Spud Papers – Oldenburg

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Spud_Oldenburg1Spud_Oldenburg2 Spud_Oldenburg3Spud_Oldenburg41851. Black on Colour, 1/3 S.GR., 1/30, 1/15 & 1/10 Thaler.

 

 

Genuine

The stamps of the first issue have the appearance of being engraved on stone, but I am not sure whether they are engraved or not. The design varies slightly for each value. In the 1/3 S.GR., the cross on the top of the crown is partially obliterated by the inner boundary line, which cuts right across it. The mantle is knotted up without tassels, and there are 19 tails on the ermine. The bottom of the shield breaks into the scroll, exactly above the centre of N in OLDENBURG.

In the 1/30 Thaler (as well as in the 1/15 and 1/10), the cross does not go near the outer line. The cord which knots up the corners of the mantle, shows two tassels on each side. There are twelve tails on the ermine. The bottom of shield touches the scroll over first stroke of N.

In the 1/15 Thaler, the shield barely touches the scroll below it. In the 1/10 Thaler, the cords and tassels on the right-hand side are very thick and clumsy. There are eighteen or nineteen tails on the ermine (these are difficult to make out). The point of shield does not touch the scroll at all. There is a stop after OLDENBURG.

The colours are as follows:

  • 1/3 S.GR. Dull yellow-green
  • 1/30 Thaler. Dull dark blue
  • 1/15 Thaler. Dull pink
  • 1/10 Thaler. Bright yellow

Forgeries

These are all from the design of the 1/10 Thaler; so I will describe the various points in which they differ from that stamp. The cross on the crown is inclined a little to the left, as though it had had a blow which had bent it. In the genuine, the cross is perfectly upright. There are about sixteen tails on the ermine, but they are very indistinct. Copying the genuine 1/10 all the values in the forgeries have a stop after OLDENBURG, which stop is only found in the of the originals. The horizontal lines of shading behind the shield come up, in the forgeries, as high as the center of the crown, whereas, in the genuine 1/10 they reach only as high as the tassels on the mantle. The blank parts of the scroll, between the words of value and the name, are cross-shaded in the forgeries; but in the genuine, the lines of shading are all parallel with the boundary-lines of the scroll, without any crossshading.

The colours are as follows:

  • 1/3 S.GR. Blue-green
  • 1/30 Thaler. Pale chalky blue
  • 1/15 Thaler. Violet-pink
  • 1/10 Thaler. Bright yellow

Spud_Oldenburg5Spud_Oldenburg6 Spud_Oldenburg7Spud_Oldenburg81858. Black on Colour. 1/3, 1, 2 & 3 Groschen.

 

 

Genuine

The two scrolls, with name and value, are shaded for nearly their whole length. The orb, surmounted by a cross, at the top of the crown, stands well out from the crown. The lion, in the base of the shield has no visible features, and his crown barely touches his head. All four of his legs are perfectly distinct, and so is his tail. The shield does not touch the boundary line of the oval containing it in any part. The right-hand little oval, containing figure of value, just touches both the central oval and the frame.

Forgeries

Scarcely any shading on the scrolls. The crown looks as though its last wearer had been “bonneted”, so that the orb is pressed down and buried half-way in the top of the
crown. The lion has a large dot in the very center of his countenance, by way of features. Only three of his legs are visible; his crown is very small, and appears to be almost buried in his hair. There is a shapeless lump upon his hind-quarters, which does duty for a tail. The base point of the shield almost touches the containing oval, and the sides of the shield are also very close to the said oval. The colours are all brighter than in the originals. Both the little ovals (which, by the way, are more like circles) are at some distance from the central oval and the sides.

Spud_Oldenburg9Spud_Oldenburg11Spud_Oldenburg12 Spud_Oldenburg131860. Lithographed colour on White. 1/3, 1, 2 & 3 Groschen.

 

 

Genuine

The stamps of this issue are very ordinary lithographs, but, fortunately for us, the imitations are more ordinary still. The designs differ for each value, and the two new fractional values (1/4 and 1/2 GR.) are very different from the others. The stamps, value 1/3, 1, 2, and 3 Groschen, are exactly the same in design as those of the last issue just described (except, of course, that they are printed in colour on white, instead of in black on colour), and the description of the stamps of the 1858 issue, with this exception, will serve equally well for this issue. The two new values, 1/4 and 1/2 GR., have the center oval coloured instead of white. A single thick white line defines the oval, and the crown is very much larger than in the other values.

Forgeries of the 1, 2, and 3 groschen. Exactly the same as forgeries of the last issue, except that they are printed in colour on white.

Spud_Oldenburg14Spud_Oldenburg101/4 and 1/2 Groschen.

 

 

Genuine

These I will describe separately, to avoid confusion. The shading on the scrolls is rather coarse. The last complete lines of shading on the upper scroll pass between the o and L of OLDENBURG on one side, and between the R and G on the other. In the lower scroll, only about one-fifth is shaded on either side. The left outer arch of the crown is ornamented with eight pearls, the right-hand outer arch has ten, and there are no pearls along the other three arches, except three transverse ones at the base of each arch, upon which the arches rest. The lion is very indistinct, and appears to possess only three legs, but those three are of the proper length.

Forgeries

The shading on the scrolls is very coarse, and the lines are absurdly far apart. The
whole of the upper scroll is covered with shading, except the N of OLDENBURG, and the lower scroll is also covered with lines, with the exception of about one-sixth in the center. There are seven pearls on each of the outer arches of the crown; the ce ntrearch is badly drawn, and the other two have pearls instead of jewels. The poor lion has been fearfully maltreated by the artist, and only the stumps of his legs are left.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – Victoria

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Spud_Victoria11868. Five Shillings, Blue on yellow.

Genuine

Epargne. Perf. 13. Watermark, V. and crown. It is impossible to give all the minute differences between the genuine and the forgery. The neck of the Queen is shaded
all over. There is a neat coil of plaits at the back of the head.


Forged

Lithograph. Perf. 13 (very small, and far apart). No watermark. Whole of design very poor and coarse. A large portion of the neck unshaded. The hair at the back gathered into a loose shapeless lump. Twentyfive in sheet, 5 X 5.

1868. July. Five Shillings, Blue and rose, on white.

Genuine

Same type as last, but printed at twice, for the two colours. Perforation and watermark as before.

Forged

Same type as last, perf. 12 or 12 1/2.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – St. Vincent

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Spud_StVincent11869, 4 Pence. Orange.

Genuine

Taille-douce on white wove, perf. 11 x/2. Engine-turned design very clear. Long curl hanging down from back of head, very plain, T of St. almost as thick as the other letters. Stop below T of St. is square. Four pence appears like one word.

Forged

Lithographed, perf.

Engine-turning very poor and blotched. The long curl at the back of the Queen’s head is scarcely visible, T of St. not a quarter the thickness of the other letters. Stop below T of St. is generally round. FOUR PENCE in two distinct words. Twenty-five in sheet, 5×5.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – Roman State

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Spud_PapalState11852, 1 Scudo.

Genuine

Epargne. Chalky pink. Two of the crowns on tiara Very distinct. Cross at top of tiara does not touch the lettering above it. F of FRANCO has a very large bottom stroke, which makes it almost like an E. No stroke at top of A in POSTALE. E of POSTALE larger at the bottom than the top. D of SCUDO flat at the bottom. Paper slightly yellowish, and gummed.

Forged

Lithograph. Vermilion-rose. Three plain bands on tiara instead of crowns. Cross at top of tiara runs into base line of first L in BOLLO. F. of FRANCO has no bottom stroke. Small cross stroke at top of A in POSTALE. E. of POSTALE considerably larger at the top than at the bottom. Base of D in SCUDO cut away obliquely. Paper very white, ungummed. Printed in sheets of 36; 4X9.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

 

LupSee also —> Fournier forged cancellations of Roman State

Spud Papers – Guatemala

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Spud_Guatemala21, 5, 10 & 20 Centavos, Perf. 14.

Genuine

Taiile-douee. Sun, represented with eyes, nose, and mouth. Thirty-six bright rays round the sun. The “gridiron” in the upper part of shield has six bars, and the beginning of a seventh. All the values from slightly varying types. Postmark of thick parallel bars, with figure in center.

Forgeries

Lithographed. Sun, with three dots only, representing eyes and mouth. Forty-one bright rays round the sun. The “gridiron” in shield has seven perfect bars. All the values printed from the type of the 1 centavo. Perf. 13. Printed in sheets of 25; and postmarked with a large rectangle of dots, slightly larger than the stamps. The execution of these forgeries is very poor; and I think they will not have a very extensive sale.

1878. 2 Reales, Carmine.

Genuine

Engraved in épargne (?), machine perforated 13, very clear. There are six white bars across the wing of each of the birds in the top comers, two of the bars being rather fainter than the rest. The words, DOS REALES, are nearer the top than the bottom of ‘ the containing label. In the head-dress of the female, the two feathers on each side of the central one come outside of the shaded oval, right across the white boundary line, and just touch the colored line outside it. The outer tail-feathers of the birds, hanging down nearly to the bottom of the stamp, are stumpy at the ends, the left one especially. The tail of the 2 in the right-hand corner comes very near the right-hand outline of the little scroll which contains it. It will be noticed that I have put a note of interrogation after the description of the mode of printing; but the fact is, that, having only a very poor genuine specimen to describe from, it is difficult to say whether it is an engraving, or a lithograph.

Forged

Lithographed, in very good style, on paper which has been pink-faced to imitate the tinge of the genuine. It is pin-pricked 13; but, though the same number as the genuine, it is, of course, not
nearly so cleanly cut. There are only four bars of white on the wings of the birds; and all four are equally prominent. The words DOS REALES are nearer to the bottom than to the top of the containing label. In the female’s head-dress, the two feathers on each side of the central one, come only just beyond the shaded oval, and do not project into the outline of the name-scroll at all. The long tail-feathers of the birds, end in very sharp points, which almost touch the label containing
the 2 on each side; indeed, in some copies, the left one does touch the label. The tail of the right-hand 2 is not long enough; and is not anywhere near the right boundary of the containing label, The postmark is a circle, containing GUATEMALA 27 MAYO, 1878.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – Sachsen (Saxony)

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Spud_Saxony11850. 3 Pfennige.

Genuine

The only genuine specimen of this stamp which I have been able to pick up is so very much obliterated, that I cannot give as complete a description of it as 1 could wish. The outer line of frame is very thick, and there is a thin inner line which connects the four labels of value together. In each corner is a quatrefoil, white on solid ground, with one line of shading, following the curve, in each lobe of the quatrefoil. One wavy groundwork has a kind of burete in it, reminding one of that on the second set of Hanoverians, but of the same colour as the rest of the stamp. Printed on transverse-laid paper.

Forged

Nicely lithographed on transverse-laid paper, and soaked in coffee to give age! The outer and inner lines of frame are both thin. The quatrefoils are white, without any lines of shading, and the groundwork is of plain wavy lines, without any burele. The D of DREI is at some little distance from the rest of the letters, and the C of FRANCO is very much smaller than the other letters in the same word. The chief test is, however, in the outer line of frame, which is the same thickness as the inner one. This can be very readily seen. The forgers have started a rather new idea, in obliterating each stamp on the sheet with the name of a different town. For instance, on the sheet of 60 stamps before me, there are, amongst many others, the postmarks of Zwickau, Reichenbach, Risa, Meisen, Herrnhuth.

Spud_Saxony21856. 10 Neu GR.

Genuine

Well engraved in taille-douce; the ink standing out from the plate very perceptibly. The shaded lines of background have been drawn too far in several places, and cut into the jaw under the chin, and also into the base of the neck in front. There is a large pointed trefoil over the N of NEU, and the lower leaf or lobe of this trefoil almost touches the edge of scroll of value over the N. This value-scroll has an enlargement in the center, to contain the figure 10, and below it will be seen two leaves, one on each side, both of which almost touch with their points the semicircular enlargement of scroll below the 10. Between the back of the head, and the inner line of the oval which contains it, there are three lines of the vertical shading, so that the back of the head is at some little distance from the boundary line.

Forgery

Lithographed in a chalky blue on very white paper. Shaded lines of background do not cut
into the chin or the neck. Point of lower lobe of trefoil over N of NEU, is at some distance from the edge of value-scroll. Points of leaves under 10 at some little distance from the semicircle, especially that on the left side. The back of the head very nearly touches the inner line of oval, so that there is barely room for one of the vertical lines of shading between the head and the inner line.

I have been obliged to go into rather minute details with this stamp, as the general design has been very carefully copied, and it is impossible to give broad distinctions. Always excepting the difference between a taille-douce engraving and a lithograph, there is really no other difference between the genuine and forged specimens which can be seen at a glance.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – United States

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1857. 90 Cents, perf. 15.

Genuine

Engraved in taille douce. Moderately dark blue, of a somewhat ultramarine shade. Background of portrait composed of exceedingly fine horizontal lines, set very close together. Face shaded all over with dots and lines. Cravat shaded nearly all over. Five cords of right epaulet and two of left visible. Seven white lines on right breast, and eight on the left; the eighth line passing behind the button. Footstrokes of T and A in POSTAGE touch each other, T in CENTS properly shaped. Paper slightly bleute in front.

Forged

Lithographed, perf. Very dark indigo blue. Solid background. Forehead unshaded over left eye; and white patch all down the nose, to the very tip. Cravat perfectly bare of shading all down the front.

Only four cords, or tassels, of right epaulet to be seen, and one of left. Eight white lines on right breast; and nine on the left; the ninth touches the button, T and A in POSTAGE do not touch at the bottom. T in CENTS has its left limb hanging down twice
as far as the right. The paper is the usual chalky white. Printed in sheets of fifty; cancelled with a penstroke; and ungummed. As regards general appearance, if the unlearned amateur meet with a copy coarsely perforated, on very white paper, with a very dark background, and a staring white cravat, he need not stop to examine any further; but, gently murmuring his watchword of “Spiro”, he can pass on, with untouched pockets, rejoicing in the fact that, for once, at any rate, he has had sense enough not to throw away good money on worthless rubbish! I have a particular grudge against this forgery; for with it, or one very similar, I was completely sold, in the early days of my collecting.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – Hannover

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Spud_Hannover1 Spud_Hannover2Spud_Hannover3 Spud_Hannover41850-51. 1 G.GR., 1/30, 1/15 & 1/10 Thaler. Engraved.

I have a very deceptive set of forgeries to describe this month,—a set which proves very satisfactorily, to my own mind, how necessary it is for all collectors to know some- thing about what are called the “minor varieties”, i.e., watermark, gum, paper, &c. But without exhausting my readers’ patience with a disquisition upon the advantages to be derived from a careful study of stamps in general, let us turn at once to the examination of those stamps in particular which are now lying upon my desk, quietly awaiting their sentence and condemnation.

Genuine

The 1 G.GR. blue has for watermark a kind of “Oxford frame.” All the others have a wreath of oak leaves, usually very plain and distinct. The gum on all the stamps of this issue is of a dark rose tint. There is a stop after the word KIN on the 1 G.GR. This is a mistake on the engraver’s part; but it is fortunate for us, as it affords one test for the detection of the forgeries, which have no such stop. The head of the unicorn is tolerably well-shaped, except that he need not have opened his mouth quite so much; and there is a little dot to represent the nostril. The crown on the head of the lion resembles a baron’s coronet; his tongue is curled upwards at the end, and his mane comes well up over his cheeks, nearly to his eyes. The harp in the royal arms has four strings. The shield containing the figures of value has a point in the center of the top, which is partially covered by the motto-scroll. The thin inner-line of frame never touches the thick outer one in any part. In good specimens, the figures of value on the shield are slightly embossed, owing to the pressure of the die. There are other minor differences; but these are the chief.

Forged

Lithographed. No watermark, white gum. No stop after BIN in the I G.GR. Head of unicorn like the open beak of an eagle. No dot for nostril. The crown on the lion’s head is of an indescribable shape; it is something like a crescent laid flat, with one horn longer than the other. His tongue ends in a knob curling slightly downwards, and there is no mane on the cheeks. The harp has only two strings when any are visible at all, but in most copies the instrument is merely a blotch. The point at the top of the shield of value just touches the motto-scroll above it, but is not covered by it. Thin inner line of frame often so blotched as to touch the outer one. Being lithographed, there is no trace of embossing on any of the stamps. Printed in sheets of 25, and sometimes postmarked with an imitation of the genuine postmark, but without the central date-figures.

Spud_Hannover51859. 3 Pfennige, Rose.

Genuine

Typographed (?) on white wove paper, backed with rose-coloured gum. 32 vertical lines in central oval. Design very distinct, and very little hidden by the burele pattern. There are 4 of the vertical lines between outside of oval and H of HANNOVER. The letters of value (EIN DRITTET SILBF.RGROSCHEN) are small, and do not nearly fill up the space between the boundary lines of the scroll. None of the letters run into one another. Printed in deep dull carmine.

Forged

Lithographed, on very badly made white wove paper, un- gummed, no watermark. There are only 29 lines in the central oval. The whole of the design is very much blotched, the letters frequently run into each other, the first E of SILBERGROSCHEN has a flaw at the top -(visible in all copies), and the burele pattern is so heavy and coarse that the design of the stamp is almost hidden by it. The H of HANNOVER touches the third line of the central oval. The letters of value are large, and almost touch the scroll at top and bottom. Printed in dirty rose-pink, and postmarked with HANNOVER in double circle, but no date. This stamp is not calculated to deceive; the absence of the rose gum, and the number of the lines (29 instead of 32) in central oval, afford a ready means of detection. The paper on which the forgeries are printed looks as though bones, and old iron, and tarred ropes, and all kinds of rubbish, had been ground up to make the pulp, besides the old rags which are ordinarily used for that purpose.

 

Spud_Hannover6 Spud_Hannover7Spud_Hannover8 Spud_Hannover91859. 1, 2, 3 & 10 Groschen.

Genuine

These stamps, though not marvels of art, are, nevertheless, very carefully engraved The fine lines behind the king’s head are perfectly distinct, and never run into each other, though so close together. The pearls round the head are large, and close together (there are 88 of them, but unfortunately, there are the same number in the forgeries, so this is no test), and the king’s nose is strongly aquiline, with a line of shading from the eye nearly to the point. Outside the circle, between it and the border, there are two of the vertical lines of the groundwork to be seen on the left hand side, and one on the right. The lettering is moderately clear. Rose gum.

Forged

Lines of groundwork have a ragged look. Pearls round the head very small, and apparently a little distance apart. The king’s nose is rather snub, and only a slight touch of shading by the eyebrow. Between the outer circle and the outer line, there is only one of the vertical groundworklines to be seen on either side. The lettering is blotchy, and looks as if it had “run”. The gum is white. In these stamps, I have found it exceedingly difficult to give such tests as will enable a collector, possessing only one specimen, to decide at once whether that specimen is genuine or forged; for, though there are many differences between the genuine stamps and their imitations, I must, in justice to the forgers, say that these differences are very slight. The forgeries just described comprise both the yellow and the bistre 3 Groschen.

Spud_Hannover101863. 3 Pfennige, Green.

Genuine

Lithographed, and rather blotched; 32 lines in the oval. The legend on the scroll is often almost unreadable. Rose gum on the unperforated copies; when the gum is white, the stamps are perforated en arc.

Forged

The great mistake of the forgers has here been to lithograph their stamps too well; so that the forgeries look better than the genuine specimens. As before, the chief test is, that there are only 30 lines in the oval. Imperforate, with white gum.

Spud_Hannover111864. 1/2 Groschen, Black.

Genuine

10 small pearls and 1 large one outside the crown to right; and 9 small and 1 large to the left. Inside the wide mouth of the posthorn are 17 lines of shading. The jewels round the lower rim of the crown are oval. The paper is creamy white.

Forged

11 small pearls and 1 large one outside the top of crown to each side. Inside the mouth of the post-horn there are only 13 lines of shading. The jewels round the rim of the crown are round. Paper very chalky white. This stamp, as our readers will see for themselves, is most deceptive at first sight; and I have no doubt that many a too-confiding schoolboy collector will disburse his hoarded coppers in order to possess himself of this cheat.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

Spud Papers – Netherlands Indies

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Spud_Netherlands-India31869. 5, 10, 20 & 50 cents.

Genuine

All from one matrix, perf. 14. The circle round the head of king contains 87 pearls. Barbed flukes of anchors very clearly drawn. Lettering clearly cut, and not at all blurred, Paper with just the faintest tinge of yellow. Gum, yellowish white.

The genuine colours are:

  • 5 cents, pale chalky yellow-green
  • 10 cents, warm reddish-bistre
  • 20 cents pale dull chalky ultramarine
  • 50 cents clear rose-carmine

Forged

All from one matrix, lithographed, perf. 13 1/2. The circle round the head of king contains only 86 pearls. Barbed flukes of anchors are shapeless dots. Lettering not at all clear, and thinner than in the genuine. Paper white, gum white. Postmarked SAMARANG, 23, 12, 1870, in three-quarter circle, with chord. Below the chord of the arc is the word franco. This is a tolerably accurate imitation of the genuine postmark, except that, in the genuine, the lettering is very thick and black; whilst the lettering of the forged postmarks is much thinner and more elongated, and of a greyish-black tint. The colours of the forgeries are:

  • 5 cents, darkish yellow-green
  • 10 cents Indian red
  • 20 cents bright ultramarine
  • 50 cents dull lake-red

The chief test, as will be seen, is the number of pearls in the circle. These pearls are tolerably easy to count, even in the forgeries; but they are not so round as in the genuine. We think, altogether, the forgers have reason to be pleased with their work this time; but, of course, it will not bear careful dissection.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.

 

LupSee also

 

 

Spud Papers – Shanghai

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Spud_Shanghai1Spud_Shanghai2 Spud_Shanghai3Spud_Shanghai4Spud_Shanghai61866 issue. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 16 Candareens; imperf.

Genuine

These stamps are printed from ivory blocks, the design slightly varying for each value. They are on very thin or pelure paper, and on rather stouter paper, making two sets. The 3 Candareens is, however, only found on the stouter paper, so far as we have been able to discover. The paper being so thin, the blocks have left a slightly sunken impression; so that the lettering appears more or less raised on the back of the stamps. This is not so in the forgeries, which are lithographed and perfectly smooth. The stop after L . ( Shanghai L.P.O.) is rather large, and close to the L., almost touching it. The longest spike of the dragon’s tail touches the outer line of design (not of border) in every case. The lines dividing the framework do not touch the borders, neither do they correspond with each other.

Forgeries

These are lithographed, on moderately thin white wove paper, stouter than that of the genuine stamps. Being lithographed, the lettering is not sunk. The upper inscription is in all sorts of type, large and small;— on the 1 and 2 Candareens, for instance, it is very large; whilst on the 12 Candareens, it is scarcely half the size. The stop after 1 is very small, in every case, and is at a good distance from it. The dragon’s tail does not touch the outer line of the design in any part. In all but the 12 and 16 Candareens, the inner line of border forms an “Oxford frame.” The design varies for each value, as in the genuine. Both genuine and forged stamps are ungummed, and have an extremely broad margin all round.

 

From “The Spud Papers” by Atless, Pemberton & Earée, 1871-1881.