Forged Stamps of Bulgaria

1884. Lion. Surcharged ‘3’

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_3_Genuine

Genuine (inverted) overprint

Karaivanoff certificate

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_Sofia_forgery

“Sofia” forgery

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_3st-10st_Forgery

Forgery

Bulgaria_3_Fournier_Forged_Overprint2

Fournier forged overprint

Bulgaria_3_Fournier_Forged_Overprint

Fournier forged overprint

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_3_Forgery_Analysis

1884. Lion. Surcharged ‘5’

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_30st_Michel22IF_Genuine

Genuine – Mi#22 I F

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_5st-30st_Forgery

Forgery

Bulgaria_5_Fournier_Forged_Overprint

Fournier forged overprint

1884. Lion. Surcharged ‘15’

Forgery

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_15st-25st_Forgery

Forgery

1884. Lion. Surcharged ‘50’

Genuine vs. Forgery

Bulgaria_1884_Lion_50st-1Fr_Michel24_Genuine

Genuine

Bulgaria_50_Fournier_Forged_Overprint

Fournier forged overprint

1892. Lion Surcharged 15

Genuine vs. Forgery

Bulgaria_1892_Lion_Surcharged_15_Genuine

Genuine

Curved tops of 1 & 5. End of 5 pointed. Base of 1 have “feet” to both sides

Bulgaria_1892_Lion_Surcharged_15_Forgery

Forged overprint on genuine stamp

1901. Revolt against the Turkish

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Bulgaria_1901_Revolt_Against_Turks_5st_Genuine

Genuine

No hook below ‘8’ in ’18’

Bulgaria_1901_Revolt_Against_Turks_5st_Forgery2

Forgery

Hook below ‘8’ in ’18’

Bulgaria_1901_Revolt_Against_Turks_5st_Forgery1

Forgery

Hook below ‘8’ in ’18’

1902. Shipka Pass. 5 Stotinki

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_5ct_Type-1_Genuine

Genuine – type I

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_5ct_Type-2_Genuine

Genuine – type II

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_5ct_Type-1_Forgery

Forgery – type I

“2” in 1902 touch frame

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_5ct_Type-2_Forgery

Forgery – type II

“2” in 1902 touch frame

1902. Shipka Pass. 10 Stotinki

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_10ct_Type-1_Genuine

Genuine – type I

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_10ct_Type-2_Genuine

Genuine – type II

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_10ct_Type-1_Forgery

Forgery – type I

“2” in 1902 touch frame

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_10ct_Type-2_Forgery

Forgery – type II

“2” in 1902 touch frame

1902. Shipka Pass. 15 Stotinki

Genuine vs. Forgery

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_15ct_Type-1_Genuine

Genuine – type I

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_15ct_Type-2_Genuine

Genuine – type II

Bulgaria_1902_Shipka_Pass_15ct_Type-1_Forgery

Forgery

“2” in 1902 touch frame

1911. Definitives. 50 Stotinki

Forgery

Bulgaria_1911_50c_Inverted_Center_Forgery

Forgery – inverted center variety

1932. Airmail

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Forgeries of this series were made in Italy at the time they were issued. They hit the European philatelic market after the Second World War. The genuine were only valid for postage from 9. – 16. May. Forgeries are often seen with dates outside this small range. Forged covers exist – most are addressed to one ‘Dimitri Bonkowski’ in Paris.

Bulgaria_1932_Airmail_18ct_Genuine

Genuine

Typographed, perforated 11 1/2

Bulgaria_1932_Airmail_18ct_Forgery

Forgery

Lithographed, perforated 10 1/2

Bulgaria_1932_Airmail_24ct_Genuine

Genuine

Typographed, perforated 11 1/2

Bulgaria_1932_Airmail_24ct_Forgery

Forgery

Lithographed, perforated 10 1/2

Thanks to perf12 for forgery analysis

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Recommended resources

Literature

For further research

  • 1-18. Lion issues, 1879-1882. N. Imperato forgeries of the issues of 1879 1881: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.35 (Yvert 1-5 and 6-11). Dragomir Zagorsky, “Bulgarian forgery found”, Linn’s Stamp News (March 29, 1993): 10. J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.17. Three forgeries of the 1879 and 1881 issues: Otto Hornung, “World Scene” column, Stamp Collecting, Vol. 136 (February 28, 1980): 931. Characteristics of the genuine stamps: Hermann Schloss, Distinguishing Characteristics of Classic Stamps: Europe 19th Century (Except Old German States), p.11.
  • 19-22. Provisional issues of 1884,85. Forged surcharge: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.35 (Yvert 24-27). Forgeries of the surcharge on the issue of 1884 and the 3s, 5s, and 15s of 1885: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 1, pp.201-3. Forged surcharge: J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, pp.17,18. Cancellation of remainders: “Translations From Kohl’s Handbook by Dr. Herbert Munk”, The Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol. 9 (January 1930): 51- 60, at p.57.
  • 53,54. 25th Anniversary of the War of Independence issue of 1901 N. Imperato forgery: Varro Tyler, Linn’s Focus on Forgeries: A Guide to Forgeries of Common Stamps, Revised, Expanded Edition, p.49. Joseph M. Sousa, “Common Counterfeits And Their Detection”, American Philatelist, Vol. 78 (September 1965): 917,18. Lowell Ragatz, “Spying Eye” column, The S.P.A. Journal, Vol. 9 (May 1947): 596,97 (and Spying Eye Handbook on Philatelic Forgeries), pp.8,9. Anon., “Forgeries of To-day”, Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly, Vol. 48 (August 22, 1942): 129,54, continued at Vol.49 (April 3, 1943): 53. Fournier forgeries: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.35 (Yvert 48,49). The 5s: H. Bynof-Smith, Forged Postage Stamps of Europe and Colonies, Vol. 1, pp.34,35. J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.18.
  • 60-65. Regular issue of 1901-05. Cancellation, “T” in circle, indicates use as postage due stamp: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note following J17.
  • 70-72. Battle of Shipka Pass Anniversary, 1902. N. Imperato forgery: Varro Tyler, Linn’s Focus on Forgeries: A Guide to Forgeries of Common Stamps, Revised, Expanded Edition, p.50. Joseph M. Sousa, “Common Counterfeits And Their Detection”, American Philatelist, Vol. 78 (1964-65): 917,18. Anon., “Forgeries of To-day”, Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly, Vol. 48 (August 22, 1942): 129,54, continued at Vol.49 (April 3, 1943): 53. Lucian Smeets forgery: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926. p.35 (Yvert 62-64). Alden C. Johnson, Forgeries Old and New, Vol. 1, p.4. Two forgeries: H. Bynof-Smith, Forged Postage Stamps of Europe and Colonies, Vol. 1, pp.36,37. J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.18.
  • C5,C6. 1l and 2l Dove airmail stamps, 1931. E.M. Arkhanguelsky, “Counterfeits of the 1931 Air Post Stamps”, The Aero Philatelist Annals, Vol. 2 (October 1954): 49,50.
  • C12-C14. Junkers Plane airmail issue of 1932. Alexander F. Newall, Airmail Stamps: Fakes & Forgeries, pp.14-17 (Sanabria Airmail Catalogue 12-14). Henry M. Goodkind, “Bulgaria: The 1932 Air Post Exhibition Issue”, The Aero Philatelist Annals, Vol. 5 (July 1957): 23-28, at pp.26,27. Lowell Ragatz, “Spying Eye” column, The S.P.A. Journal, Vol. 9 (March 1947): 442 (and Spying Eye Handbook on Philatelic Forgeries, pp.10,11). Anon., “Bulgaria Bogus”, Aero Philatelist’s News, Vol. 2 (January 1, 1947): 2,3.
  • Fournier fraudulent postmarks: Fritz Billig, Billig’s Philatelic Handbook, Vol. 7, p.81

Source: The Tedesco Index

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