One Penny, red, carmine, etc. The varieties of the 1d. are: 1859, no watermark, imperf., lake. 1861, no watermark, clean-cut perf. 14 to 16; also rough perf. 14 to 16, lake. Perf. 11 1/2 to 12, no watermark, carmine-lake. Perf. 13, no watermark, brown-lake, carmine-lake. 1863-75, CC, perf. 12 1/2, brown-lake, carmine-lake, rose-red, vermilion. CC, […]
All the stamps of Venezuela have been extensively imitated. 1859. Medio, 1 and 2 Reales. The originals (particularly of the highest and lowest values), are generally so poor in colour, indistinct in details, and smeared in execution, that it is difficult to arrive at any decision as to whether the three are from one drawing […]
The stamps of this island being pretty, have naturally had a large sale among juvenile collectors; so, in copying these stamps, the forgers have expended some trouble, and as the fruits of their labors, we get some deceptive-looking articles. In each value, both of the genuine and imitation respectively, the centers seem to be from […]
One Penny, Six Pence and One Schilling. All the values, both of the genuine and counterfeit, are from one matrix respectively. In the forgery, the tree has a whity washed-out look, and the “bullets” thereon are very distinctly visible. Otherwise, this is a very good imitation. It is difficult to seize upon any salient point, […]
The originals of the forgeries that we shall now consider, are usually denominated the 1861 issue, and until recently the correctness of this date has not been seriously questioned. In the September number of the American Journal of Philately a writer who has evidently carefully studied his subject, argues that 1858 is the real date […]
Of the stamps issued in 1864, there were two designs, one engraved in this country, with the value expressed in reales, and used for the franking of letters from La Guaira to St. Thomas; the other, with value in centavos, was of native make, and freed letters and papers between St. Thomas and the ports […]
Each of the genuine stamps of this state has been separately and most carefully engraved, so that forgers must ever find them very difficult to imitate. It is useless wasting space in minutely describing the counterfeits, when they are all so plainly branded with the mark of their own condemnation, as those are which are […]
1867. Pyramid and Phinx. 5 Paras, yellow. Genuine There is a scarcely-perceptible break between the column and capital of the pillar. Places holding numerals oblong, and extending considerably beyond the vertical lines above. Forged Egyptian lettering reading 5 Piastres, instead of Paras. A wide break between the capital and column of Pompey’s pillar. The squares […]
The only forgeries we have at present seen are the two middle values; but doubtless the penny and shilling are either prepared, or in process of fructification. As they will, in all probability, be from one matrix, it will not be difficult to detect them by our present tests. The genuine threepence is of a […]
The stamps of this republic, being finely engraved, offer great difficulty to the forger. The imitations are so coarse, in comparison with the originals, that anyone beyond the merest tyro would at once detect them. There are four values: 1/2 Real 2 Reales 4 Reales 1 Peso. All the forgeries are from one matrix, after […]