Spud Papers – Angola

1870. 100 Reis, Lilac.

Genuine

Engraved in epargne; perf. 13. The crown in center is very well done, and all the pearls on the arches of the crown can be easily counted. Beginning with the right-hand branch, the numbers are 9, 10, 5, 10, 9. The cross on the top is not so wide as the ball or orb on which it rests. There are 121 oval white dots round the central circle, and they are perfectly uniform all the way round. The framework down the two sides is formed of two lines, a very thick outer one and a very thin inner one, placed very close together. The thick line above 100 Reis cuts into the thick outer line of the outline, as well as the thin inner one, on both sides.

Forged

Lithographed; perf. 13. The crown is not at all well done, and looks larger than the genuine. The pearls on the arches of the crown cannot be counted with any certainty. The cross on the top is wider than the orb or ball on which it rests. There are 125 white dots round the central circle. They are of all shapes, and are very much smeared on the left side. The framework down the sides is formed of two lines, as in the genuine, but both lines are of equal thickness, and they are far apart. The thick line above 100 Reis only comes as far as the inner line of the frame, on the right side. The rest of the stamp is a pretty close copy of the genuine. The perforation is better than usual, and is the same as the genuine.

Postmarks

The genuine I have never seen postmarked, but the forgeries have a postmark like our own, but with a blank in the center. The forgeries are ungummed; but the genuine are also to be met with ungummed occasionally.

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

See also —> Album Weeds – Angola