Forged stamps of Latvia

Latvija

1919. Redrawn Sun Issue. 5 Kapeikas

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1918_1_Genuine

Genuine

Latvia_1918_1_Fogery

Sekula forgery

Latvia_1918_1_Sheet_Fogery
Latvia_1918_1_Sheet__Backside_Fogery

Forgeries were printed on genuine German military maps. They are gummed with a yellowish gum applied by brush. 

1919. Redrawn Sun Issue. 20 Kapeikas

Forgery

Latvia_1919_Sun_20k_Sekula_Forgery

Sekula forgery

1919. Liberation of Kurland. 10 Kapeikas

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1919_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_10k_Genuine

Genuine

1. Armpit above shield forms a branch with a much shorter left line on the “Y”

2. Lower crease on left leg is made up of two converging lines that don’t meet.

Latvia_1919_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_10k_Siimson-Kull_Forgery

Siimson & Kull forgery

1. The armpit crease forms more equal lengths creating a “Y”

2. The left pants leg crease is an inverted “V.”

1919. Liberation of Kurland. 25 Kapeikas

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1919_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_25k_Genuine

Genuine

1. Armpit above shield forms a branch with a much shorter left line on the “Y”

2. Lower crease on left leg is made up of two converging lines that don’t meet.

Latvia_1919_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_25k_Siimson-Kull_Forgery

Siimson & Kull forgery

1. The armpit crease forms more equal lengths creating a “Y”

2. The left pants leg crease is an inverted “V.”

1919. Liberation of Kurland. 35 Kapeikas

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1920_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_35k_Genuine

Genuine

1. Armpit above shield forms a branch with a much shorter left line on the “Y”

2. Lower crease on left leg is made up of two converging lines that don’t meet.

Latvia_1920_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_35k_Siimson-Kull_Forgery

Siimson & Kull forgery

1. The armpit crease forms more equal lengths creating a “Y”

2. The left pants leg crease is an inverted “V.”

1919. Liberation of Kurland. 1 Rublis

Forgery

Latvia_1920_Liberation_of_Kurzeme_1r_Siimson-Kull_Forgery

Siimson & Kull forgery

1. The armpit crease forms more equal lengths creating a “Y”

2. The left pants leg crease is an inverted “V.”

1928. Airmail. Plane above Riga. 10 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1928_Airmail_10s_Genuine

Genuine

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU does not touch upper frame
  • – Vertical lines in base of tower
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA joined together
  • – Detailed frame ornaments
Latvia_1928_Airmail_10s_Forgery

Forgery

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU touches upper frame
  • – Base of tower solid
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA not joined together
  • – Crude frame ornaments

1928. Airmail. Plane above Riga. 15 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1928_Airmail_15s_Genuine

Genuine

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU does not touch upper frame
  • – Vertical lines in base of tower
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA joined together
  • – Detailed frame ornaments
Latvia_1928_Airmail_15s_Genuine_Essay

Genuine – essay

Latvia_1928_Airmail_15s_Forgery

Forgery

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU touches upper frame
  • – Base of tower solid
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA not joined together
  • – Crude frame ornaments

1928. Airmail. Plane above Riga. 25 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Latvia_1928_Airmail_25s_Genuine

Genuine

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU does not touch upper frame
  • – Vertical lines in base of tower
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA joined together
  • – Detailed frame ornaments
Latvia_1928_Airmail_25s_Forgery

Forgery

  • – Base of tower solid
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA not joined together
  • – Crude frame ornaments
Latvia_1928_Airmail_25s_Forgery2

Forgery

  • – ‘S’ in SANTIMU touches upper frame
  • – Base of tower solid
  • – Bottom serifs of ‘AT’ in LATVIA not joined together
  • – Crude frame ornaments

1931. Airmail. Surcharged Latvijas Aizsargi

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Both base stamp as well as the overprint have been forged. Characteristics of forgeries of the base stamps see issue above.

Latvia_1931_ScCB3_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_10s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #CB3

Latvia_1931_ScCB3a_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_10s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #CB3a

Latvia_1931_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_10s_Forgery

Forgery

Latvia_1931_ScCB4_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_15s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #CB4

Latvia_1931_ScCB4a_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_15s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #CB4a

Latvia_1931_Airmail_Latvijas_Aizsargi-overprint_15s_Forgery

Forgery

1933. Airmail. Surcharged Latvija-Afrika 1933

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Latvia_1933_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_15s_Genuine

Siimson & Kull forgery

Latvia_1933_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_15s_Siimson-Kull_Forgery

Siimson & Kull forgery

Latvia_1933_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_15s_Forgery

Forgery

1933. Airmail. Surcharged Latvija-Afrika 1933

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Latvia_1933_ScC12_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_15s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #C12

Latvia_1933_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_15s_Forgery

Forgery

Latvia_1933_ScC13_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_25s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #C13

Latvia_1933_Airmail_Latvia-Gambia-overprint_25s_Forgery

Forgery

1933. Airmail. 3+53 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgeries

Latvia_1933_Airmail_3-53s_Genuine

Genuine Sc #C18

Latvia_1933_Airmail_3-53s_Forgery

Forgery

Swastika on the plane wrong

Latvia_1933_Airmail_3-53s_Imperforate_Genuine

Genuine Sc #C18a

Latvia_1933_Airmail_3-53s_Forgery2

Forgery

Wrong color

1933. Airmail. 7+57 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1933_Airmail_7-57s_Imperforate_Genuine

Genuine imperforate

Latvia_1933_Airmail_7-57s_Forgery

Forgery

1933. Airmail. 35+135 Santimi

Genuine vs. Forgery

Latvia_1933_Airmail_35-135s_Imperforate_Genuine

Genuine imperforate

Latvia_1933_Airmail_35-135s_Forgery

Forgery

Russian Occupation

Forgery

Latvia_Russian_Occupation_15k_Forgery

Forgery

Experts

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Links

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Literature

For further research

  • 1,2. 5p Map stamps (printed on the back of German military maps), 1918. Reprint and forgery: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, pp.3,4; J. Barefoot (Investments) Ltd., European Philately, 12: Latvia Map Stamps, V. Tuffs, A. Hall, B.K. Snell, and J. Michaelson research (J. Barefoot (Investments) Ltd, York, England, 1983, Second Printing 1987) S.B. A. Veveris, “Forgeries of Latvia No 1-2”, The S.P.A. Journal, Vol. 21 (February 1959): 300,1. The perforated 5k: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.214 (Yvert 2). Reprints: A. Nuksa, “1918 Latvian Issue Printed On The German Military Maps”, Russian Philatelist, No.7 (December 1965): 31-36, continued at No.8 (September 1966): 11-13. Three forgeries: Bill Apsit, “Latvian Collecting”.
  • 3-5. Redrawn Sun issue on paper with ruled lines, 1919. Varro Tyler, Linn’s Focus on Forgeries: A Guide to Forgeries of Common Stamps, Revised, Expanded Edition, p.152.
  • 9, 13A,16. 3k, 25k and 75k values of the Sun issue on pelure paper, 1919. Kull forgeries of 3k, 25k and 75k values and fraudulent postmark: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.5; Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. (Michel 6,11,14), pp.36-38. Forgery of the 25k: Frank Aretz, Know Your Stamps, Vol. II, pp.41,42. Reprints and forgeries of 5k, 10k, 20k values: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.6.
  • 49-51. Riga Liberation, unwatermarked, 1919. Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.7.
  • 64-67. Kurland Liberation, 1919-20. Varro Tyler, Linn’s Focus on Forgeries: A Guide to Forgeries of Common Stamps, Revised, Expanded Edition, p.153; Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.8.
  • 70,71. First National Asssembly issue, 1920. Kull and Siimson forgeries and fraudulent postmark: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.9 and Introduction. Frank Aretz, Know Your Stamps, Vol. II, p.9.
  • 83-85. Provisional issue of 1920. Kull forged 20r and 30r surcharges and fraudulent postmark: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.10 and Introduction; Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , pp.26,27. Forged overprints: A. Rosselevitch and A. Nuksa, “Counterfeit Overprints On Latvian Stamps Printed On The Reverse of Bank-Notes” (translated by A. Swatkovsky), Russian Philatelist, No.10 (July 1968): 7-9.
  • 86,87. 2r Provisional Sun stamps, 1920-21. Kull and another forged surcharge: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.11. Forgery of the 2r on 10k surcharge: Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , p.31.
  • 95-99. Surcharged Latgale Relief issue, 1921. Kull and another forged surcharges and Kull fraudulent postmark: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, pp.13,14. Forged overprints: A. Rosselevitch and A. Nuksa, “Counterfeit Overprints On Latvian Stamps Printed On The Reverse of Bank-Notes”, (translated by A. Swatkovsky), Russian Philatelist, No.10 (July 1968): 7-9. Forged surcharge and postmark: Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , pp.32-34.
  • 132-34. Provisional stamps, 1927. Kull, Siimson and another forgeries, and Kull fraudulent postmark: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.15. Kull forged surcharge of 1 l on 3r and postmark: Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , p.30.
  • 311. Soviet 2k definitive overprinted “Latvija 1000”, 1993. Forged overprint: Arturs Rubenis, “Forged Latvian overprints; three new sets”, Linn’s Stamp News (January 17, 1994): 14; F.I.P. Commission for the Fight against Forgeries, “Forged Latvian Surcharges“, Flash #48 (June 1994): 12,17.
  • B13-B20. Unwatermarked Provisional issue of 1921. Forged overprints: A. Rosselevitch and A. Nuksa, “Counterfeit Overprints On Latvian Stamps Printed On The Reverse of Bank-Notes”, (translated by A. Swatkovsky), Russian Philatelist, No.10 (July 1968): 7-9. Siimson forged surcharge and postmark: Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , p.29. Siimson and another forged surcharges: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 1, p.12.
  • B28. 50s (60s), 1925. Forgery and false postmark: Harry V. Hoffmann, “The ‘300 liepaja 300’ Special Postmark Also Forged”, Fakes Forgeries Experts journal, No. 8 (May 2005): 21-23.
  • C1,C4,C5,C7. Airmail stamps: 10r of 1921, 15s and 25s of 1928, and 15s of 1931. Alexander F. Newall, Airmail Stamps: Fakes & Forgeries, pp.164-6 (Sanabria Airmail Catalog 1-4,6). Forgery of the 10r stamp: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, p.3.
  • C2. 20r Airmail stamp, 1921. Barefoot,Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, p.4.
  • C3-C8. Airmail issues of 1928 and 1931-32. Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, p.5.
  • C6-C8.Airmail stamps of 1931-32. Varro Tyler, Linn’s Focus on Forgeries: A Guide to Forgeries of Common Stamps, Revised, Expanded Edition, p.154.
  • C9-C13. “Latvija – Afrika 1933.” overprinted Airmail stamps, 1933. Forged basic stamps and surrcharges and genuine postmarks: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, pp.8-12. Forgeries of overprint and basic stamp: A. Nuksa, “Airmail Stamps ‘Latvija – Afrika’”, Russian Philatelist, No.5 (March-April 1965): 31-38. Forged overprint: Arnold Engel, “The Fake and Genuine Latvian Flight Covers”, American Philatelist, Vol. 97 (November 1983): 992-94. Forged overprint: Alexander F. Newall, Airmail Stamps: Fakes & Forgeries, pp.169-70 (Sanabria Airmail Catalog 45-49).
  • Kull fraudulent postmark on C83-C85,C83a-C85a. Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , pp.27,28.
  • CB3-CB5, CB3a-CB5a. Provisional Airpost Semi Postal stamps, 1933. Fakes, Kull forged surcharge and fraudulent postmarks: Kurt Kayssner, Check to the Forgers: an Indispensable Resource for the Collector, etc. , pp.27,28. Forged surcharges: Alexander F. Newall, Airmail Stamps: Fakes & Forgeries, pp.167,68 (Sanabria Airmail Catalog 15-20); Forged surcharges on genuine stamps and forgeries of the basic stamp and surcharges: Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, pp.6,7. Forged overprints are on different underlying stamps: A. Nuksa, “The Overprinted Latvian Airmail Issue of 1931”, Russian Philatelist, No.9 (July 1967): 18-22.
  • CB18-CB20. Air mail Semi-Postal stamps, wounded aviator issue, l933. Barefoot, Forgery & Reprint Guide Part 9: Latvia 2 Airmails, pp.13-15.

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