Sardinia 1851

The Sardinia Kingdom postage stamps were introduced January 1st 1851  as the first issued by an "Italian" State 

The set is composed of 3 values:

The issue was supposed to be printed in typography, but due to the urgency required, the project went to a lithographer from Turin, Francesco Matraire. This made the forgery process much easier.

The printing was made in sheets of 50

Matraire took care of inserting two small secret signs in his work, to distinguish them from eventual forgeries. 

The copies printed are approximate.

5 centesimi <250.000

20 centesimi <900.000

40 centesimi <90.000

There are no special varieties or official reprints

They were valid up to September 30th 1853 

The secret mars - 2 pearls all white - may be hard to see on some prints

Genuine Stamps

Note shape of letters and corner elements.

The flat back C's

As well length and position of the beard.

Forgeries

Imperato Forgeries

1 The King's hair looks nice and combed.

2 Line at the eye extends almost to the curve of the nose.

3 Beard hangs down to the middle of the final "O" of Bollo.

4 The mustache is large and dark.

5 The letters are more uniform than the originals
Apart from the Sperati, these are the most deceptive of the forgeries

Fournier

These are the forgeries Fournier sold

He obviously had several suppliers

Here are Fournier blocs including his tete-beche forgeries

Sperati Forgeries

Two white dots in the leaf ornament in the upper left corner

Oblique line below the "5"

Besides the "R" of "FRANCO" there is a white dot

Parts of a line  outside the right hand side frameline.

A weakness in the background between the bottom of the letters "T" and "E" of "POSTE"

The right leg of the "R" of "QUARANTA" is too stubby

There is a small scratch upwards from the "B" of "BOLLA"

Unknown Forgers

Zechmeyer Forgery

This one from the same forger as the first 20c