LIBERIA 1860-1880, Forgeries

Return To Catalogue - Liberia 1860-1880

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If my information is correct, more than 50 different kinds of forgeries exist of these stamps. The genuine stamps have different background patterns for the different values. Many forgers have used the same background pattern for all values (except Fournier).

First set of forgeries (Spiro)

The cancels on these forgeries is always 'MONROWA LIBERIA' (Monrovia is misspelt as Monrowa). The corner lines are incorrect for the 6 c and 24 c values (the lines are all directed to the center of the stamp). The 'C' of 'CENTS' is situated under the 'LI' of 'LIBERIA'. The stone has a white break in its right outline just to the right of 'LIBERIA'.

In the 6 c Spiro forgery, the toe of the woman touches the border. These forgeries were already described in 'The Stamp Collector's Magazine' in 1864 (1st October, page 155).

Second set of forgeries (Spiro?)

The above stamps also have as cancel 'MONPOWA LIBERIA'. There is a white line all across the bottom part of the ship, which is missing in genuine stamps. I've been told that these could be Spiro forgeries as well. I've seen the 6 c value with 'SIX' placed too low (see image above).

Third set of forgeries (Fournier)

Fournier forgeries (obtained from the Forgeries idenfication site of Bill Claghorn). These stamps were taken from the Fournier album (an album with Fournier forgeries). The forgeries that Fournier sold didn't bear the overprint 'FAUX' (=forgery in french), of course! All the cancelled Fournier stamps that I have seen bear the cancel 'MONROVIA 7 JAN 64 LIBERIA'. Fournier forgeries are the most deceptive forgeries of the Liberia 1860-1880 stamps.

Fourth set of forgeries

Two other forgeries of the 6 c with a 'MONROWA LIBERIA' cancel. Besides it a 24 c forgery apparently made by the same forger (note the shape of the rock at the right hand side). I've been told that this forgery sometimes exist with an additional 'Franco' cancel, but I have not seen it.

Fifth forgery

Forgery with the 'C' of 'CENTS' under the 'LI' of 'LIBERIA'.

Sixth set of forgeries

A forgery with a very strange sky. I've seen the value 12 c blue of this particular forgery as well (it is illustrated as forgery 17 in Philip Cockrill's Liberia; 'Forgeries of the first issues 1860-1880'). This booklet also mentions a 2 c in the same design.

Seventh set of forgeries

Two forgeries of the 6 c value (two different colors) made by the same forger. The first forgery has a smudged red cancel and the second one a violet 'MONROVIA.' in a circle cancel (such a cancel does not exist on the genuine stamps).

Eight set of forgeries

Forgeries made by the same forger. Note the very badly done 'C' of 'CENT' in the 1 c value.

Ninth set of forgeries

6 and 24 c forgeries made by the same forger. These forgeries are printed on hard paper (reduced sizes).

I've seen other forgeries printed on hard paper, apparently made by the same forger, of the countries St. Helena, Bahamas, India, Egypt, Hong Kong and Ceylon.

Tenth forgery

Another, more primitive forgery:

I think the above forgery is the one described in 'The Spud Papers II'. The background consists of diagonal straight lines (it should be wavy perpendicular lines). The shoulder and arm seems very large. Though in 'The Spud Papers', there is a flag on the ship, in this particular forgery there isn't any. Between the shading of the mantle on the stone and the word 'LIBERIA' there is very little space (in the genuine stamps there is quite some space). This forgery also exists in 6 p and 24 c.