Forged Stamps of British Guiana

“Album Weeds”

by R. B. Eareé

1850. Cottonreel

4 Cents. Black on yellow

British_Guiana_1850_4c

Genuine

Type-set, in black, on medium, soft, dull yellow wove paper. The meshes of the.paper are coarse, irregular, and set in straight lines, so as to resemble laid paper somewhat; if one can imagine laid paper with lines less than a millimeter apart. The circle is evidently composed of two pieces of printer’s “lead-rule”, bent round, so that the two together form a circle. The separation between the two pieces of rule occurs between the letters GU, and after the last A of GUIANA; i.e., the circular outline is broken in the said places. The two ends of the line, in each of these places, are not exactly opposite to each other, but the long piece forms part of a larger circle than the short; and, consequently, the ends of the long piece stand out a little, while those of the short piece stand in slightly. The circle measures twenty-seven millimeters across at its very widest part, and twenty-five at its narrowest. The circular inscription, BRITISH GUIANA, is in ordinary Roman capital letters, just two millimeters high. The central inscription, 4 CENTS, is just eleven millimeters long, measuring from the left-hand point of the 4 to the center of the stop after the S. The 4 is a fat, closed figure; the vertical stroke being very nearly a millimeter wide, and the horizontal and oblique strokes are very fine hair-strokes. CENTS is in fat italics; the thickest stroke of each letter being fully half a millimeter wide. The final S does not lean over any more than the rest of the letters. Evans’s catalog says that there are initials in pen-and-ink in the center of the stamp; but my single specimen only shows some very slight traces of red; whether pencil or ink, I cannot say.

Forged

Lithographed, in black, on medium, hard, ochre-yellow wove paper. The meshes are very regular, and have much the appearance of the grain of the paper which was used for our own old green newspaper wrappers. There is no appearance of lines in the paper. The “circle” is one continuous, very irregular line, twenty-seven millimeters across at the widest part, and twenty-four at the narrowest. It comes almost to a point, just above the T of BRITISH. The inscriptions, being lithographed, do not look at all like printed type-letters; and the letters of the circular inscription vary in height, from less than two millimeters, to very nearly three. The central inscription is in letters representing ordinary Roman type, but the S is italic, and leans very much over to the right, quite away from the rest. The thick strokes of these letters are nowhere more than about a quarter of a millimeter wide. The 4 has an open top; the thick stroke being hardly three-quarters of a millimeter wide, and the oblique stroke far thicker than what is understood by a “hair-stroke”. From the point of the 4 to the center of the stop after CENTS, the width is over ten millimeters. The 4 is just two millimeters high in the genuine; but, in this forgery, it is over three millimeters in height. In the center of the stamp is lithographed, in written characters, the name, “E. Lew”, or what looks like it, with an oblique paraphe or flourish. Besides this, there is lithographed in the center of the stamp, by way of surcharge, a very large “4”, closed at the top, 11 1/2 millimeters high, and the thick stroke two millimeters wide.

1850. Cottonreel

12 Cents. Black on blue

British_Guiana_1850_12cents

Genuine

Type-set, on dull, dark blue wove paper, the same thickness and texture as that of the genuine 4 cents. The lead-line, forming the outer circle, appears to be all in one piece, as I can only see one break in it, just at the beginning of the T of BRITISH. The size of the circle is the same as in the 4 cents. The central inscription is the same height and width as before; measuring the width from the left-hand edge of the thick stroke of the 1 of 12 to the
 center of the stop after CENTS; this stop, by the way, in my specimen, being placed upside down; i.e., level with the top, instead of the bottom, of the S. The 1 of 12 is barely 1 1/2 millimeter high. The written initials are “H. A. B.,” or “H. A. W.,” I am not sure which.

Forged

Lithographed, in black, on pale lavender-blue, or on dull, pale, greyish-blue wove paper, medium, hard, and of the same grain as that of the forged 4 c. The stamp is in all respects the same as the forged 4 c., except for the change of numeral of value; so that the same tests will apply. The width of the central inscription, from the left-hand edge of the 1 of 12, to the center of the stop after CENTS, is 12 1/2 millimeters. The said 1 is 2 1/2 millimeters high. There is a large lithographed “E. Lew,” in writing characters, by way of surcharge.

1852. Sailing Ship

1 Cent. Magenta

British_Guiana_1852_1c

Genuine

Lithographed, in black, on thick, magenta-faced, white wove paper, unperforated. The catalogs call the color “magenta”; but I should rather name it “crimson”. The 1 of 1 CENT has no head-stroke; the C forms part of a circle; both upper limbs of the E are almost exactly of equal length. The line, in the shield, forming the bottom of the sea, if prolonged right and left, would cut well into the B of BRITISH and the last A of GUIANA. The tail of the Q of QUE hangs straight downwards; and the vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would pass between the letters VI of VICISSIM. The M of this latter word stands exactly centrally under the U, and the stop after it stands centrally under the S of PATIMUS. The outer frame of the stamp is much thicker all round than even the thickest part of the outline of the shield. To the left of the ship are two forts, close together; the right hand one showing three battlements; the other displaying four, with three loop-holes for cannon. The masts of the large ship slope very much to the right, so that the central mast, if prolonged upwards, would pass almost clear to the right of the T of CENT above it. There is a very thin, light-colored streak, along the center of the hull, so thin that it can hardly be traced the whole length of the vessel. To the right of the vessel, and apparently at a great distance in the offing, there is a three-masted ship, small, but perfectly distinct.

Forged

Lithographed, on thin, rather hard, smooth and shiny, magenta-faced white wove paper. (This is really magenta.) The i has evident traces of an oblique head-stroke; the C of CENT forms part of an oval, and shows a small head, which is not the case with the genuine; the central tongue of the E is considerably shorter than the upper limb. The line in the shield, representing the bottom outline of the sea, if prolonged right and left, would almost graze the R of BRITISH, and pass quite clear between the N and last A of GUIANA. The tail of the Q of QUE slopes obliquely down to the right. The vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would pass almost centrally through the v of VICISSIM. The M of this latter word stands centrally under the space between the letters us of PATIMUS; and the stop, which is very faint, is far to the right of the s of PATIMUS. The outer frame of the stamp is scarcely so thick as the thickest part of the outline of the shield. The point of the shield is above the space between the letters PA of PATIMUS. To the left of the ship there are two very faint buildings, the right-hand one looking like a light-house, and much higher, instead of lower, than the other. The masts of the ship are almost upright; so that the central mast, if prolonged upwards, would cut well into the N of CENT. There is a broad, and very distinct light-colored streak along the hull. There is an extremely faint indication of a one-masted vessel to the right of the large one, but even in the microscope it is very indistinct.

1852. Sailing Ship

4 Cents. Black on blue

British_Guiana_1852_4cents

Genuine

Lithographed, in black, on intense cobalt-blue-faced white wove paper, as thick as that of the I cent. The 4 has a closed top; the C and E of CENTS are the same as in the genuine 1 cent; and so is the line which forms the bottom outline of the sea in the shield. The Q of QUE, in this value, has its tail sloping very slightly to the right, and the letter itself is placed centrally under the A of DAMUS. The vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would pass along the first 1 of VICISSIM, which is exactly under it. The M of VICISSIM stands under the space between the letters MU of PATIMUS; and the stop after VICISSIM is under the space between the letters US of PATIMUS. The outer frame of the stamp is the same thickness as in the genuine 1 cent. The forts to the left of the large ship are also the same as in the genuine 1 cent. The masts of the said large ship slope very much over to the right; so that the central mast, if prolonged upwards, would pass almost through the center of the T of CENTS. The light-colored streak along the hull of the vessel is broader than in the 1 cent, but not at all conspicuous. The little three-master to the right of the large vessel is the same as in the 1 cent.

Forged

Lithographed, in black, on dull, dead-blue-faced white wove paper, as thin as that of the forged 1 cent. The design, except the inscription, 4 CENTS, is exactly the same as that of the forged I cent. The 4 has an open top; the C of CENTS is part of an oval; the middle tongue of the E is very much shorter than the top limb. The Q of QUE stands centrally under the space between AM of DAMUS. The vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would cut right through the center of the v of VICISSIM, as in the last-described forgery. The M of VICISSIM stands under the space between the letters US of PATIMUS; and the stop after VICISSIM is far to the right of the s of PATIMUS. All the other tests, not repeated here, are exactly the same as those of the forged 1 cent.

1856. Provivional

4 Cents. Magenta

British_Guiana_1856_4cents

Genuine

Type-set, printed in black, on rather coarsely-wove paper, colored a rosy magenta on the face, and showing pinkish white at the back. None of the letters of any of the inscriptions touch each other anywhere. The end of the tail of the R of BRITISH curls up. The G of GUIANA has a well-marked cross-bar, and the little tail below it hangs straight down. The head of the G comes down so that it almost meets the cross-bar. The R of FOUR is exactly like that of BRITISH, and the head and tail of the C of CENTS almost meet. The Q of QUE is a capital letter, the same height as the capital v of VICISSIM. The lines forming the oblong frame are not continuous, but consist of four separate pieces; the ends at the top corners are very wide apart, but the gap at the lower corners is not so wide. The word DAMUS is perfectly distinct and readable. The ship has only a single sail (topsail) high up on each mast, with no lower sails visible at all. In my single specimen, the right-hand, or fore-mast stands directly under the upright stroke of the P of PETIMUS, and the middle, or main-mast, under, and slightly to the right of the S of DAMUS; while the left-hand, or mizen-mast is under the U of the latter word. All the design is deeply sunk into the paper.

Forged

Lithographed, in black, on deep crimson-faced, stout, fine-grained, smooth white wove paper. The paper is perfectly white at the back. The bottom of the A of POSTAGE touches the letters each side of it; so does the first A of GUIANA; and each A of this latter word is considerably taller than the other letters. The end of the tail of the R of BRITISH goes off straight to the right, and touches the base of the 1, instead of curling up. The cross-bar of the G of GUIANA is not visible in some copies; in others it is even too long, so that it almost touches the V. In no case is there any hanging tail to the G; and the head is far away from the cross-bar. The end of the tail of the R of FOUR does not curl up, but points straight to the right. The head and tail of the C of CENTS are far apart. The easiest test is the Q of QUE, which is an ordinary small or lower-case “q”, instead of a large Q. The oblong frame is continuous all round, being joined at the corners. The word DAMUS is indistinct, as the M and the U are joined at the top; and the word reads like DANMS. Each of the masts carries two sails, instead of one. The foremast is under the end of the P of PETIMUS; the main-mast is under the space between the two words, but much nearer to the P; and the mizen-mast is also under the space between the two words, but near to the s of DAMUS. The design is not at all sunk into the paper.

1862. Provisionals

1 Cent. Black on rose

British_Guiana_1862_1cent

Genuine

Type-set, on rather thick, rough, rose wove paper, rouletted.

TYPE I.—The lines separating the pearl border from the lettering are not continuous. Each little ornament is evidently cast as a pearl with a dash below it, the dash being of about the same width as the pearl. Thus, when the pearls are arrayed side by side, the dashes appear, at a distance, to form one uninterrupted straight line; but, looked at closely, the line is broken below the space between every two pearls. This is the case with all the eight stamps of this type. In the fifth pearl from the top, on the left side of the stamp, there is only the usual crescent-shaped shading, with no round black spot, to the left of the shading, in the pearl. T h e perpendicular side-line, to the right of BRITISH, and the similar one to the left of POSTAGE, are both broken into at least four, and in one case into five, separate pieces, instead of each forming one continuous line.

VARIETIES OF TYPE I.—The thirteenth stamp on the sheet (i.e., the first of Type I.) has an upright dash near the left-hand end of the GUIANA label, and a shorter dash before the P of POSTAGE. The fourteenth stamp has an upright dash after the H of BRITISH. The fifteenth stamp has a curious scroll-ornament, instead of a pearl, over the first A of GUIANA, and the fourth pearl from the left, at the bottom of the stamp below the E of ONE, is turned on its side, so that the crescent points to the right, instead of downwards, and the short line which should be between the pearl and the E appears as an upright dash between this pearl and its left-hand neighbor. There is a sort of colon after BRITISH. The I of GUIANA is a 1. The seventeenth stamp has a stop at the left-hand end of the GUIANA label. The nineteenth stamp has an upright dash at the left-hand end of the GUIANA label, and a colon of square stops before the P of POSTAGE. In the twentieth stamp the head of the T of BRITISH is faint, and the right-hand end of the line above ONE CENT is bent downwards a good deal.

TYPE II. — In all the twelve stamps of this type, the sharp ends of the ovals in the bottom corners point towards the center of the stamp. The sharp ends of the ovals down the right side of the stamp point obliquely upwards to the left. (See varieties below, for a few exceptions.) The fifth oval down the right side is the same pattern as the rest.

VARIETIES OF TYPE II.—The first stamp on the sheet has a “hook and eye” ornament, instead of a crossed oval, to left of the TI of BRITISH. The second stamp has the top oval, and the bottom oval but one on the right-hand side, with their sharp ends pointing downwards, instead of upwards. The third and fourth stamps have the oval in the right top comer pointing downwards. The fifth stamp (like the second) has the top oval, and the bottom oval but one on the right side, pointing downwards. The sixth and seventh stamps have the oval in the right top corner pointing downwards. The eighth stamp has the same, and, in addition, the sixth oval from the top, on the right side, points downwards, and there is a colon before the P of POSTAGE. The ninth stamp has the oval in the right top corner pointing downwards. The eleventh stamp has the same, and, in addition, the fifth oval from the top down the right side has a large dot in it, and the seventh oval from the top, down the left side of the stamp, points upwards, and the top of the H of BRITISH is broken. In the twelfth stamp, the third oval down the right side is a curious pattern, quite different from the rest, and the seventh oval on the same side points upwards and outwards. The H of BRITISH is broken, and there is a large dash before the P of POSTAGE in this twelfth stamp.

TYPE III.—Each of the two perpendicular lines, to the right of BRITISH, and left of POSTAGE, is broken into four, five, and even six separate pieces. The one to the right of BRITISH, if prolonged downwards, would pass clear to the right (or, in the last stamp but one on the sheet, would just graze the side) of the o of ONE; and the line to the left of POSTAGE, if prolonged downwards, would pass through, or graze, the last stroke of the N of CENT. The inner stalk of the bunch of grapes at the top left corner of the stamp does not touch the stalk of the bunch immediately to the right of it. The A and N of GUIANA do not touch each other.

VARIETIES OF TYPE III.—The twenty-second stamp on the sheet (first stamp of Type III.) has the bunch of grapes in the left lower corner pointing downwards to the left; i.e., it belongs to the set down the left side. The twenty-third stamp has this same bunch of grapes pointing downwards to the right; i.e., it belongs to the bottom row, and the second and fifth ornaments in this bottom row are quite different in pattern, both from the grapes and from each other. The top of the O of POSTAGE is broken, and there is a semicolon after GUIANA in my specimen, though I am not sure whether this is always visible. The twenty-fourth stamp bears the legend POSTAGE. (It is not a broken O, but a properly-formed C.)

Forged

TYPE I.—Lithographed, on medium, smooth, granite wove paper, of a very disagreeable magenta tint, with a shade of blue in the red. Each of the four lines, separating the pearl borders from the rest of the stamp, is perfectly continuous, instead of broken; and, in the fifth pearl from the top on the left side, opposite the second I of BRITISH, there is a distinct black dot, besides the shading. The side-lines, to right of BRITISH, and to left of POSTAGE are continuous, instead of broken. The letters IA of GUIANA touch each other, though they are separate in the genuine.

TYPE II. First Forgery.—Type-set; paper very like the genuine, but thinner. The oval in the left bottom corner points downwards to the right, instead of upwards towards the center of the stamp, and all the ovals down the right side point downwards to the left. This is a very easy test.

TYPE II. Second Forgery.—Type-set, on rather thin, dull rose wove paper. The oval in the left bottom corner points upwards to the left, and the fifth oval clown the right side, by the ST of POSTAGE, is quite a different pattern from the rest.

TYPE II. Third Forgery.—Lithographed, on the magenta, granite’ wove paper before described. This is imitated from the seventh stamp on the sheet (first stamp in the second row) which has the second oval from the top, down the left side, pointing down to the left, instead of to the right. The upright lines to right of BRITISH and to left of POSTAGE are continuous, instead of broken; and the one to right of BRITISH, if prolonged downwards, would pass midway between the ON of ONE. instead of cutting deeply into the O, as it does in this particular type of the genuine. The O of POSTAGE is narrow and oval, instead of being wide and almost circular.

TYPE II. Fourth Forgery.—Typographed, on dull rose wove paper, rather thin, with coarse grain. The ovals at the top of the stamp are placed unevenly, and the two above the UIA of GUIANA are much closer together than those to the left of them. This forgery resembles the genuine, more than any of the others hitherto described.

TYPE III. Forged.—Lithographed, on the granite, magenta wove paper already mentioned. The lines to right of BRITISH and left of POSTAGE are continuous, instead of broken. The former, if prolonged downwards, would cut deeply into the O of ONE. The inner stalk of the bunch of grapes, at the top left corner of the stamp, is joined to the stalk of the bunch to right of it. The A and N of GUIANA are joined at the bottom. This forgery is imitated from the twenty-second stamp on the sheet, i.e., the first stamp of Type III.

TYPE IV.—Lithographed, on granite’, magenta wove paper.

TYPE V.—Lithographed, on granite, magenta wove paper.

TYPE VI .— Type-set, on fairly stout, rough, pale, dull rose paper. Lithographed, on granite, magenta wove paper.

1862. Provisionals

2 Cents. Black on yellow

British_Guiana_1862_2cents

Genuine

It will be noted in the sketches of the three entire sheets, that the types of the 2c. are in the same order as in the 1 c. The fact is that the sheet is the same, only the value being altered. Thus all the peculiarities of the various stamps of 1 c. (except the value) will be found on the corresponding stamps of 2 c., as, for instance, the spelling POSTAGE of the last stamp on the sheet. Besides these, the 2 c. has its own special varieties: No. 13 has TWO; 16 has an italic T in CENTS; 18 has an italic T in TWO.

Type-set; stamps exactly the same as the genuine 1 cent, with value altered; paper, rouletting, etc., as before. I need not repeat the tests, as, except for the alterations in value, the tests given for the 1 cent will suffice.

Forged

TYPE I.—Lithographed, on medium to thin, smooth, primrose-yellow wove paper, with a grain like that of our own old green id. news bands of 1870. The design is exactly like that of the forgery of Type I. of the 1 cent, with value altered.

TYPE II. First Forgery.—Type-set, on rather rough, somewhat orange-yellow, medium wove paper. The oval in the left bottom corner is like the genuine. My specimen is not very distinct, but, as far as I can make out, the two ovals above IA in GUIANA touch each other. All the ovals down the right side point downwards to the left, as in the first forgery of the 1 cent of this type.

TYPE II. Second Forgery.—Type-set, on fairly stout yellow wove paper. The oval in the left bottom corner points downwards to the right.

Type II. Third Forgery.—Type-set, paper rather harder than the last. This is almost exactly the same as the second forgery, but there is a stop after GUIANA.


TYPE II. Fourth Forgery.—Type-set, on yellow wove paper, with coarse graining. The oval in the left bottom corner points downwards to the right, and all the ovals down the right side point downwards to the left.

TYPE III. Forged.—Lithographed, on bright yellow wove paper. This is exactly the same as the forgery of Type III., of the 1 cent, with value altered.

TYPE IV.—Lithographed, on thin, primrose-yellow wove paper, grained as before. No interior lines.

TYPE V.—Lithographed; paper as above.

TYPE VI.—(1) Type-set, on pale yellow wove paper, very coarsely grained. The corner-ornaments are rosettes, of eight circles surrounding a central circle.

TYPE VI.—(2) Lithographed, on thin, yellow wove paper, grained as in our old green 1/2 d. news bands. There are no interior lines.

Bogus Types.—(1) Type-set, on medium, hard, very pale sulphur-yellow wove paper, with a mottled grain. There is no type at all like this. The border is composed of curly ornaments, and is surrounded by a frame of a thin, inner line and a very thick, outer line. The frame makes the stamp much larger than any of the originals, forgeries, or bogus stamps hitherto described.

(2) Lithographed, on yellow wove paper, like that of the forgery of Type I. of the 2 c. The pattern of the frame is peculiar, consisting of interlacing semicircles, with little hearts and little balls, alternately. This is, of course, quite an imaginary type, intended for the ” hook-and- eye” type of the 4 c.

1862. Provisionals

4 Cents. Black on blue

British_Guiana_1862_4cents-2

Genuine

These arc type-set, like the genuine 1 and 2 cents, on blue wove paper, rouletted.

Forged

TYPE IV. Forged.—Lithographed, on thin, dull blue and greenish-blue wove paper, with a coarse and regular grain, like that of our old news bands. There are no interior lines. The top of the G of GUIANA does not go anywhere near the cross-bar. The tail of the R of BRITISH goes straight out to the right, and joins the foot-stroke to the 1; the S is distinctly taller than the letters each side of it. The letters AN of GUIANA touch each other at the bottom. The U of FOUR is no higher than the O; the S of CENTS is not too high; the U of GUIANA is not too high; and the I of that word is not like a “1″.

TYPE V. Forged.—Lithographed; paper and color exactly the same as in the forgery of Type IV. Each of the side-lines is in one unbroken piece. If the right-hand one were prolonged downwards, it would pass a shade to the right of the perpendicular stroke of the T of CENTS. The tail of the R of FOUR hangs slightly lower than the perpendicular stroke, and does not curl up. The U of GUIANA is not too high; and the 1 does not look in the least like a “1″. The border, in this forgery, is very poorly imitated, and not at all like our illustration, which is a fair copy. It is the pattern (already mentioned among the bogus 2 cents) of interlacing semicircles, with alternate balls and hearts.

TYPE VI. First Forgery.—Lithographed, on dull blue, also dull green wove paper, with graining as before. The ornaments are really trefoils, with two balls out of each triplet dotted, and the corner-ones (1, 10, 18, and 27) made into clumsy quatrefoils, just like the illustration of this type, which is incorrect. The trefoils are all joined together by the curved lines issuing from each. The tail of the R of FOUR goes to the right, in a straight line. The ornaments are: 1, quatrefoil; 2 to 9, left; 10, quatrefoil; 11 to 17, down; 18, quatrefoil; 19 to 26, right; 27, quatrefoil; .28 to 34, up.

TYPE VI. Second Forgery.—Lithographed, on dull, grey-blue wove paper, grained as before. The trefoils are the same shape as in the first forgery, but larger, and without dots in them. They are separate from each other in this counterfeit. An easy test is that the stamps have the four interior lines, which are absent in this type of the genuine, and the corner-ornaments (1, 10, 18, and 27) resemble some of the old-fashioned circular brooches, which had a central circular stone, surrounded by eight smaller ones. The tail of the R of BRITISH does not curl up. The ornaments are: 1, brooch or rosette; 2 to 9, left; 10, brooch; 11 to 17, down; 18, brooch; 19 to 26, right; 27, brooch; 28 to 34, up. This description really covers two different forgeries, but will suffice to detect either of them.

TYPE VI. Third Forgery.—Typographed, on deep blue wove paper, grained as before. This also has the interior lines, which the genuine has not. The ornaments are separate, as in the genuine, but they are trefoils, as in the other forgeries, and have no dots. The corner-ornaments are brooches or rosettes, as in the second forgery, but not so large, and without the little rays or points which proceed from the brooch in that counterfeit. A further description is unnecessary. The plan of the ornaments is the same as in the second forgery.

Bogus

i.e., no genuine 4 c. of these types.

TYPE I.—(1) Lithographed, on pale greyish-blue, also on greenish wove paper, grained as before. This is merely the first forgery of the 1 cent, with altered value, and on different paper.

TYPE II.—(1) Type-set, on deep blue wove paper, grained as before. This is the second forgery of Type II. of the 1 cent, with altered value.

TYPE II.—(2) Type-set, on deep blue wove paper, similar to last. This is like the second forgery of Type II. of the 2 cents, with the necessary alteration of value.

TYPE II.—(3) Lithographed, on pale grey-blue wove paper. This is the third forgery of Type II. of the 1 cent, with altered value.

TYPE III.—Lithographed, on pale grey-blue wove paper. This is the forgery of Type III. of the 1 cent, with value altered.

1860-1875. Sailing Ship ‘Sandbach’

Genuine

Engraved, in épargne; paper, perforation, and type as above. The motto in the oval band is DAMUS PETIMUSQUE VICISSIM. The outer line of the whole stamp is very close to the frame. The O in the right bottom corner is cut off somewhat squarely at the top. The tail of the R of BRITISH turns up, so as to point distinctly above the foot of the following 1. The 1 in the left top corner of the stamp is exactly in the center of its containing-square. The whole length of the S of DAMUS is about equal in thickness. The v-shaped center of the M of PETIMUSQUE is cut
off square at the bottom; and the tail of the Q shows quite as much inside as outside the body of the letter. At the bottom of the oval garter there is a small, shield-shaped piece, which folds over obliquely, just above the C of CENT or CENTS; in it there is an irregular, white, eight-pointed star, and inside this star there is a dark circle, with a dark dot in the center of it. The tops of the masts are extremely faint, so as to be almost invisible. The highest point of the left-hand (mizen) mast only reaches as high as the level of the center of the highest (main-top-mast) sail of the middle (main) mast; and the highest point of the right-hand (fore) mast is not nearly tall enough to touch the outline of the oval above it. The buckle of the garter is no wider than the garter itself.

Second Forgery

Lithographed, on medium to stout, white wove paper; pin-perf. 12 1/2. The inscription on the oval band is “DAMUS RETIMUSOUE VICISSIM!” This mistake of RETIMUSOUE instead of PETIMUSQUE renders this forgery easy of detection. The outer line round the stamp is at some distance from the frame; there being almost the width of the 1 in the left top corner between the line and the frame. The 0 in the right bottom corner is oval. The tail of the R of BRITISH points straight to the foot of the following 1. The 1 in the left top corner is a great deal too far to the right of its containing-square. The little dark ring in the shield-shaped part of the garter, over the C of CENT or CENTS, is irregular in shape, and thickest on the right side.

Fifth Forgery

Very blotchily lithographed, on thinnish, very white wove paper, nicely perforated 124. The A of DAMUS has no cross-bar; the Q of PETIMUSQUE has only the very slightest indication of a tail, and the M of VICISSIM is much blotched. The bottom of the tail of the R of BRITISH points above the foot of the following 1, as in the genuine; but it is cut off obliquely, instead of being rounded off. The top and bottom of the S of DAMUS are much thinner than the body of the letter. In the shield- shaped part of the garter, over the C of CENT or CENTS, there are merely three small white dots, where the eight-pointed white star, containing a dark ring ought to be. The background of the central oval is solid (or nearly so); whereas, in the genuine, it is formed by horizontal lines. The tops of the masts are, of course, quite invisible on the solid background; and the hull of the vessel is also quite indistinguishable from the background. The lettering of the Latin motto is very ragged, compared with the neat block type of the genuine.

First Forgery

I have only the 2 c., with value close to CENTS. This is a most excellent forgery, and might deceive anybody. Finely lithographed, in a very red shade of orange, on very thick, very hard, white wove paper, imperforated. The top of the 0 in the right bottom corner is not at all square. The tail of the R of BRITISH is quite flat at the bottom, and points directly level with the foot of the following I. The 1 in the left top corner is slightly to the left of the center of the containing-square. The top and bottom of the S of DAMUS are distinctly thinner than the main body of the letter. The V-shaped center of the M of PETIMUSQUE is sharp at the point; and the tail of the Q does not show at all in the hollow of the letter, though outside it is more prominent than in the genuine. The little dark ring, containing a dot, in the white star over the C of CENTS is oval, instead of circular. The tops of the masts are quite easy to see; the right-hand one (like the middle one) touches the top outline of the containing-oval; and the left-hand one reaches up almost to the level of the top of the highest sail on the middle mast. The buckle of the garter is wider than the garter itself, and trespasses over the outline of the garter, both outside and inside the oval. The complicated, spider’s-web lines in the spandrels are not exactly like those of the genuine; but there is no possibility of describing the differences without diagrams. The lack of perforation and the extremely stout paper are the readiest tests for this forgery.

Third Forgery

Lithographed, on medium, white wove paper, badly pin-perf. to some uncountable gauge. The outer line of the stamp is too far from the frame. The 0 in the right bottom corner is rather irregular in outline. The tail of the R of BRITISH points straight to the foot of the following 1. The 1 in the left top corner is far to the left of the center of the containing-square. The tail of the Q of PETIMUSQUE is very oblique, pointing to the right, instead of almost straight down. The middle mast does not touch the top of the oval; and the other masts are even shorter than those of the genuine. The right-hand mast, if prolonged upwards, would pass clear between SQ of PETIMUSQUE; though, in the genuine, it would cut into the S. The pairs of wavy, parallel, vertical lines in the spandrels are much too prominent in this forgery; striking the eye at once. In the genuine, they have to be looked for.

Fourth Forgery

Of this I have only the 1 cent, in green. It is extremely poor, and not likely to deceive. Badly lithographed, in green, on thinnish, hard, yellowish-white wove paper, unperforated. The tail of the R of BRITISH seems to point downwards. The Q of PETIMUSQUE is a distinct O. The little colored ring in the star over the C of CENT is oval, and has no dot in its center. The top of the central mast does not touch the outline of the oval above it, and the tops of the other masts are invisible. The ship is very queerly rigged; the upper sail of the left-hand mast is put on obliquely, and the triangular sail (jib) near the SS of VICISSIM is shapeless, instead of being a neat, long triangle. The top of the G of POSTAGE is broken off, and the E is a mere blotch. I cannot give further details, as the stamp is so very badly printed.

1863-1875. Sailing Ship

6, 24 & 48 Cents

Genuine

Engraved in épargne paper. In the central circle, the fine, horizontal lines of the sky give place to two small, white clouds, to left of the ship, near the P of PETIMUSQUE, one large white cloud above the ship, and one small one to right of it, near the V of VICISSIM. The boom of the lowest sail of the left-hand mast (mizen) extends horizontally, considerably to the
left of the ship, and, if prolonged, would cut off about one-third of the M of DAMUS. The left-hand mast, if prolonged upwards, would graze the left lop corner of the first U of PETIMUSQUE; the central mast, prolonged, would pass centrally between the U and S of that word; and the right-hand mast, prolonged, would cut through the Q, rather to the right of its center. The hull of the vessel has a light, horizontal streak near the gunwale. The sea is (roughly) divided into three horizontal portions; white near the vessel, then dark in the center, then white again, near the bottom of the circle. The dots, comprising the eight-pointed star-ornament at the base of the inscribed circle, are all more or less wedge-shaped, except the three central ones; and there is a distinct dot outside each of the long, horizontal arms. There is a stop after GUIANA, and one after CENTS, in all the values. There is an ornament just like a white V, in the left upper spandrel, below the 1; and a similar, but inverted v, in the right lower spandrel, just above the 3. There is a small round white dot in the solid part, above the first U, and a similar one above the Q of PETIMUSQUE.

Second Forgery

Nicely lithographed, on medium, very white wove paper, fairly pin-perf. 13 1/2. There are two very tiny clouds above the ship, instead of one large one. The boom of the lowest left-hand sail does not extend beyond the stern of the vessel. The tops of the masts are like the genuine. There is no light streak along the gunwale of the ship. The sea is uniformly composed of white, curly marks on a solid, dark background. The ornament above the C of CENTS is very different from the genuine. It is composed of three oval dots, placed in a perpendicular row, all touching, with a V on its side, each side of the center dot, and a colored flaw to left of the left-hand V. There is a V-shaped curl (but not an independent V) in the scroll, under the 1 in the left top corner, and no v above the 3 in the right bottom corner. There is a white dot above the Q of PETIMUSQUE, but none above the first U of that word.

Fifth Forgery

Coarsely lithographed, on thick, very rough, yellowish-white wove paper, badly perf. 12. The horizontal lines of the sky are coarse, and far apart, and there are no clouds at all. There is 110 boom to the left lowest sail, and the point of the sail curls rather downwards. The left-hand mast, prolonged, would pass almost centrally through the first U of PETIMUSQUE; the central mast would cut into the S; and the right-hand mast would pass centrally between the letters QU of that word. Nearly the whole of the sea is solid, dark colour, and there are no large waves. There are 110 dots to right and left of the horizontal parts of the ornament over the C of CENTS. There is no stop after GUIANA or CENTS. The curly ornaments in the spandrels are very thin, and there is no v below the 1 or above the 3. There is no white dot above the first U of PETIMUSQUE, and none above the Q, though there is a sort of comma, laid on its side, above the second U. The bowsprit, in this forgery, has no dolphin-striker. The date-figures in the corners are very thin.

First Forgery

Lithographed, on very thin, very white wove paper, badly pin-perf. 13 1/2. The horizontal lines of the sky are coarse, and not all at equal distances apart. There is no cloud near the v of VICISSIM. The mizen-boom seems to slope downwards to the left. The left-hand mast has no visible top; the middle mast, if prolonged, would pass through the first stroke of the U, and the right-hand mast, if prolonged, would cut almost through the center of the S of PETIMUSQUE. The sea is white near the ship, but the rest is almost all dark. The strokes forming the star-ornament, above the C of CENTS, are chiefly clumsy oblongs; and the two side ones are very strongly V-shaped. The stop after CENTS is very faint. The V in the spandrel in the left top corner is part of the floral scroll-work, and is not under the 1, but midway in the space between the 1 and the B. I have not been able to make out the inverted V above the 3 in the right lower corner; but my copy is postmarked there, so possibly there may be one. There is a very large white dot above the M of PETIMUS, and the other dot (which is above the S) is joined to the scroll-work to right of it. The last I of VICISSIM is a J. This latter fact points to a German origin for this first forgery; as the Germans have a way of putting J for I in Latin characters. In the sign-boards over the shops, for instance, one may commonly see such words as JSRAEL, DESTJLLATJON, etc.

Third Forgery

Lithographed, on thin, greyish-white wove paper, perf. 13. Though very blotchy, the details of this forgery are extremely correct. The whole of the sky is mottled all over with white clouds. The point of the left-hand mast is not visible; and that of the central mast, prolonged, would not pass centrally between the US of PETIMUSQUE, but near to the S. I cannot make out any stop after GUIANA, and the stop after CENTS is very faint.

Fourth Forgery

Very nicely lithographed, on medium, greyish-white wove paper, perf. 12. This is dangerous. The boom of the left lowest sail points above (instead of below) the middle of the M of DAMUS; and there is a white streak below the boom, and parallel with it, running to the edge of the circle, and caused by one of the lines of the background being omitted. The top of the left-hand mast, if prolonged, would cut deeply into the first U of PETIMUSQUE; and the central mast, if prolonged, would pass nearer to the U than to the S. There is a very strong white streak along the gunwale of the vessel, and the heads of the three sailors, visible in the genuine, near the bows, cannot be made out. There is a very tiny stop after GUIANA, and a large, shapeless one, after CENTS. The v under the 1 in the left top corner forms a part of the scroll-work; and there is no inverted V above the 3 in the right bottom corner. There is a large white dot above the beginning of the first U of PETIMUSQUE, and another above the beginning of the second U. There is no stop after VICISSIM.

1875. Official Stamps

2, 8, 12 & 24 Cents

British_Guiana_Official

Genuine

These are the ordinary stamps of 1867 and of 1876, surcharged OFFICIAL. In the measurements given below, I have taken the distance between the left-hand edge of the first F of OFFICIAL, and the right-hand end of the projecting, horizontal limb of the L. In this way, the measures can be taken very exactly, which would not be the case if I had tried to measure from the outside of the o.

I only have the 2 c. from which to describe, and my specimens are all perf. 10. There appear to be two types of surcharge; Type 1 measures very nearly 12 mm. from F to L, and the bottom of the L is 1 1/4 mm. long. In Type II. it is fully 12 mm. from F to L, and the bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long. The O in Type II. is slightly sloping to the left. The blank center of the O is I mm. across, in its widest part. The C opens almost 1 mm. wide. From the top of the A to the bottom of its cross-bar is 1 3/4 mm. If the said cross-bar were prolonged to the left, the upper edge of it could go into the opening of the C. The height of the surcharge is 2 1/4 mm.

Third Forgery

Of this I have only the 8 cents, perf. 15. The distance F—-L is nearly 13 3/4 mm., and the bottom of the L is 1 3/4 mm. long. The O is very narrow, compared with the genuine, and the width of the blank center is about 3/4 mm. only. The two ends of the C are very close together, being scarcely 5 mm. apart; the top end is cut off obliquely, but the bottom end is cut off square. The distance from the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar is 2 1/4 mm., and the whole of the cross-bar, if prolonged to the left, would go below the opening in the C. The height of the surcharge is 2 3/4 mm.

First Forgery

Of this I have only the 4 cents, perf. 10. This, of course, is bogus, as there is no 4 c. official of this type; but I describe the surcharge, as it will probably be found on other values. It is nicely printed, and looks better than the genuine. The F—L measurement is the same as the first type of the genuine; i.e., very nearly 12 mm., and the bottom of the L is 1 1/4 mm. long, also like Type I. Almost the only difference is that the height of the surcharge is fully 2 1/2 mm., instead of 2 1/4 mm.

Second Forgery

Of this I have only the 12 cents, perf. 15. The distance F—L is 13 mm., and the bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long. The blank center of the O is less than 1 mm. across, in the widest part; the ends of the C are cut off horizontally, instead of obliquely, and the opening is hardly 1 mm. wide. The A is crossed far too low down, so that the distance from the top of the A to the bottom edge of the cross-bar is slightly more than 2 mm., instead of if mm. If the said cross-bar were prolonged to the left, no part of it would go into the opening of the C. The height of the surcharge is fully 2 1/2 mm.

1877

1, 2, 4, 6 & 8 Cents

Genuine

The watermark, as I have already said, is CC. The surcharge is better done than in the issue just described; it is 2 1/2 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 13 1/4 mm. The center of the O is nearly 1 mm. across. The ends of the C are cut off somewhat obliquely, and the opening between them is about 3/4 mm. From the top of the A to the bottom of its cross-bar, the distance is 2 mm. If prolonged to the left, the whole width of the cross-bar would be below the opening of the C. The bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long.

Second Forgery

Of this I have only the 2 cents, CA. The surcharge is very clearly printed; it is, however, only 2 1/4 mm. high, and the distance F—H is 13 mm. The O is too round, and it is much thinner at the top and bottom than at the sides, though the genuine is a block letter, equally thick all round. The ends of the C are cut off square, and are extremely close together, hardly 1/2 mm. apart. It is hardly a block letter, as the back is thicker than the rest. From the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar the distance is only 1 3/4 mm. The bottom of the L is nearly 1 3/4 mm. long.

Fourth Forgery

Of this I have only the 4 cents, CA. The surcharge is badly done, the c being decidedly below the level of the other letters. It is 2 1/2 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 13 1/2 mm. The O is thin and narrow, and the blank center is only 1/2 mm. across. The bottom end of the C is cut off square, and the top end is slightly rounded; they are 1/2 mm. apart. From the top of the A to the bottom of the cross-bar, the distance is only 1 1/2 mm. If prolonged to the left, the whole width of the cross-bar would go into the opening of the C The bottom of the L is rather more than 1 1/2 mm. long. In this forgery, the central tongue of the second F is as long as the top limb of the letter, but the first F is like the genuine and the other forgeries. The first 1 is much thinner than the second.

First Forgery

Of this I have the 1 c. and 2 c., with CA watermark. The surcharge is not so clear as the genuine; it is 2 1/2 mm. high, like the genuine, but the distance F—L is only 12 mm., instead of 13 1/4. The top of the O is quite flat, as though a piece had been cut off it, and the blank center is slightly over 1 mm. across. From the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar, the distance is 2 1/4 mm. The bottom of the L is very little more than 1 mm. long.

Third Forgery

Of this I have only the 2 cents, CA. The surcharge is nicely printed; it 2 1/2 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 13 1/4 mm., like the genuine The O is thicker at the sides than at the top and bottom, and the blank center is only 1/2 mm. across. The ends of the C are cut off square, and they are less than 1/2 mm. apart. From the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar, the distance is 1 3/4 mm. The bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long, like the genuine. One peculiarity of this forgery is that the bottom ends of the FFI are slightly splayed out.

Fifth Forgery

This is bogus. I have only the 1 cent, CA. A few words concerning this will be sufficient. The surcharge is very irregular, and is struck obliquely, from the left bottom to the right top corner. It is 3 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 16 1/2 mm. The C is high above the level of the other letters.

Bogus Forgery

I have the 24 cents, of the large, 1867 issue, perf. 10, with surcharge 2 1/2 mm. high, and distance F—L 16 1/2 mm. These large stamps were not employed as officials, so the surcharge is altogether bogus.

Country Index

British Guiana

Discuss

on Facebook

Discuss

on Google+

Contact

Stampforgeries.com