A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar


A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Monday, March 29, 2021

Crete - Genuine/ Forgery signs for the British Admin 1898-99 10 & 20 para issues

1898 Scott 3 20pa green 
Genuine
 Into the Deep Blue

Back in my first year -2011- of the blog, I published the Crete blog post with a pic of the 1899 20pa rose, part of the British Administration four stamp issue of 1898-1899. A little more than a year later, in the comments section, Michael Adkins of Dead Country Stamps pointed out that I was illustrating a forged specimen.

This was my reply...

Hi Michael

Thanks for the nice words, and glad I can be helpful.

Your Dead Countries web site is absolutely excellent.

As far as the 1899 "Scott 5" 20pa rose, yes indeed it is a forgery. In fact, I have the complete forgery set (Scott 2-5). ;-)

When I put this blog post together, I did not have have the information to call the 20pa rose a forgery- although I was suspicious.  Now I do.

According to Varro Tyler's Focus on Forgeries (Edition 2000), the small circle with dot above the numerals is incomplete at the bottom, and hence a forgery. As the set is perf 11 1/2,- like the originals-, it was supposedly made by the original printers, Gundman & Stangel of Athens Greece. But the stamps then were not reprinted on the original stone, so they are not reprints- but forgeries.

Tyler also says some of the forgery stock was sold to Francois Fournier, who gave them an 11 perforation. Another forgery from the Gunman & Stangel supply was sold and perforated 11 1/4.

I've made an update note on the Crete blog post, so to not lead people astray.

That is one thing I appreciate about your Dead Countries web site and virtual albums is the meticulousness and accuracy.

Now if I can do likewise. ;-)

Jim

Even today, despite alas! no new posts for the past 3 years, Michaels' site is a treasure trove of information. Check it out!

Well, it is time for me to do a bit of an update on Crete, and I thought - why not- show the genuine/forgery differences for this lithographic issue. So, let's begin...

1898 Scott 3 20pa green 
Genuine
The above specimen, is, in fact, my only genuine copy. !! But, not too surprising, as Varro Tyler did say that forgeries far outnumber genuine stamps. I have eight more stamps - all forgeries! 

I checked the APS Stamp Store site, and they were currently listing eleven stamps from the four stamp issue - again, all forgeries! (Yes, even the APS site is caveat emptor. !!)

My Genuine is on white paper, has a very regular clean cut 11 1/2 perforation, and the printing is nicely done.

1898 Scott 3 20pa green 
Forgery
Here is a forgery, with yellow green color (my genuine has a green color), on yellowish paper (my genuine is on white paper), and very poor (shallow) perfs (almost looks sewing machine perf). The Perf appears 11 1/4 X 11 1/2.

1898 Scott 3 20pa green  Close-up 1
Genuine
Close-up of the genuine shows Tyler's main marker: "The small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is complete at the bottom". Also, note the two smaller circles on either side and the five "leaf" drawings above the dotted circle are clear of any color infilling.

1898 Scott 3 20pa green Close-up 1
Forgery
The forgery has a dotted circle that is incomplete at the bottom (diagnostic). Also note infilling of the right smaller circle.

1898 Scott 3 20pa green Close-up 2
Genuine
Not noted by Tyler, but noted by me, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, the middle (and left-middle) smaller circles are not infilled in my genuine. Since I only have one genuine stamp, I don't know if this is a constant finding for all Genuines. But it is worth a look.


1898 Scott 3 20pa green Close-up 2
Forgery
The Forgery shows,  for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1898 Scott 2 10pa blue
Forgery Example 1
Note: Remember, if you want a closer up view of the stamp, click on it!

The rest of the examples I have are all forgeries. We will note the differences, compared to my genuine already illustrated a bit above.

This forgery is on yellowish paper, has poorly formed shallow 11 1/2 perfs, and the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom. The color is gray-bluish blue.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1898 Scott 2 10pa blue
Forgery Example 2
This forgery is on white paper, but has 11 1/2 poorly formed shallow perfs.

Note the blue color - the other 10pa "blue" forgery (bit above) has a gray-bluish-blue color.

The small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom. 

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1899 Scott 4 10pa brown
Forgery Example 1
The 1899 10pa brown is on yellowish paper, with a perf of 11 1/2 - fairly clean cut.

But the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1899 Scott 4 10pa brown
Forgery Example 2
The second 10pa brown forgery example is on yellowish paper with 11 1/2 perf, with perfs fairly clean cut.

But the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1899 Scott 4 10pa "brown"
Forgery Example 3
The third forgery example is on white paper, with the perfs @ 11, and somewhat rough and shallow. Note the Perf is 11: This is probably a Fournier forgery.

The color is different than the other forgeries also: a chocolate brown color.

Characteristic of forgeries, the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1899 Scott 5 20pa rose
Forgery Example 1
This 20pa rose forgery is on yellowish paper, with fairly clean cut 11 1/2 perfs.

But the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1899 Scott 5 20pa rose
Forgery Example 2
My second 20pa "rose" forgery is on whiter paper, with perf 11 1/2 rough shallow perfs.

But the small circle with the dot centered above the numerals of value is incomplete at the bottom.

Also, for the arabesque design below the numerals of value, all the smaller circles are infilled.

1898 Scott 2 20pa green
Genuine
Out of the Blue
I hope this bit of "show & tell" for the British Administration 1898-99 10 & 20pa issue stamps, showing the forgery differences vs the genuine was helpful.

Note: Crete- Bud's Big Blue post shows further examples of genuines, as well as several used examples. Check it out!

Crete Heraklion Cancel
Note: hy-brasil in comments section (below) points out that these "Heraklion" markers, often mistaken for overprints, are, in fact, "favor" ctos.

Comments appreciated!

11 comments:

  1. Nice writeup.

    We also know from a 2013 post on SCF that these can be plated. (Well, not by me, but our friend nigelc can do it.) He was kind enough to plate several of mine a number of years back, when I ran into a lot of mostly genuine examples.

    I can't vouch for your dot vs. circles in the arabesque, but in a quick look, it does seem to hold true for my genuine examples.

    Keep up the good work!

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    1. Much appreciated coming from you Cjd! I will check the plating thread - thanks for the heads up!

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  2. DO NOT FOLLOW that link to the Dead Countries website (can you remove edit it out of the post?) The site is htp: only and it is compromised - clicking several parts of it sends you to bankruptcylawnashua.com which then freezes your browser trying to attempt ?what?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Janneman for the heads up. The link I have for Dead Country Stamps (Scroll down the left side of my website to find it) seems to take me to the correct site. But, as you said, it could be compromised as Michael has probably not updated the site for a long time. So I took the live link down for this post. Thanks!

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    2. Although for a while the Dead Countries site seemed to be compromised, it has been working fine for the past several days.

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  3. Let me add that the usually diagonal HPRAKLEION markings (for Heraklion, with a capital lambda and not L) found on this issue are not overprints but cancels, often found on CTO/favor cancelled stamps.

    hy-brasil

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    1. Good information hy-brasil - thanks!

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    2. hy-brasil sent me an example of the marking, and so it is shown in the "Out of the Blue" section above. Thanks hy-brasil!

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  4. The Crete Br. Admin can make an interesting collection (aside from forgeries) The issue is well plated so an avid collector might focus on acquiring a full set (40 total). Your 20pa green is pos.4 on the sheet of 10. BTW V.Tyler may not have had access to plating - there is one that has a partial sun but is genuine. A few others it is very weak or almost missing.

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  5. On your 1899 Scott 4 10pa "brown" Forgery Example 3 - it is indeed a Fournier. The interesting feature of Fournier's is that the frame is tilted slightly to the left. Reason unknown

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ron for the quite fascinating information additions. For those that don't know, Ron (SForgCa) is author of Classic Stamp Forgeries website.

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