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Album Weeds – Canada

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Album_Weeds_Canada11857. 3d., rose, perf. 12.

I have seen no forgery of the stamp itself; but, as the perforated issue is worth 12s., while the unperforated only fetches 1s. 6d., the forgers have supplied the genuine with various gauges of perforations.

Genuine Perforation

The perforation gauges 12, and is nicely done. From outside to outside of the perforations, the stamp measures 25 x 20 1/2 mm.

Forged Perforations

I have the stamps perf. 10, 12, 12 1/4, and 13. From outside to outside of the perforations, the following are the measurements of the stamps in my possession:

Gauge of Perforation / Size of Stamp:.

  • Perf. 10 / 24 x 19 1/2 mm.
  • Perf. 12 / 24 x 19 1/2 mm.
  • Perf. 12 / 24 x 19 mm.
  • Perf. 12 1/4 / 24 1/2 x 19 1/2 mm.
  • Perf. 13 / 24 x 19 3/4 mm.

As might be expected from these measurements, the perforations generally eat into the design, on one side, if not more. The stamps perf. 12 are, of course, dangerous.

My publishers’ Catalogue states that this value is known perf. 14, and also percé en scie 13, but that it is very doubtful whether these latter are genuine.

1857. 6d., grey-lilac, purple-brown, perf. 12.

Genuine Perforation

This is a clean-cut perf. 12, as before.

Forged Perforation

My only specimen is perf. 12, like the genuine, but it has a very poor and ragged appearance, and is extremely close to the design on three sides.

Postmarks

Genuine.—One of the most usual postmarks on the early Canadians is very like 68, but with the outside circle no thicker than the rest. I have also 6, with very large numerals in the center. There are, however, many others.

Forged.—These, of course, have genuine cancellations.

Bogus Official

I have lately (1902) come across the large cent of 1868 with the word OFFICIAL (measuring 20 x 2b mm., printed obliquely upwards, from left lower to right upper corner. No such stamp was ever issued.

 

From: ‘Album Weeds’, 3rd edition by R. B. Eareé. 1906

Album Weeds – British Columbia

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1865. 3d., blue. CC. Perf. 14.

Genuine

Very nicely engraved, in épargne, on surfaced, white wove paper, watermarked with Crown and CC; machine-perforated 14. On each of the side-arches of the crown there are six small, white pearls, and four on the central arch. The ornaments on the upper part of the crown are crosses pattée and fleurs-de-lys alternately; the Central cross pattée, at the base of the central arch, is a good deal lower than the points of the fleurs-de-lys on each side of it. There are two good-sized asterisks in the oval band, which serve as stops, to separate the name and the value from each other; and these asterisks have eight points; i.e., four large ones, with four small ones between them. The groundwork of the outer corners of the stamp is a sort of lattice-work, and, at all the places where the lattice-work lines cross each other, there are small, white, four-pointed stars, at the points of intersection. The V-shaped, middle part of the M of COLUMBIA does not come down level with the feet of the two upright legs of the M. The G of POSTAGE is a distinct G. The middle cross fattée has a small outlined triangle in each of the three white, triangular arms, following the outline of each triangle, very near the edge; and each of these outlined triangles is perfect. The circlet at the base of the crown contains six jewels, connected, each to each, with two parallel lines; the left-hand jewel is nearly round, but all the others are diamond-shaped. The spray of shamrock, on the right side of the large V, runs up very nearly as high as the O of POSTAGE; and there is a small, but perfectly distinct shamrock-leaf between the S of POSTAGE and the side of the crown. The top of the highest thistle-leaf runs up level with the middle of the H of BRITISH; it is very sharply pointed, as are also the two side-lobes of this leaf; but these two side-lobes do not come up higher than level with the second I of BRITISH. The top petal of the central rose has three vertical lines of shading in it; the right and left petals have each three horizontal lines of shading, and the bottom petals have each four oblique lines. Both the engraving and printing of this stamp have been very carefully done; and, consequently, every little detail shows with almost photographic clearness, very different from a slip-shod lithograph.

First Forgery

Lithographed, on hard, rather thin, white wove paper.; slightly surfaced; no watermark; unperforated. On each of the side-arches of the crown there are five large white pearls, and three very small ones on the central arch. The top of the central cross pattée on the crown comes up level with the top point of the fleur-de-lys on each side of it. The asterisks in the oval band are six-pointed, and all the points are very nearly of the same size, though the right-hand asterisk is very badly shaped. There are no stars at the intersections of the lines of lattice- work. The V-shaped middle of the M of COLUMBIA very nearly touches the outline of the oval beneath it. There are seven jewels, all diamond-shaped, in the circlet of the crown; they are connected with each other by a single line. The part of the spray of shamrock above the large V has two curly tendrils, ending with knobs, but no leaf. The highest thistle-leaf shows four lobes above the left side of the large V, and the longest of these lobes does not come higher than level with the middle of the S of BRITISH. Each of the upper petals of the rose contains two lines of shading; the two lower ones have only one line in each. This forgery is not at all bad, as a whole, although there are so many differences between it and the genuine.

Second Forgery

This may possibly be a badly-done reprint from the worn stone of the first forgery. I do not think it is likely to deceive; it is generally in a whitish sky-blue, and has a washed-out appearance. It is lithographed, on rather hard, unsurfaced, white wove paper, no watermark, perf. 13 (the favorite gauge of the forgers). There are five large pearls in each side-arch of the crown, and three, very nearly as large, in the central arch. The top of the cross pattée is higher than the fleurs-de-lys, each side of it. The asterisks in the oval band have six points each; those in the left-hand one are rounder-looking than the others. There are no white stars at the intersections of the lattice-work, in the corners of the stamp. The three legs of the M of COLUMBIA are level with one another. There are seven diamond-shaped jewels at the base of it he crown, joined together by a single line; but the third jewel from the left has the line broken each side of it, so that it does not join the others. The portion of the shamrock-spray that comes above the right side of the large V is just like that of the first forgery. The thistle-leaf above the top of the left side of the V has four lobes, as in the first forgery; two of them are level with the I of BRITISH, and the other two are level with the middle of the S. There is a colored blotch or dot under the said S, which joins the base of it to the line below it; and there is a colored dot over the first limb of the U of COLUMBIA, in the white line above it. The shading of the petals of the rose consists of blotches, instead of lines.

Third Forgery

This is a much later production than the other two, and is likely to be dangerous, as it is nicely got up. Carefully lithographed, on stout, yellowish-white wove paper, unsurfaced, no watermark, well perforated 13 1/2. The asterisks are like the genuine, i.e., with four long thick arms, alternating with four short thin ones; but the left-hand asterisk is not so well shaped as the other, having one of the large arms too short, and another not coming accurately to the center. The stars at the inter- sections of the lines of lattice-work are clumsy, fat, and with the points indistinct The V-shaped middle of the M of COLUMBIA comes down exactly level with the legs of that letter. The G of POSTAGE is a very distinct C. The top arm of the middle cross pattée has the outlined triangle in it (though the figure is hardly to be called a triangle), with the top line broken in the middle, and each of the outlined triangles in the side-arms lacks the vertical line, making each figure look like a v laid on its side (> <). There is no shamrock-leaf in the spray of shamrock, above the top of the right-hand side of the large V. The top of the thistle-leaf above the top of the left side of the large V has three lobes; they are all very blunt, and the highest point does not reach up to the level even of the bottom of the H of BRITISH. The three top petals of the rose are unshaded; the right lower one seems to have three lines of shading in it, and the left lower one has only one line.

Postmarks

Genuine. My cancelled copies bear a very blotchy postmark, something like a Canadian one, also 54 and 85.

First Forgery.—5, with blank center; 10; 54, with blank center.

Second Forgery.—1, also a shapeless blotch.

Third Forgery.—Uncancelled.

The originals are not often found postmarked; for, as may be supposed, the amount of correspondence from this colony was never very extensive in the old days. The unused copies of the genuine, usually offered for sale are remainders, bought up by dealers and amateurs when British Columbia was incorporated into the Dominion of Canada, in 1868. Since then, of course, this colony has used the Dominion stamps.

Album_Weeds_BritishColombia2 Album_Weeds_BritishColombia31867-69. 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 C. & $1.

There are two different perforations, 14 and 12 1/2. It is said that the 10 C. and 1 dollar, perf. 14, were prepared, but never issued for use. A copy of the latter value, perf. 14, which I received from
a friend living in the colony, passed into the possession of Mr. Philbrick. My friend got it at the post office, so I suppose they must have been obtainable. I have never seen a copy of the 2 C. perf. 12 1/2, but all the others exist with this perforation.

Genuine

These stamps are of exactly the same type as the genuine Threepence described above. Probably from motives of economy, when the change of currency from £ s. d. to dollars and cents was effected, and new stamps were required, the die of the 3d. was utilized for the six new values, by merely surcharging with the said new values, and printing the stamps in different colors. It will be remembered, then, that all these new values, though in different colors, are from the die of the 3d., blue, and therefore need no description. The colors and surcharges are:

  • 2 c., brown and black
  • 5 c., red and black
  • 10 c., lake and blue
  • 25 c., yellow and violet
  • 50 c., violet and red
  • $1, green and green

The surcharge on the 2 C. is TWO CENTS, the rest have CENTS, with a numeral and stop each side, as, for instance, 5 . CENTS . 5.

First Forgery

This is the first forgery of the 3d., but has the blot under the S of BRITISH, and the dot above the first limb of the U of COLUMBIA. I have the FIVE CENTS (sic), in orange and black; the TEN CENTS (sic), in vermilion and dark blue; the TWENTY-FIVE CENTS (sic), in sulfur yellow and black; and the ONE DOLLAR (sic), in green and black.

Second Forgery

Like the second forgery of the 3d.; poorly lithographed; unperforated, or pin-perf. 13; no watermark. I have only the FIFTY CENTS (sic), in violet and vermilion.

Third Forgery

The same as the third forgery of the 3d. I have only the 50. CENTS . 50, in violet and carmine, and the 1 DOLLAR I, in green and blue. In the 50 C. the word FALSCH is printed at the top, in tiny block letters, the color of the surcharge; and in the the word FALSCH ! with a note of exclamation, is printed at the top in capitals, the color of the surcharge. These two therefore are evidently German productions, but I do not know where they were made.

Fourth Forgery

Of this I have the 10 CENTS (sic) in rose and black, and the 1 DOLLAR (sic) in dark yellow-green and violet. At a distance, these forgeries look very well, and the 10 c. is almost like a typograph. Lithographed, on somewhat surfaced, white wove paper, no watermark, perf. 14 (the 10 C.) and perf. 11 (the 1 dollar). Many of the tests described for the other forgeries are covered by the postmarks in my copies, but the following will be found amply sufficient. The cross-bar of the A of POSTAGE is an unconnected, circular dot, as is also the central tongue of the E of that word, and the G has a thick, square lump for a tail. The instant and easiest test is the shape of the asterisks each side of the value, in the oval label. Each of them is a St. Andrew’s cross, with dots between the arms (><) The top of the T of THREE is not joined to the stem; and the cross-bar to the H of that word is an unconnected dot.

Postmarks

Genuine.—As before.

First Forgery.—5, center blank ; 10, 54, center blank.

Second Forgery.—1, also an oblong, with rounded ends, also 10.

Third Forgery.—Shapeless blotches, but generally uncancelled.

Fourth Forgery.—54, with blank center; also 100.

 

From: ‘Album Weeds’, 3rd edition by R. B. Eareé. 1906

 

 

Spud Papers – Nova Scotia

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1861. 1, 2, 5, 10 & 12 1/2 Cents.

I feel it quite infra dig. to have to chronicle such rubbish as these Nova Scotia imitations. If none of the forgeries offered to the public were any better than these, the raison d’etre of these Spud Papers would be no more. The 10 Cents, accompanying this paper (which is the best of the whole set), will serve to convince our readers that no collector above the age of nine-and-a-half years would be likely to be deceived by any of them.

Spud_NovaScotia1Spud_NovaScotia2 Spud_NovaScotia31, 2 & 5 Cents.

 

 

Genuine

Beautifully engraved in taille-douce; perf. 12. More than half the lower part of the ear is visible, and the central passage is very distinct. The head stands out well from the background, and there is no pupil to the eye. The face has a good-tempered, rather sleepy expression. The nose is strongly aquiline. The last pearl of the tiara just peeps out from the hair.

Forged

Very poorly lithographed; perf. 12 1/2. Only the lobe of the ear is visible. The head is flat, and does not stand out from the background. There is a dark outline to the profile of the nose and mouth and part of the forehead, which is not seen in the genuine. There is a pupil to the eye; the expression of the face is staring; the outline of the nose is straight. All the pearls of the tiara are equally distinct, or rather, indistinct.

Spud_NovaScotia4 Spud_NovaScotia510 & 12 1/2 Cents.

 

 

Genuine

Beautifully engraved in taille-douce; perf. 12. The eyes are small, with a distinct pupil. The eyebrows are light, especially the outer corners. There is very little light on the hair.

Forged

Very poorly lithographed ; perf. 12 1/2. Very large staring eyes, with a dark iris, but no pupil to be seen. The eyebrows are equally dark throughout their whole length, and they meet over the nose. There are patches of light all over the hair.

Our readers will see that I have not gone very much into details in these stamps; but it really is quite unnecessary, when we consider that in the whole range of philately we can hardly find any set of stamps so finely engraved as these. Lithography will have to make very great strides before it can overtake copper-plate and steel-plate engraving;
and, as long as the forgers insist upon trying to imitate engravings, we need not be much alarmed.

Most of the Nova Scotia stamps are on paper which has a slightly yellowish tint. The forgers have imitated this, and have rather overdone it. The postmark on the forgeries is somewhat like our own, but the space where the numerals ought to be is filled up by curved lines. All these forgeries are ungummed.

The genuine stamps were engraved, I believe, by the British American Bank Note Company.

 

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

Spud Papers – Newfoundland

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Spud_Newfoundland01857. 3d. Triangular.

At the first glance, the forgery of this stamp looks very well; but, like most of its brethren, it will not bear inspection. I have a certain savage satisfaction in dissecting it, because this same forgery, or one very similar, was a much-prized member of my collection about ten years ago.


Genuine

Engraved in taille-douce; imperf. The groundwork of the central triangle, behind the large trefoil, is engine-turned all over. There are, however, three horizontal lines, where the engine-turning allows more of the dark background to be seen. The name, NEWFOUNDLAND, is in one word. The apostrophe in JOHN’S is correctly shaped; as is also the comma after POSTAGE. The central trefoil is formed of two lines, making a double border. There are three leaves on the left hand of the thistle. The rose and the shamrock do not touch the border in any part, but the stem of the thistle just touches the border at the bottom. The colour is a rich, dark yellow-green.

Forged

Lithographed; imperf. The imitation engine-turning is in four separate strips, so that the dark background shows, without any lines upon it, between the strips. This is especially noticeable in the lower three strips. In the genuine stamps, though these lines do show faintly, yet the engine-turning is all in one piece. The name is in two words, NEWFOUND LAND. The apostrophe in JOHN’S is badly shaped; and the comma after POSTAGE is a badly-
shaped full stop. The outer line of the two lines forming the central trefoil is not a drawn line, but is formed by the absence of the engine-turning permitting the dark background to be seen. In the genuine, the outer line is cut through the engine-turning. The leaf on the left of the rose touches the inner border of the trefoil, and the top leaf of the shamrock almost touches the border also. The stem of the thistle does not touch the border; in fact, the stem does not project below the leaves at all. There are only two leaves on the left of the thistle. There is a flaw in the top of the H in JOHN’S, on the left-hand stroke; and the imitation engine-turning projects a very little too far, just under the first D of NEWFOUND LAND, forming a little white spot or lump. The lettering is ragged, and too thin; and the colour is a chalky bluish-green.

I must confess that the milk of human kindness within me has been considerably soured by an examination of the forgeries hereinafter described. Messrs. Spiro must either have a most wonderful idea of their executive and artistic skill, or else they must suppose that any kind of coloured label will pass muster with philatelists as a genuine stamp, or surely they would never have attempted to forge copies of stamps that are a very marvel of taille-douce engraving. I know of few stamps which can compete with the Newfoundland ones, except perhaps those of Nova Scotia, which were in fact designed by the same artist. When we come to compare the originals with the forgeries, we cannot help feeling disgusted with the paltry imitations. But still, to give everyone his due, the forgers have been very careful, and in all the prominent lines of the designs, they have copied very accurately as far as a lithograph (and a very coarse lithograph) can be said to copy a fine engraving. I have said before, and I say again, that all amateurs ought to devote more time to the study of the various modes in which stamps are printed; and I think, too, that our catalogues ought to be more particular in this respect, and to name the mode employed for each stamp, or set of stamps catalogued. If this were done, those who depended chiefly on their catalogues for their philatelical knowledge, would insensibly be led to understand these things better, and would thereby be less liable to be imposed upon by every impudent forgery which makes its appearance. I know some collectors who seem to think that they can never arrive at being able to detect a forgery for themselves, and who are constantly sold, unless they have something in the style of these papers to give them a minute description of the forgeries, and the tests by which they may be distinguished from the originals. But if philatelists would only study their stamps a little more, instead of merely trying to see how many they can collect, I am certain that they would soon learn for themselves far more than any book or Spud Paper can teach them. All who have a long purse can go into the market and buy most of the stamps that have ever been issued; but if, after doing this, they simply content themselves with putting their stamps into an album, and leave them there unnoticed, they cannot derive much pleasure from them, and we cannot call this philately. And now, after these moral observations, let us talk a little about the stamps specially destined to be dissected this month.

Spud_Newfoundland11866. Twenty-four Cents, Blue, perf. 12. (bust of queen).

Genuine

Engraved on bluish-white paper. The groundwork of the frame at bottom, behind figures and words of value, is composed of horizontal lines, partially cross-shaded with vertical lines. The Queen’s hair is darker (much) than any other part of the stamp. Groundwork of name-scroll composed of vertical lines, cross-shaded round the letters with horizontal lines. Background of portrait cross-shaded from top to level of eyes. At the bottom of the stamp, where the value- label joins the figure-circles, on each side is a dot, which does not touch either figure-circle or value-label. The whole stamp exhibits exquisite finish.

Forgery

Lithographed on very yellowish paper. Groundwork of frame at bottom, behind figures
and words of value, is cross-shaded with oblique lines. Queen’s hair much lighter than background. Groundwork of name-scroll is cross-shaded behind the letters with oblique lines. Background of portrait cross-shaded nearly to bottom, and a space left almost unshaded just above each shoulder. The dots on each side at bottom touch the figure-circles.

Spud_Newfoundland21866. Two Cents, Grenn, Perf. 12 (Cod Fish).

Genuine

Beautifully engraved. The labels bearing the inscriptions NEWFOUNDLAND and TWO CENTS are solid; all the others have a groundwork of very fine lines. The figures and words in the side labels are shaded at the edges with dark colour, which makes them stand out from their backgrounds as though they were solid. The “white” of the eye of the fish is coloured, and the very spines of his fins may be counted.

Forged

Lithographed. Coarsely perf. All the labels are solid, and the lettering and figures look perfectly flat. The “white” of the fish’s eye is white, and very staring, and the spines of the fins are irregular, and not to be counted. The whole stamp is coarsely executed on very white paper.

Spud_Newfoundland31866. Five Cents, Brown, Perf. 12 (Seal).

Genuine

Engraved. All the hairs of the seal’s whiskers are perfectly distinct, and very light in colour compared with the general hue of the body. The head resembles that of a pug dog, and the mouth and eye can be easily discerned. There is a glimpse of open sea to the right, where there are no icebergs, and only a faint cloud. All the letters and figures are well made.

Forged

Coarsely perf. 13 1/2. Lithographed. The seal’s whiskers are very dark and coarse, and do not seem to belong naturally to his mouth. The head is like that of a water-rat, and there is no visible mouth or eye. The whole of the horizon seems to be filled with icebergs. The lettering and figures at the top are generally more or less imperfect.

The genuine 5 C. was reprinted in black in 1869, and has also been forged; but the above descriptions, changing the colour from brown to black, will serve for them, as both genuine and forged were printed from their respective original matrices.

Spud_Newfoundland410 Cents, Black, Perf. 12 (Prince of Wales).

Genuine

Engraved, on greyish white paper. On the left side of the Prince’s collar at the bottom are two rows of jewels or braid, on which the small crown rests. The white lines on the right shoulder are very fine, and are properly curved to make the chest appear in relief.

Forged

Lithographed; perf. 13. This stamp has been very carefully copied from the original, almost line for line, and it is almost impossible to give a verbal description of the small differences in some parts of the ornamental frame. It is printed on very yellowish paper, and the ink is very pale, instead of being dark black as in the original. On the left side of the collar at the bottom, there is a single row of pearls, very distinct. The white lines on the right shoulder are very coarse, and are simply drawn obliquely, without any curve. This is a stamp which might possibly deceive; but if the other distinctions fail, we can always discover it by the perforation, which is 13 instead of 12.

Spud_Newfoundland51866. 12 Cents, Flesh; Perf. 12. (Head of Queen).

Genuine

Engraved on pinkish yellow paper. Five pearls visible on the coronet, the last pearl just peeping out from where the coronet buries itself in the hair above the left ear. The stop after NEWFOUNDLAND touches the final D. Tongue of buckle lightly and partially shaded. Shading behind the top of the head composed of finer lines than the rest of the background, but no cross-shading.

Forged

Lithographed on a very white paper. Coarsely perf. 13. Only three pearls to be seen on the coronet; the two at the front being absent, and the last pearl not at all hidden by the hair. The stop after NEWFOUNDLAND is at some little distance from the final D. The ground behind the back, and top of the head, cross-shaded. Tongue of buckle dark, and shaded all over.

Spud_Newfoundland61866. 13 Cents, Orange-yellow, Perf. 12 (Ship).

Genuine

Engraved; on yellowish paper. Background of name- label shaded all over with vertical lines. Nearly all the letters of name touch each other, and the HIR of THIRTEEN are so joined as to appear only one letter. Rocks visible in left-hand corner of landscape.

Clouds composed of horizontal lines, with oblique cross-shading. St. George’s flag on the gaff of the mainsail tolerably distinct, and formed without any curved lines. Hull of vessel very dark, compared with the waves. Over un of name is an egg-shaped dot, lightly-shaded, with a dark dot on each side of it.

Forged

Lithographed, on very white paper; perf. 13. Background of name-label is solid. The w and f of name are the only ones which really touch each other. hir of thirteen set some distance from each other. Indistinct white blotch in lieu of rocks in left bottom corner. Clouds composed of horizontal lines only, and very heavy. St. George’s flag curved (as if its back were broken), and very indistinct. Hull of vessel no darker than waves. No dots over un of name.

Spud_Newfoundland71869. 1 Cent, Violet, Perf. 12 (Prince of Wales).

This stamp was re-engraved in 1871, with some slight differences of design, and in a much paler colour, commonly called brown, but which I should call a sort of red-mauve. It is not with the 1871 issue that we have to do; so I need not trouble the reader with a description of it; but will go on to point out the differences that exist between the 1869 type, and the forgery which purports to represent it.

Genuine

Engraved. The oval frame containing the name ends in a point at the top, like a pear with the small end uppermost. The letters N. and F., at the top, almost touch the outer frame of the oval, and the stops are large and round. The name is in one word; and all the letters composing it, except the o, touch each other. Counting all the white lines in the plaid, both vertical and oblique, there are 14. The rays in the oval frame are composed of alternate sets of deep and faint lines, but without any cross-shading. The eyes are clear and intelligent, and apparently light.

Forged

Lithographed. Coarsely perf. 12 1/2. The oval frame is rounded over the words ONE CENT, instead of coming to a point. The N. and F. are small, and do not come near either the outer or inner lines of frame. The stops are small, and badly shaped. The name is in two perfectly distinct words; and there is a good space between all the letters. There are only 10 lines in the plaid. The rays in the frame are far too distinct, and the light ones are cross-shaded. The eyes in the portrait are very black and staring.

Spud_Newfoundland81870. 3 Cents Vermilion (bust of queen in widow’s weeds).

Genuine

Engraved; perf. 12. Queen’s eyebrows turn down at the outer ends. The two stars at the bottom of the stamp are on a groundwork of vertical and horizontal cross-shading. Cap scarcely shaded at all on the top of the head. Separation between back of neck and cap strings very distinctly marked by a strong line of colour. Background of upper value-label shaded with curved lines which run parallel with curved lines of frame.

Forgery

Lithographed: perf. 13. Eyebrows turn up at the ends. Stars at bottom on solid ground. Strong wavy line of shading on cap at top. Cap strings indistinct at back of neck, so that it is difficult to say which is cap string and which is neck. Background of upper value-label solid, except behind the figures on each side. There will be little difficulty in detecting this and the following forgeries, as they are very poorly printed, whereas the originals are beautifully done, and the ink stands out so thick that it can be actually felt with the finger.

 

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

Spud Papers – New Brunswick

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Spud_NewBrunswick11857. Three Pence.

Genuine

Crown large, well formed and showing two fleurs de lis, within a single linear octagon; flowers well drawn, as is also the rest of the stamp. The great test consists in the disposition of the numerals. Taking the top of the stamp from the attitude of crown, all the figures are placed upright in the diamonds containing them.

Forged

Crown, small, with three strawberry leaves visible within a double linear octagon; floral emblems badly drawn, the head of the thistle touching the side of star; background of scratches; numerals in each angle placed so that the bottom is just above the flower.

Spud_NewBrunswick21860. 1 Cent.

Genuine

Scarcely any shading in front of engine; funnel considerably thicker above than below. Very fine background of horizontal lines, crossed by others going obliquely from right to left. The background is so fine, that the points we have stated can only be discerned through a microscope. The genuine stamps can always be told by their really beautiful execution.

Forged

Heavy shading in front of- locomotive, the funnel of which is almost the same thickness throughout. A coarse background of horizontal lines, crossed by oblique lines going from left to right.

Spud_NewBrunswick32 Cents.

Genuine

Very finely done; face and neck shaded with dots throughout; hyphen between words of name, and period before TWO; numerals on lined ground.

Forged

A miserable production. Face and neck almost devoid of shading. Lettering very bad; no hyphen between NEW and BRUNSWICK. or period before TWO. Numerals on solid ground.

Spud_NewBrunswick45 Cents.

Genuine

Face and neck shaded by dots; tiara of Queen at some little distance from the top of oval; hyphen between words of name; background very fine.

Forged

Face and neck very white; tiara of Queen rather near to ring of oval; no hyphen between NEW and BRUNSWICK; background coarse, and lettering poor.

Spud_NewBrunswick510 Cents.

Genuine

Hyphen joining NEW and BRUNSWICK; X in double linear ovals; background as in 5 c.

Forged

Same center used as for the 5 cents; therefore, no hyphen between words of name; X in poorly-shaped single-lined ovals.

Spud_NewBrunswick612 1/2 Cents.

Genuine

Engraved in taille-douce; perf. 12. Surface of the stamp slightly blued by the plate. The paper is wove, and rather thick. Hull of steamer very dark all over. Smoke from funnel seems to go in front of the masts, but behind the flag. There is no “dolphin-striker” on the bowsprit. There are two white lines forming the wake of the vessel. The whole stamp is very beautifully engraved.

Forged

Lithographed on very white wove paper, rather thin; perf. 13. There is a strongly-marked white line which runs the whole length of the hull, and which is not visible in the originals. The smoke seems to go behind both masts and flag, and the flag itself stands out much too prominently. There is a “dolphin-striker” on the bowsprit, rather small, but perfectly distinct. The perforation is tolerably good, but is 13 instead of 12. The wake of the vessel consists of three very white lines. One glance at this stamp is enough to condemn it; for, though carefully copied, it is impossible not to notice the vast difference of finish and
execution between the taille-douce original and the lithographed forgery. There are two postmarks, either of which is used indifferently for the forgeries. The one is an imitation of the old British Guiana postmark (without the numerals) and the other has four concentric circles, with short parallel lines in center. The forgeries are ungummed, whereas the originals generally have a good deal of thick yellowish-brown gum.

Spud_NewBrunswick717 Cents.

Genuine

A brooch upon right shoulder of Prince, perpendicular lines of tartan above second E and first N of SEVENTEEN, the lines slightly sloping; all the numerals in double linear transverse ovals.

Forged

No brooch shown upon the Prince’s shoulder; portion of plaid of tartan shown by two perpendicular lines, one coming above the space between the first E and N, and the other above the T of SEVENTEEN; numerals in single linear oblong-ovals, except in the right lower-corner.

 

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