Iles Vierges - Jungfern Inseln
Return To Catalogue - Virgin Islands (British), later issues
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.
1 p green 1 p red 4 p red 4 p brown 6 p red 6 p violet 1 Sh black and red 1 Sh black and red (red border) 1 Sh brown Surcharged (1888)
"4D" (violet) on 1 Sh black and red (red border)
Value of the stamps |
|||
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon |
*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare |
||
| Value | Unused | Used | Remarks |
| 1 p green | RR | RR | No watermark, perforated 12 or 15 |
| 1 p green | RR | RR | Watermark CC Crown (lying), perforated 14 |
| 1 p red | *** | *** | Watermark CA Crown, perforation 14 |
| 4 p red | RR | RR | No watermark, perforation 15 |
| 4 p brown | RR | RR | Watermark CA Crown, perforation 14 |
| 6 p red | RR | RR | No watermark, perforation 12 or 15 (RRR) |
| 6 p violet | RR | RR | Watermark CA Crown, perforation 14 |
| 1 Sh black and red | RRR | RRR | White border, no watermark, perforation 15 |
| 1 Sh black and red | RR | RR | Red border, no watermark, perforation 15 |
| 1 Sh brown | RR | RR | Watermark CA Crown, perforation 14 |
| 4 p on 1 Sh | RR | RR | Exists with double overprint? |
A numeral cancel "A91" was used in the Virgin Islands. The "A13" cancel can also be found (Tortola).
Spiro forgeries:
The Spiro forgeries can
be detected by their weird cancels in most cases. According to
'The Spud Papers', the 1 p forgery can be recognized cords of the
lamps, which are clearly visible in the forgeries, but hardly
visible in the genuine stamps. Also there is only a small space
between "ONE PENNY" and the label containing it. In the
genuine 1 p stamps, there is a lot of spce around the word
"ONE PENNY".
The 4 p Spiro forgery can be detected by the pearls around
"VIRGIN ISLANDS" and "FOUR PENCE", they are
very large. In the genuine stamps, these pearls are much smaller.
The 1 Sh forgeries can be recognized by looking at the background
pattern. In the genuine 1 Sh stamps, there should also be a part
of the background pattern behind the virgin. In the Spiro
forgeries, there are white spaces around the virgin.
The forger Fournier also offers these
Spiro forgeries in his 1914 pricelist (5 values for 1.50 Swiss
Francs). They can also be found in the Fournier Album:
Cut from the Fournier Album, with three Spiro forgeries,
indicating that Fournier also sold Spiro forgeries.
A Senf forgery with inscription "FALSCH." at the bottom:
Senf forgery with "FALSCH." written at the bottom
Other forgeries:
Other forgeries of the 1 Sh value. The first one has a
"408" cancel, very similar to the Treherne forgeries of Western Australia.
A forgery of the 4 p red; the stars on top of the head do not
touch the circle above it (as they do in the genuine stamps). ]
Another 4 p forgery, the stars of are also not touching the
circle above it. Also, the stars themselves do not seem to form a
circle.
Another forgery:
1 Sh red forgery. This forgery of the 1 Sh is red, it should be
brown, or red with a black virgin!
Engraved forgery of Italian orgin, possibly Oneglia or Panelli.
The 1 Sh forgeries with no white border next to it, might be from
the same source .
A badly printed 1 p blue(?) on very thick paper
Badly done 1 p green forgery.
A forged "A91" cancel as can be found in a Fournier Album. I presume it was used to
'enhance' any of the above forgeries. Next to it a Spiro forgery,
enchanced with a 'A91' cancel (the dots of the Spiro cancel are
visible on top).
Forgery with a Victoria 'V1' cancel, possibly made by Oneglia? "P" of
"PENCE" too short?
Rather deceptive 6 p forgery.