|
Forgeries and counterfeits
|
Everybody hates fakes.
I think that this issue is of great importance and that we should not be afraid or "blind folded".
Scott writes in his intro: "Forgeries and counterfeits have been with philately virtually from the beginning of stamp production." & "The widespread existence of fakes makes it important for stamp collectors to study their philatelic holdings and use relevant literature". That is nice that they mention this, but to whom we do turn, what literature? With new printing techniques and higher prices being paid, we no longer can use the "old literature". Luckily new studies are made and being published, the bad side is that these studies are printed in very small editions and only the "in crowd" know about them.
More from Scott: "Likewise, collectors should buy from reputable dealers who guarantee their stamps and make full and prompt refunds should a purchased item be declared faked or altered by some mutually agreed-upon authority". Great, I agree. But you buy a stamp, walk out, have it checked and you want to return it and the dealer says "but that is not the stamp I sold you!". I make this all more negative than it should be; it is only to alert you. Yes, buy from trustful dealers and if the price is worth it, ask a certificate with scan. Stamp dealers and collectors love their material and are not killers; on the contrary, they are friendly people.
Forgeries and counterfeits:
A) A complete replica of a stamp or proof, or even a non-existing one.
Scott: "Few new philatelic forgeries have appeared in recent decades. Successful imitation of well-engraved work is virtually impossible. It has proven far easier to produce a fake by altering a genuine stamp than to duplicate a stamp completely." And "Forgeries are reproductions of genuine stamps that have been created to defraud collectors."
B) Genuine stamps that are altered
This can be done in several ways. Re-colored, re-gummed, re-perforated, or even perforated for the first time with a rare perforation. Change of designs, mostly done by painting. Edges cut away, and sold as imperforated. Or a stamp from a sheet with a lage board on one side, this can be cut and sold as an imperforated on one side.
C) Overprints and surcharges (the most difficult part)
Scott: "Overprinting involves applying wording or design elements over an already existing stamp. Overprints and surcharges may be hand-stamped, typeset or, occasionally, lithographed or engraved."
The bulk of these stamps are signed on the back. This was done by experts and by collectors who owned them, the problem rises that these collectors signed real and fake ones, in most cases simply because they thought they were all real*
It is a complicated matter to check, because you need a whole (original) sheet. This is needed because there are little variations in the positions of the stamps. There are very few experts that know this material well, and own enough original material (a very costly thing). Of course experience is "a matter of life and death".
D) Cancellations (an issue that will be avoided, since this Website does not include them)
Details and scans can be found with the site related to this matter.
*I created a database with signatures and marks; you can find it here.
I will try to get a word on this issue from some of the best experts in the field, and will put it in a special intro.
|
|