Spud Papers – Cape of Good Hope

1863-71. 1d, 4d, 6d & 5s.

Genuine

Typograph; perf. 14; watermark CC and crown. Head of figure exactly under first O of GOOD. Head of ram with eye, mouth, and horn, perfectly distinct. All lettering tall enough to pretty well fill up the labels. The figure wears a bandeau or tiara on her head. The dress is fastened on each shoulder by a small brooch or buckle. The flukes of the anchor are diamond-shaped.

Forged

Lithographed; perf. 13 (very badly); no watermark. Head of figure under G of GOOD. Head of ram is all eye and horn, and very indistinct. Lettering very small, and not nearly tall enough to reach from top to bottom of labels, C of CAPE looks like a G. No tiara on the head of figure. No brooches on the shoulders. The anchor flukes are barbed. The 6d. has no hyphen between the two words, and the 4d. has no stop after PENCE; and the provisional lettering and canceling are of a bright scarlet, instead of dull carmine. In the 5s. the words of value are in such large type that they almost touch each other in the genuine stamps; whereas, in the forgeries they are very small, with considerable spaces between them.

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

See also –> Album Weeds – Cape of Good Hope