Spud Papers – Italy

1863. Unpaid-Letter Stamp. 10C., Yellow-Ochre.

Genuine

Lithographed, on coarsely-wove white paper. The lines behind the shield are all wavy. Corner scroll to the left of SEGNA is lower than the one to the right. The bottom of the 1 of 10 C. is on a level with the O and the C. This is best seen by putting the edge of a sheet of paper across the stamps, until it just touches the bottom of the OC; when it will be seen that the i is on the same level. There are 50 of the v-shaped ornaments in the outer oval.

Forged

Lithographed, on finely-wove, very white paper. The lines behind top and bottom of scroll are wavy, but those at the sides are straight. The corner scroll to left of SEGNA is much higher than that on the right. The bottom of the 1 of 10 C. does not come nearly so low as the OC. There are 49 v-shaped ornaments in the outer oval, and one of them (almost below T of TASSA) appears to be inverted, or is very badly drawn.
Postmarked with an oval of parallel bars (8), rather larger than the stamp.

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