The difference between forgeries, counterfeits, and fakes in stamp collecting

By Eurostamper — May 31, 2008
See more about: Collecting tips | Fakes and forgeries

Although the terms fake, forgery, and counterfeit are often used interchangeably, they technically refer to rather different concepts in the world of philately. When trying to avoid them while collecting (or while trying to concentrate on collecting only stamps of this kind) it is useful to keep them separate.

Forgeries
These are stamps that are created for the purpose of deceiving collectors, i.e. for making money from tricking a buyer into thinking that the stamp is in fact a legitimately produced collectible. This type of phony stamp has been around since about 1860, only twenty years after postage stamps in the modern sense were invented.

Fakes
This refers to a legitimate stamp that has been altered in some way to make it appear to be of a more valuable type. This could be altering the overprint, the cancellation, the colors, details of the design, or even the perforation.

Counterfeits
This is a copy of a legitimate stamp made to fool authorities; i.e., to be used to actually send a parcel.

The waters of phony stamp identification are muddied considerably not only by people using these terms interchangeably, but by the question of what constitutes a legitimate stamp in the first place, and by the fact that governments have occasionally issued their own phony-baloney and propaganda stamps.

For example, Great Britain released counterfeits of its own stamp into circulation in 1856 to test its own security features. Also, during times of war governments have made counterfeits of their enemies’ stamps, either to deprive the enemy of postal revenue, or (altering details on the stamp) to demoralize the enemy.

Examples of such stamps are stamps that Germany created in the 1930s that were copies of Britain’s Silver Jubilee stamps, but with the Jewish Star of David etched into the background, and the legend changed to boldly read “THIS WAR IS A JEWISH WAR”; and American-made “German” stamps from 1944 changing “Deutsches Reich” to “Futsches Reich” (”the Reich is gone”) and adding cadaverous facial features to stamps showing Adolf Hitler. (It must be said that the workmanship on the German stamp outdoes the American one.)

To further confuse matters, many counterfeits and forgeries, being highly collectible, have themselves been forged. The stamps of the infamous Jean de Sperati, an Italian stamp forger, are so famous that they are often worth more than the original stamps he was forging.

There are other categories of wholly or partially not-real stamps, such as bogus stamps, which are stamps that copy the general look of an issuing body’s stamps, but are in fact original (and illegitimate) designs. These bogus stamps have also been forged, of course.

These categories can be very interesting and exciting niches to collect, but caution must be exercised when obtaining such issues. Who knows how many levels of phoniness the stamp you buy is buried under!

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Fidel Castro and Che Guevara honored on postage stamps

By Eurostamper — May 24, 2008
See more about: Indonesia | New issues | Cuba

Castro and Guevara, leaders of the Cuban revolution, will appear on special stamps to be issued in Indonesia honoring a visit that Castro made to the archipelago to meet with Prime Minister Sukarno in 1960.

Indonesia generally has had good relationships with Communist countries, and the government said that these latest stamps have been made possible thanks to the good relationship that still exists between the countries.

The stamps will be released toward the end of May 2008.

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How Austria put a 3-second video clip on a postage stamp

By Eurostamper — May 19, 2008
See more about: Austria | New issues | Soccer (football)

Andi Herzog’s still-talked-about goal against Sweden in 1997 brought such pride to Austria that eleven years later, the Austrian post office has created the most expensive postage stamp ever designed using footage of the goal.

Yes, footage — not a still picture but several sequential images printed using lenticular technology, which, as the stamp is tilted slightly, gives the illusion of motion. Just picking up an envelope with one of these stamps on it should tilt it enough to catch the eye with its apparent video motion.

Lenticular printing is not new. It was designed in the 1940’s, and continues to be refined. This latest application is Austria’s way of honoring the UEFA EURO 2008.

The process of printing such a stamp is extremely complex, with several intricate steps needed to get the effect working right. The Herzog stamp uses a total of 48 images, or about three seconds of “video”.

The stamp is pricey: its face value is a whopping €5.45. It’s big, too, at 2.55″ X 1.85″. They are available from post.at, Austria’s official postal website.

See soccer-related stamps from all countries here.

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Royal Mail of the U.K. issues stamps honoring cathedrals

By Eurostamper — May 17, 2008
See more about: Great Britain | New issues | cathedrals

Released this month (May 2008), a new series of stamps will honor famous cathedrals located throughout the United Kingdom.

The full list:
Belfast Cathedral (Northern Ireland) (48p)
Gloucester Cathedral (50p)
St. David’s Cathedral (Pembrokeshire, Wales) (56p)
Westminster Cathedral (72p)
St. Magus Cathedral (Orkney) (81p)
Lichfield (Staffordshire) (1st class)

In addition, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London features on a special sheet of four stamps, which together give a view inside the structure, photographed from under the famous dome. The St. Paul’s sheet contains two 1st class stamps and two 81p stamps.

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UK stamps to honor 100th anniversary of the SOS distress signal

By Eurostamper — May 15, 2008
See more about: Great Britain | New issues

The Royal Mail is releasing a set of six new stamps under the banner “Mayday - Rescue At Sea” to honor the men and women who risk their lives to save people on the high seas, and to commemorate the still-used “S.O.S.” signal’s 100th anniversary.

S.O.S. was chosen because it is easy to send in Morse code - S is three dots, O is three dashes.

The stamps will feature action shots taken from actual rescues over the years, as well as the three dots/three dashes/three dots around the border.

The issues are indeed exciting, and hopefully the stamps will shed some light on the difficult conditions faced by rescuers.

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Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley battle for public’s love via postage stamps

By Eurostamper — May 14, 2008
See more about: New issues | Elvis Presley | Frank Sinatra

Elvis Presley is the leader in commemorative stamp issues, which befits his role as leader of merchandising in general.

But the likeness of Sinatra is appearing all over new stamps issued in America, and some fans of the King fear that Sinatra will supplant their hero. Stamps can be issued ten years after a person’s death (one year for presidents). Sinatra died in 1998.

Elvis fans needn’t worry. Sinatra fans are, by and large, older and from a different, less materialistic time. The stamps may be popular but Elvis will continue to rule the nation’s envelopes.

Do you agree? Will Elvis contiinue to be the postage stamp leader? Let us know in our comments section…

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