Forged stamps of Transvaal

• Design Type A1. First Republic 1p, 6p and 1/, eagle with spread wings, 1869-49.
  1p.
  a. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type I.3). b. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type I.4).
  c. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type I.5). d. Unknown forger Nick Meisel type I.6).
  e. Fournier forgery (Nick Meisel type I.7). f. Spiro Brothers forgery (Nick Meisel type I.8).
  6p.
  a. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type III.4). b. Otto reprint forgery (Nick meisel type III.5).
  c. Otto reprint/forgery (Meisel type III.6). d. Otto reprint/forgery (Meisel type III.7).
  e. Unknown forger (Meisel type III.9).
  1/.
  a. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type IV.3). b. Otto reprint/forgery (Meisel type IV.4).
  c. Otto reprint forgery (Meisel type IV.5). d. Unknown forger (Meisel type IV.6).
  e. Unknown forger (Meisel type IV.7). f. Spiro Brothers forgery (Meisel type IV.8).
  Set of Otto Bi-colored reprint/forgeries.
  Left Facing eagle from unknown forger.
• Otto (several), Fournier, Spiro Brothers, and other forgeries: Nick Meisel, Vol.1 The Transvaal Handbook (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa, 1985), p.4 (general), pp.7-30 (1p), pp.49-77 (6p), pp.86-92 (1/), p.93 (bi-colored and left-facing eagle forgeries), p.93 (fraudulent cancellations). Otto and other forgeries, cancellation of Otto reprint of the 1s, Golden forgeries and cancellations: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at pp.6,7. Spiro Brothers, Otto and Fournier forgeries and fraudulent cancellations and cancellations on Otto and Goldner reprints, all of the 1869 issue: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, pp.98-113, forgeries and cancellation on reprints: pp.101,2 (fraudulent postmarks). P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December 1942): 77-79. J. Herbert Curle, “The Transvaal’s Postage Stamps”, The London Philatelist, Vol. 43 (August 1934): 170-73. Reprints and forgeries: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, pp.342,43 (Yvert 1-24 and 70-73). Otto reprint-forgeries and two other forgeries of the 1p, 6p, 1sh, one forgery of the 3p: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp.525-31. Forgery of the 6p: Paper IX, Lowell Ragatz (editor), The Spud Papers/ An Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue Of Early Philatelic Forgeries, p.34. Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 10-19. (f) Spiro Brothers forgeries. Characteristics of the genuine stamps: J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, pp.120,21. Forgeries, genuine and fraudulent cancellation of the Mecklenburg printings, 1869: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note after No.8. Otto Reprints: Dr. Franz Kalckhoff, An Illustrated Catalog of All Known Reprints Of Officially Issued Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Post Cards, Wrappers, Etc. And How To Detect Them, pp.64,65. Forgeries of the 1p,6p and 1/, 1870: Edward Denny Bacon, Reprints of Postal Adhesive Stamps And Their Characteristics, pp.131,32; imitations/reprints of the First Republic issues: Emil Tamsen, “Transvaal Reprints”, Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly, Vol. 39 (April 15, 1933): 87,88,92,93, at p.93.
• Design Type A2. Eagle with drooping wings, 1870-49.
  3p.
  a. Mecklenburg print Essay (Nick Meisel type II.1). b. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type II.4).
  c. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type II.5). d. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type II.6).
  e. Unknown forger (Nick Meisel type II.7). f. Spiro Brothers forgery (Meisel type II.8).
  6p (non-Scott).
  a. Otto reprint/forgery (Nick Meisel type III.8).
• Set of Otto Bi-colored reprint/forgeries.
• Left Facing eagle from unknown forger.
• Otto reprint/forgeries (several), Spiro Brothers and other forgeries, essay: Nick Meisel, Vol.1 The Transvaal Handbook (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa, 1985), at p.5 (general), pp.31-48 (3p), p.76 (6p), p.93 (bi-colored and left-facing eagle forgeries), p.93 (fraudulent cancellations). Otto and other forgeries, cancellation of Otto reprint of the 1s, Golden forgeries and cancellations: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner(journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at pp.6,7. Spiro Brothers, Otto and Fournier forgeries and fraudulent cancellations and cancellations on Otto and Goldner reprints, all of the 1869 issue: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, pp.98-113, forgeries and cancellation on reprints: pp.101,2 (fraudulent postmarks). Spiro Brothers forgeries: Evert Klaseboer, Stamps: Catalogue, CD Rom, Vol.1 (Singapore, February 2008). P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December): 77-79. Forgery of the 3p (looks like Design Type A1): Paper IX, Lowell Ragatz (editor), The Spud Papers/ An Illustrated Descriptive Catalog Of Early Philatelic Forgeries, pp.33,34. The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.342,43 (Yvert 1-24 and 70-73). Otto reprint-forgeries and other forgeries of the 3p and 6p: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp.529-31. J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.121. Forgeries, genuine and fraudulent cancellation of the Mecklenburg printings, 1871-74: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note after No.8.
• 50-96. First British Occupation, “V.R.: Transvaal“ overprints, 1877-79. Forged overprints which are not an imitation of any specific overprint type: Nick Meisel, The Transvaal Handbook, Vol. 1 (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa, 1985), pp.112 (top), 113. Rustenburg forged overprints: Robson Lowe, “South African Fakes and Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 6 (February 1993): 157-63, at pp.159-60. Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 21. Imitations/reprints of the First British Occupation issues: Emil Tamsen, “Transvaal Reprints”, Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly, Vol. 39 (April 15, 1933): 87,88,92,93, at p.93. See individual series below for more citations.
• 50-70. First British Occupation, Type 1 overprint, 1877. Five Fournier (?) forgeries of the overprint: Nick Meisel, Vol.1 The Transvaal Handbook, Vol. 1 (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa, 1985), pp.107-10. Fournier forgeries of the basic stamp and overprint: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at p.8. Two forgeries of the overprint, genuine and fraudulent postmark: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp.531,32. Measurements of the overprint: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note after No.70.
• 71-90. Types 2 and 3 overprints, 1877-79. Fournier (?) and two other forgeries of the Type 2 overprint, forgery of the Type 3 overprint (V.R. in italics): Nick Meisel, The Transvaal Handbook, Vol. 1 (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa), 1985, pp.111 (top), 112, (bottom), 115, 114. Two forgeries of the Type 2 overprint and a forgery of the Type 3 overprint, genuine and fraudulent postmarks: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp.532,33.
• 91-96. Type 4 overprint, 1879. Nick Meisel, The Transvaal Handbook, Vol. 1 (Ye Olde Stamp Shoppe, Brackendowns, South Africa, 1985), pp.111 (bottom),16,17 (top and bottom).
• 98. 1d, 1878. Two forgeries: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 23-25.
• 104-117. 1p on 6p Provisionals, 1879. Nick Meisel, id. at p.118. Two forgeries, genuine postmarks: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp,533,34.
• 118. 1p on 4p. Second Republic, Een Penny Provisional, 1882. Forged surcharge: Alan R. Drysdall, “A Case for Re-listing of the ‘Large Surcharge’ Variety of the ‘Een Penny’ Provisional of 1882 (Transvaal SG 170).”, Gibbons Stamp Monthly (Second Series), Vol. 23 (September 1992): 66,67,69. Forgery and genuine postmark: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol.2, pp.535,36.
• 119-22. Arms issue, 1883. Otto reprints: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993) 5-12, at p.8. Fournier forged overprint on both of the 3d stamps: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 29, 30, 34. P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December): 77-79. Otto reprints: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, pp.106,11; Edward Denny Bacon, Reprints of Postal Adhesive Stamps And Their Characteristics, pp.132,33. Forgeries: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog.
• 123-251. Second Republic and Second British Occupation Issues, 1885-1902. Some Mirza Hadi reprints have his name stamped on back: Bernard Lucas, letter to the Editor, The London Philatelist, Vol. 109 (May 2000): 103. “VRI” and “ERI” overprints. Forged overprints on reprints: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at p.9. Reprints of Scott 123-37, 140-63, 166-74: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note following No.135. See listings below for more citations.
• 123-37. Coat of Arms issue of 1885-93. Mirza Hadi private reprints: Varro E. Tyler, “The Great Transvaal Mystery”, The American Philatelic Congress Book 37 (1971): 173-79. Unauthorized reprints and forgeries: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 41-46. Reprints: Edwin Mueller, “from an Expert’s Desk” column, Mercury Stamp Journal, Vol. 3, Whole No. 32 (December 1954): 185. Paris reprints: Rev. H.J.A. McKee, “Transvaal Reprints and Forgeries”, The Philatelist, Vol. 10 (October 1943): 2-5. Reprints: P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December 1942): 77-79. Fournier and other forgeries and Fournier fraudulent postmarks: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.344 (Yvert 74-86). Forgeries of the 2½p, 3p, 4p, 1sh, 10sh: J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, pp.121,22. Reprints and forgeries of the £5, 1892: Rev. H.J.A. McKee and G. Dunsmore Dalrymple, “Transvaal Reprints and Forgeries 1885-1901”, Stamp Collecting, Vol. 58 (May 23, 1942): 151. Reprints: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note following 135. See 135 below for more citations.
• 135. £5, 1892. Forged overprint: Alan Drysdall and John Kampe, “Transvaal £5 Forgery ” The London Philatelist, Vol. 114 (July 8, 2005): 235,36; Note by Bill Fletcher in (October 2005): 277. De Sperati forgery: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at p.8. Fournier and other forgeries and fraudulent postmark: Stephen G. Rich, “Transvaal: The Five Pound Green”, The Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol. 29 (March 1950): 119-21, at pp.120,21. Reprints and overprint “Monster” on specimens and Fournier forgery of the £5: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, p.107 (Reprints and Specimens) and p.112 (forgery of the £5).
• 136. ½p on 3p, 1885. Forged surcharge on reprints. P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain , Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December 1942): 77-79.
• 140-47. ½p (on 3p violet), 1885, the 2p, 1887, and the ½p,1p, and 2½p Provisional stamps, 1893. Forged surcharge: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at pp.8,9. Mirza Hadi private reprints: Varro E. Tyler, “The Great Transvaal Mystery”, The American Philatelic Congress Book 37 (1971): 173-79. Forgey of the ½d on 3d violet, Mirza Hadi forged overprint (#142), forgeries of the ½d on 2d, the 1d on 6d, the 2½d (one line): Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 49-51, 53, 54. Forged surcharge on reprints of the 1887 Provisionals and the ½p (red and black surcharge), 1893: P.L. Pemberton, “The Reprints of Transvaal”, the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain , Vol. 52 (April-June 1942): 33-35, continued at (July-September 1942): 55-57, and at (October-December): 77-79. Forged surcharge on reprints of the 2p (2 with straight base), the black surcharges of 1893: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, p.112. Paris reprint of the ½p on 2p, 1893: Rev. H.J.A. McKee, “Transvaal Reprints and Forgeries”, The Philatelist, Vol. 10 (October 1943): 2-5. Reprints: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note following 135.
  148-64. Wagon issues of 1894 and 1895-96 and Numeral stamp of 1895. Mirza Hadi private reprints: Varro E. Tyler, “The Great Transvaal Mystery”, The American Philatelic Congress Book 37 (1971): 173-79. Forgery of the 6p Numeral stamp of 1895: Spying Eye, note, Philately (U.S.), Vol. 2 (October 14, 1946): 59. Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 56, 60-63, 66. Fournier and other forgeries of the 1894 and 1895-96 issues and Fournier fraudulent postmarks: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, pp.344,45 (Yvert 97-105). Forgeries of the wagon with pole issue of 1895-96, genuine and fraudulent postmarks: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, pp.534,35. Paris reprints of the ½p and 1p Provisionals, 1895: Rev. H.J.A. McKee, “Transvaal Reprints and Forgeries”, The Philatelist, Vol. 10 (October 1943): 2-5. Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, notes after Scott 135, 152 and 164. Forgeries of the wagon with pole, 1895-96: J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.122.
• 166-74. Wagon design with pole, 1896. Mirza Hadi private reprints: Varro E, Tyler, “The Great Transvaal Mystery”, The American Philatelic Congress Book 37 (1971): 173-79. Paris reprints: Rev. H.J.A. McKee, “Transvaal Reprints and Forgeries”, The Philatelist, Vol. 10 (October 1943): 2-5. Reprints: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note after 135.
• 175-201. Pietersburg issue, 1901. Forged initials on unsigned remainders: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 103.
• 202-13, 246-51. Overprinted stamps, issued under the Second British Occupation, 1900 and the Wolmaransstad issue of 1901-02. Mirza Hadi private reprints: Varro E. Tyler, “The Great Transvaal Mystery”, The American Philatelic Congress Book 37 (1971): 173-79. Forged overprints: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 88,89. Forged overprint: Scott Classic Specialized Catalog, note after 213. Sperati forgery of the £5, 1900: British Philatelic Association (Publisher), The Work Of Jean De Sperati, p.65 and Plate 20; Robson Lowe, “Sperati and His Craft – XVII”, The Philatelist, Vol. 20 (September 1954): 320-22. Forgery of the £5, 1900: John Kaupe, “The Vortheim five pounds – twenty years on“, The Transvaal Philatelist, Vol. 40 (May 2005); 29-56; H.R. Holmes, “Transvaal, The L5 Overprinted ‘V.R.I.’“, The London Philatelist, Vol 95 (November-December 1986): 210,11; but see I.B. Mathews, letter to the Editor, The London Philatelist, Vol. 96 (March-April 1987): 55. The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, pp.112,13. Forged overprint on the issue of 1900, genuine postmark: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, p.536.
• 215. 1d, Lydenburg, 1800. Forged overprint: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 80.
• 221. 3p Lydenburg stamp,1900. Forged surcharge: The Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps 1661-1947, Vol. II, p.129; Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 80.
• 246-51. Overprinted stamps, Wolmaransstad issue under the Second British Occupation, 1901-02. Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 107. Also see “202-13, 246-51” above for citations.
• 267. £5 King Edward Head stamp,1902-03. Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at p.9. Specimen overprint removed and fraudulent postmark added: Mercer Bristow, “One Sorry Specimen”, Stamp Collector, Vol. 74 (April 10, 2000): 42. Fournier and other forgeies: Maj. Ian B. Mathews, Transvaal Philately (Reijer Publishers: PTY Limited, Capetown, 1986): 115. Fred J. Melville, “A £5 Transvaal Forgery, The Stamp Collectors’ Fortnightly, Vol. 28 (November 25, 1922): 363. Fake: The Serrane Guide/ Stamp Forgeries of the World to 1926, p.345 (Yvert 163): J. Dorn (Publisher), The Forged Stamps of all Countries, p.122.
• 282a. Fake made by grafting the back of Cape of Good Hope stamp with anchor watermark on a genuine 282: Robson Lowe, “Fakes & Forgeries”, Forerunner (journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa), Vol. 7 (March-June 1993): 5-12, at p.9.
• 6p envelope, 1872. Forgery and genuine postmark: Reverend R.B. Earée, Album Weeds/ How to Detect Forged Stamps (Third Edition), Vol. 2, p.537.
• Fournier fraudulent postmarks: Fritz Billig, Billig’s Philatelic Handbook, Vol. 25, p.203.
• Madame Joseph fraudulent postmark, 6 – DEC 09. Derek Worboys and Roger B. West, Madame Joseph Forged Postmarks, p.99.

Source: The Tedesco Index