Forged Stamps of Hamburg

1859-1867. Coat of Arms. Ein Schilling

Genuine vs. Forgeries

  • Michel # 2 (Imperforate, 1/1/1859)
  • Michel # 11 (Perforated L13.5, 08/26/1864-1867)
  • Print Method: Typography.
  • Paper: White, thick or thin wove paper; thin-to-medium strong.
  • Sheets: 96 stamps (8×12) 
  • Watermark: Serpentine (wavy lines) watermark bounded by a single-line box. Note: Some stamps were printed on or outside the box and show part of a straight line. 4 stamps per sheet show no watermark at all.
  • Color: Bright-to-dark red-brown, brown, or light brown. 
  • Gum: Brown, brownish yellow gum.
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Hamburg_1859_1schilling_Genuine
1

5 lines and part of 6th in upper scroll above ‘H’

2

Ornaments on both sides of ‘EIN’ are freestanding

3

Dash/dot to the top-left of ‘P’

4

‘O’ leans to the right

5

Right top of ‘T’ broken or lightly attached by a thin line

6

Tiny dot below cross-bar of ‘A’

7

Short vertical dash just right-below 90-degree junction of ‘1’

8

Faint dot below the top-left stroke of ‘M’

9

Cross does not touch scroll

10

Faint dot left of the top stroke of ‘U’

11

Both 6-sided stars stand vertically on their points

12

Star does not touch the tower

13

Horizontal dash above and between ‘U’ and ‘R’

14

Right leg of ‘K’ appears to be somewhat near perpendicular to the main-stroke

15

6 lines + trace of 7th in the bottom right scroll

Genuine – 1859. Imperforate. Michel #2

The forgeries lack one or more of the characteristics described above

Hamburg_1859_1schilling_PF1_Genuine

Genuine variety. Michel # 2 I

Large dot between ‘M’ and ‘B’ in HAMBURG

Hamburg_1864_1schilling_Genuine

Genuine – 1864. Perforated. Michel #11

Same characteristics as imperforate

Hamburg_1859_1schilling_Forgery1

Forgery

Hamburg_1859_1schilling_Forgery2

Forgery

Not Common Genuine Characteristics

Some of the following characteristics will be found on genuine stamps

“Postmarke” Scroll

  • – There are six lines and a trace of a seventh in the left loop of the scroll OR there are five lines and a trace of a double line.
  • – There is a faint dot just under the middle of the top stroke of “P”.
  • – None of the letters touch each other or the scroll lines.
  • – None of the letters touch each other or the scroll lines except “KE” touch at their foot-strokes.
  • – None of the letters touch each other or the scroll lines except “T” and “M” touch at their tops.
  • – The lower serif of “S” is pointed.
  • – The left foot-stroke of “T” is broken. (first printing, plate flaw)
  • – The left top of “T” appears to be broken or lightly attached by a thin line.
  • – There is a dot between the middle and right leg of “M” (i.e., the right inside foot stroke of “M” is broken.)
  • – The left foot of “M” is nearly always somewhat curved.
  • – The left top stroke of “M” is (sometimes) bent.
  • – The lower border line of the inscription band is nearly always broken below “O” at the stem of the double-curved ornament.
  • – The top serif of “E” is broken.


“Hamburg” Scroll

  • – There are three shading lines on the left side of the scroll, the closest to the frame being thick at the bottom, and there are three long lines and sometimes a trace of a fourth line closest to “G” OR there are four shading lines on the left side of the scroll and three long lines and more than a trace of a fourth line closest to “G”.
  • – There are five lines and sometimes an indication of a sixth in the left-hand loop of the scroll.
  • – There is (sometimes) a faint dot in the upper lobe of “B”.
  • – The tail of “G” has a down-stroke that is bent toward the right frame.

Left-side area

  • – The ornaments at either side of “Ein” are freestanding.
  • – The ornament near “E” of “Ein” touches the lower scroll above “P”.

Right-side area

  • – The vertical line over “Schilling” ends in a dot at the top and at the bottom. The bottom dot is not reached by the line.

Inside area

  • – Top and left side of the cross is open.

Country Index

Hamburg

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