Return To Catalogue - Saxony forgeries of the first issue, part 2 - Saxony first two issues - Saxony other issues 1851 onwards - Other German States - Germany
Note: on my website many of the
pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.
Genuine stamps:
Attention: many forgeries exist of this stamp. The great majority of stamps, that I have seen were forgeries! In the genuine stamps, the rosettes in the corners have only three shade lines in it, except for the upper left one, which has four shade lines. There is an opening in the line at the left side of the 'I' of 'DREI'. There should be NO opening in this line next to the 'R' of 'DREI'. There should be a dot behind 'FRANCO'.
Forgery of The Spud Papers (also first forgery of Album Weeds), one of the most common classical forgeries:
(Reduced size)
(Could this be the forgeries described in 'The Spud Papers'?)
This forgery sold with some other stamps of Saxony for 1110 Euros
on Ebay (2008)!
Some forgeries are described in 'The Spud Papers': these forgeries have the outer frame line very thin (same thickness as the inner frame line). The 'C' of 'FRANCO' is smaller than the other letters of the same word. There are no shadelines at all in the rozettes in the corners. I have seen these forgeries being offered as genuine on E-bay! This forgery is also listed as first forgery in Album Weeds. It is the most common forgery. I've been told it was made by the forger Goldner, but I'm not sure if this information is correct. Besides the above shown cancels, I have also seen 'CHEMNITZ 1 - 1 1/2'.
In the above forgeries, the 'R' of DREI' has an upgoing tail and the 'D' has a very long bottom stroke. Also note that the upper stroke of the 'C' of 'SACHSEN' almost touches its lower stroke. The second stamp has an overprint 'FALSCH.' (meaning forged in German). I've seen this forgery quite often. It was made by the Senf brothers. The Senf forgery often has the word 'FALSCH' erased or cancelled over.
Forgeries: all four rosettes have FOUR shadelines, the third
stamp with the 'PLAUEN' cancel was sold for 400 US$ in a
prestiguous Internet auction.....
Four shadelines in all four rosettes. Furthermore the lettering
is very badly done in this forgery. For example the second
"S" in "SACHSEN" or the "O" in
"FRANCO". The margins are too large.
(Upper rosettes have 4 shadelines, bottom ones only 3)
(in the first forgery three rosettes have four shadelines, the
other forgeries appears to have been made by the same forger;
there is not dot behind 'FRANCO')
In this forgery there is a dot behind 'PFENNIGE'. It is printed
quite blur. The centre of the upper left ornament is placed too
far to the left.
Sperati (a famous forger) forgeries:
Sperati forgeries are not commonly met with, they are quite expensive. Sperati made five different forgeries of this stamp, they are referred to as 'Reproduction A' to 'Reproduction E'. The stamp below is known as reproduction 'A'. It can be recognized by:
(Distinguishing characteristics 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Sperati forgery; reproduction 'A'; I've also seen this forgery
with a 'LEIPZIG 7 8 1/2 28 APR 51' cancel (similar to the one
shown below)
Sperati forgeries, 'Reproduction A', note that these forgeries
have exactly the same cancel!
Reproduction 'A'; another cancelled forgery
Reproduction 'A', uncancelled
1. The white dot in the outer frame above the
first 'S' of 'SACHSEN'.
2. There is a very clear red dot left to the last 'E' of
'PFENNIGE'.
3. The top left serif of 'I' of 'DREI' is detached.
4. A smudge under the 'O.' of 'FRANCO.' between the inner and
outer frame line.
5. The shading around the numeral is hard to distinguish.
(Sperati reproduction 'B')
Sperati reproductions 'B'
Reproduction 'B' has a weak spot in the upper central pattern (just above the '3' below the 'C' of 'SACHSEN'). There is also a dot on top of the 'F' of 'PFENNIGE'.
If I'm well informed Reproduction 'C' and 'D' are a pair, which have the same distinguishing characteristics as Reproduction 'B'. Sorry, no image available yet.
Reproduction 'E' with constant cancel (image obtained from http://www.seymourfamily.com/rfrajola/Sperati/speratiindex.htm)
Reproduction 'E' has a 'constant' cancel; the cancel is always placed in the same position (a numeral '2' cancel covering the right hand side of the stamp).
Other Sperati forgeries, reproduction 'A' and 'B'
Sperati used many types of forged cancels,
examples:
Grid cancel with no number inside it (see image above)
Grid cancel no 2 (see image above)
'DRESDEN 9 9 1/2 17 AUG 50' in a single circle
'LEIPZIG 10 OCT 50' in a rectangle with rounded corners
'LEIPZIG 7-8 20 JAN 52' in a single circle
'LEIPZIG 8 - 8 1/2 24 FEB' in a single circle (see image above)
'PLAUEN 4 JAN 52' in a single circle
'ZITTAU 8 NOV 50' in a single circle
Two forgeries in pink color.
Forgery with different flower pattner in the corners and the
lettering badly done (see for example the "R" of
"FRANCO").
Other forgery:
(A dangerous old forgery)
Saxony forgeries of the first issue, part 2