Spud Papers – Turkey

1863, Crescent and Sign-Manual, 20 Paras.

Genuine

Between the crescent and ornament in the left-hand corner, there is considerable space, and the center of the Sultan’s signature is solid. The upper parts of both the bottom devices are pretty much alike, the great difference being that the one upon the right-hand is more pointed and bolder than its companion. Value is contained in a design having a likeness to a heart; the dot following the Arabic 2 is placed just under the top stroke of that figure.

Forged

The crescent upon the left side almost touches the corner ornament. The center of the sign-manual has an ill shaped dot within a small blank space. The top of the device in the left-hand lower corner is formed like a double tooth, the right fang almost touching the crescent, whilst the top of the right-hand pattern somewhat resembles an acorn placed sideways. The space containing the figures of value is egg-shaped, the line being unbroken. The numerals are placed in the position here indicated.

1 Piastre.

Genuine

The right side of the crescent tapers to a fine point. The stem of the leaf-ornament on the left touches the crescent, but they are divided by a narrow space upon the right. The second Arabic character touches the top of the crescent, but not the bottom; the figure of value does not extend quite to the bottom of the oval.

Forged

The crescent has a jagged point upon the right side. There is no space between the crescent and the stem of either of the leaf-like devices beneath it. The bottom of the second Arabic letter (reading from the right) touches the line of the crescent at its base. The figure reaches from the top to the bottom of the oval containing it.

2 Piastres.

Genuine

The crescent is engraved evenly, but if anything, the right point is the longest. Both-the leaves are at some distance from the frame; which, last, has but twenty-one circles at foot. The numeral is properly formed.

Forged

The left point of the crescent extends higher than the right. The leaf-ornament under the crescent upon the left side touches the frame, that upon the right almost, but does not quite touch it. There are twenty-four circlets composing the bottom of the frame. Numeral is straight at the top.

5 piastres.

Genuine

There is a space between both of the corner ornaments and the crescent. The stroke below the circle holding value, touches the border. There is a plainly drawn diamond, containing a dot, at the left-hand upper angle of the frame; and there is a badly-shaped one at the opposite side, but the lower corners do not show any. Numeral thick throughout.

Forged

The crescent is brought at both ends to an extremely fine point; that upon the left runs into the corner ornaments, and that upon the right very nearly does so. The little semicircular stroke under the disc holding numeral, does not touch the border. There are boldly engraved diamonds at each angle of the frame. The o is very thin at each side of the central space.

1876. 5 Piastres, Red and Blue.

Genuine

Lithographed in two colors, on very thin white wove paper, perf. 13 1/2. The groundwork of the whole stamp is of a pale blue, with Turkish letters and figures upon it in white. The curved head of the 5 points up towards the ornament above PIASTRES; and the right-hand end of the said ornament points upwards towards the M of OTTOMAN. None of the letters of the word PIASTRES touch each other, and the last S of that word leans over considerably to the right. Two of the lines of the design meet in a point exactly over the middle of the second O of OTTOMAN, and the corresponding lines on the other side of the stamp end almost over the colon after EMP. But the easiest test is made by the round ornaments in the crescent. The largest of these on each side consists of two concentric circles. The second on each side is a circle with a dot in the center of it, the third on each side is a simple circle, and the fourth on each side is a dark dot, which does not touch the outline of the crescent on either side.

Forged

Lithographed in two colors, on tolerably thick wove paper, very much thicker than the genuine. Pin-pricked 12 1/2. The groundwork of the whole stamp is of a very pale green, the white letters and figures being very faint indeed. The head of the 5 is almost straight, and points directly backwards. The right-hand end of the curly ornament above the word PIASTRES points towards the A of OTTOMAN. The letters IA of PIASTRES touch each other at the bottom, and the last
S is perfectly upright. The point where the two lines of the design meet on the right-hand side of the stamp is above the second T of OTTOMAN; and the corresponding point, on the left-hand side of the stamp extends almost far enough to be over the first O of OTTOMAN. The circular ornaments in the crescents are as follows, each side being exactly like the other. The largest one is a circle, with a colored dot in the center, and a very tiny white dot in the center of that. The second is a very badly-shaped circle, with a dot in the center. The third is a circle. The fourth is a dot, but it touches the outline of the crescent.

Postmarks

The genuine are postmarked with a double-lined ellipse, containing eight parallel lines, with a space in the center containing some characters; the whole struck in blue. The forged postmark is very similar, only the central space is diminished almost to nothing, and there are no letters or figures in it.

This forgery is not at all bad; and owing to the complicated nature of the design, it is very difficult to describe: but I hope the tests I have here given will prove sufficient for its detection.

1876. 5 Piastres, Unpaid, Surcharged with Value in French.

Genuine

The blue groundwork is lithographed, but the Turkish and French surcharges are typographed. Printed on very thin white wove paper, machine perforated 13 1/2. Each of the corner numerals is like an 0, laid on its side; the frames of white lines round these numerals are octagons. There are 48 pearls round the central oval. The inner concave part of the crescent is outlined by two white lines. The rays from the star are very evenly distributed, and do not run together into a white blotch at all. The lower rays almost entirely fill up the hollow part of the crescent. Most of the upper rays nearly touch the outline of the oval. The colour is a sort of sky-blue, and the postmark is a blue oval gridiron.

Forged

The whole of the design is lithographed, surcharges as well. It is printed on thick, soft, white wove paper, and pin-pricked 13. Each of the numerals in the corners is like an 0 placed obliquely, instead of lying on its side. The frames round these numerals are circular, and this will be found a very easy test for these counterfeits. There are only 43 pearls round the central oval. The inner concave part of the crescent is outlined with only one line. The rays from the star are very blotchy, and all
run into one mass of white just outside the star. The lower rays do not anything like fill up the hollow part of the crescent. None of the upper rays go near the outline of the top of the oval. The colour is a very pale, chalky, greenish blue; and the postmark is like the genuine.

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