use in Ethiopia.
All cancels are fakes.
Given that it is estimated only 75,000 were printed, it is surprising that the values are so low which may be a result of so many forgeries.
Genuine Stamps
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| Sc J1 |
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| Sc J2 |
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| Sc J3 |
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| Sc J4 |
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| Sc J6 |
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| Sc J7 |
Forgeries
Forbin Forgery
The original plates were said to be worn, and the "printer" made new plates for this issue. It may be these were made by the stamp dealer Forbin to utilize his large stock of un-overprinted stamps.
Size: 14½ mm across bottom of ASKEFIL. Handstamped rather than typographed
This is the most common forgery found on eBay and others
Easily distinghished by the first and last characters.
Fournier Forgeries
Fournier had several different suppliers of Ethiopia forgeries
Size: 14½ mm across bottom of ASKEFIL
Small top tail on A. Thin characters. Exists imperforate.
This was the second most common forgery found.
Fournier - Mercier Forgeries
By far the most dangerous of the forgeries.
Size: 14½ mm across bottom of ASKEFIL.
Very similar to Original except last 2 letters are wider
Fortunately these do not appear often but they would fool just about anyone.
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| With Fake cancel |
