The issue consists of 4 stamps with the values:
- 1 Cent
- 4 Cents
- 6 Cents
- 10 Cents
The stamps were used during the period 1 January 1902 to 1 May 1905.
The stamps had 4 printings, each time with new a new plate:
Value | 1. Print | 2. Print | 3. Print | 4. Print |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Cent | Plate I | Plate II | Plate IIIa | Plate IIIb |
4 Cents | Plate I | Plate II | Plate III | Plate III |
6 Cents | Plate I | Plate II | Plate III | Plate III |
10 Cents | Plate I | Plate II | Plate III | – |
There are a couple characteristics on plates I / II that are different or lacking on plates III / IV:
Plate I & II
Crown without pearls on the arches
Plate III & IV
Crown with pearls on the arches
Plate I & II
Color spot above the second I in Vestindien.
The Forgeries
The Forgeries were presumably made by copying a stamp from plate I or II, since they have a crown without pearls. The spot over second “I” is missing, however.
The Genuine ‘9’
The forged ‘9’
Other Forgery characteristics
Thick radial line over PO
Thick radial line over MÆ
Broken radial line over MÆ
There are 2 combinations of these characteristics:
- Forged figure 9 with thick radial lines over PO and MÆ
- Forged figure 9 with thick radial line over PO and broken radial line over MÆ
Perforation:
The genuine stamps are line-perforated 11½. The forgeries are line-perforated 11 or imperforate.
Paper:
The paper of the forgeries are a bit more yellowish than the genuine.