Forged Stamps of Spain
“The Spud Papers”
by Atlee, Pemberton & Earée
1855. Officials. Coat of Arms
Media, Una, Cuatro Onzas & Una Libra
Genuine
All the pearls or circlets in the crown are distinct, and can easily be counted. Between the topmost link of collar on the left and the crown, is quite a clear space. The first three letters of CORREO are close to the collar. Period after OFICIAL on a line with junction of links. Both the lions in shield crowned, and touching the lines above them. In the lower point of shield is a pomegranate.
Forged
Crown unevenly done, and ornaments not easily to be counted. Very little space between the crown and upper left-hand link of collar, CORREO at some distance from the design. Period after OFICIAL below the level of the junction of links nearest to it. In shield, the upper lion is not crowned, and is too “scraggy;” the lower lion resembles a bear, and is also without a crown. The head of neither of the animals touch the lines above them. The point at the bottom of shield is quite plain. This is the easiest test.
1873. Carlist Insurrection
1 Real. Blue
Genuine
Lithographed, on thick, white, glace paper, no watermark, ungummed. The hair of the effigy is parted in the center of the fore- head. The point of the nose is shaded with dots. There is a good space of white between the eyebrows, and a faint white outline may be seen all round the beard, which is caused by the horizontal lines of shading in the background not being drawn quite up to the beard. The point where the neck is cut off in front is at some little distance from the edge of the containing oval. The horizontal lines of shading break off before they reach the edge on either side, so that there is a narrow rim of white all round the inside of the outline of the oval. The end of the mustache is long, and droops down, and then curls up again. (This requires to be closely examined, before it can be seen). The outline of the oval touches the frame at the middle of the left-hand side.
Forged
Lithographed, on thinnish, ordinary paper, ungummed. The hair is not parted at all. The point of the nose is not shaded. There are two little dots near the outer corner of the eyebrow; and if a vertical line be drawn down from those dots, it will almost pass through two larger dots, one on the upper edge of the whisker, and the other on the lower edge. None of these dots are found in the original. The eyebrows almost meet, there being but the very faintest separation between them. There is no white outline round the beard; and the beard itself is much more like a beard than in the genuine. The point of the neck in front is very near the edge of the containing oval. The horizontal lines of shading almost cut into the outline of the oval in front of the forehead and in front of the beard. The end of the mustache is quite short, and scarcely comes beyond the corner of the mouth. The outline of the oval does not touch the frame anywhere.
1873. Carlist Insurrection
16 Maravedis, Rose
Genuine
Lithographed, on thin, slightly-surfaced paper, backed with a white gum. There is a tilde over the N of ANO and of CATALUNA. The stop after CORREOS is circular. The 1 of 16 comes both higher and lower than the 6, and the monetary denomination is MS VN. The hair behind the ears down to the back of the neck is cut quite short. The lines forming the network are wavy, and the meshes are therefore somewhat oval in shape. The lines of shading on the ends of the upper scroll are much thicker and somewhat shorter on the right side than on the left. The shading on the forehead is light. The mustache droops very little. The beard is easily distinguished from the shading on the neck. The whiskers join the hair. The outline of the frame is very jagged.
Forged
Lithographed, on paper slightly stouter than that of the forged i real; ungummed. ANO and CATALUNA without accents. The stop after CORREOS is a short hyphen. The 6 of 16 is higher than the I, and the I is lower than the 6. The N of is merely a blotch; I suppose the forgers did not know what it was. All the hair is long, and looks marvelously like a wig. It seems all to spring from the back of the head. The lines forming the network are straight, and the meshes are diamonds. The lines of shading on the upper scroll are very much longer on the right side than on the left. The front of the forehead is heavily shaded, and the neck is so absurdly dark in front that it looks like part of the beard. The whisker also appears to be pointed, from the same cause. There is a small division between the hair and the whisker. The mustache droops a good deal. There is a mark like a large comma just above the middle of the eyebrow, which is altogether absent in the genuine. The outline of the frame is well done.
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