The first stamps of Afghanistan are known as the Lion Stamps, after the lion’s head which appears in the centre of the stamps. The lion itself represents the ruler at that time Sher Ali, which translates from Dari as “Ali the Lion”. Being a strict Muslim country, an image of Sher Ali himself could not be allowed on the stamps (a human image did not appear on an Afghan stamp until 1937).

continue reading "Afghanistan forgeries"

Far from the least interesting or least important feature of a stamp is the cancellation mark. Probably the greatest difference to the minds of many is that of price. Many otherwise valuable stamps are rendered comparatively worthless by being put “out of sight” behind a blot of ink and as a rule most stamps are worth more new than used. But the case is reversed when we consider some of the old German States, where a genuine used stamp commands a higher price than a new one.

continue reading "Speculative Cancellations"

A STAMP STORY

As every true story has of necessity a location, this story is located in the centre county of New York State, in the thriving and beautiful city of Cortland, the county seat of Cortland county.
Tippecanoe Casey, the subject of this sketch, in the year 1892, aged 15 years, lived with his mother and two sisters in a delightfully located home in the city of C-.

continue reading "How Tip Saved the Home"

How long the Dealer had existed it is impossible for me to say, but he must certainly have begun business several years before She began to look into philatelic matters, and as this latter occurrence took place in 1885 it naturally would be supposed that he had far more information upon the subject in his cerebral cavities and at his finger ends by the middle of 1895 than the desultory studies her school days allowed had developed in her own brain and digits. Be that as it may, however, She is inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of the charity that thinketh no evil, and to believe that he really did not intend to deceive, but still – but still – She isn’t quite satisfied, for She is a real flesh-and-blood creation and therefore rather given to the spirit of resentment any daughter of Eve would be apt to feel at an attempt to overreach her.

continue reading "She, The Dealer, And The Idea"

In my capacity as reporter for the Daily Philatelic News it is in my line of duty to interview the prominent philatelists as to their opinions on various subjects of public interest, and when news is hard to get I put in my time looking over some of the larger collections of this country. So this was the reason the following appeared in the Daily Philatelic News of Jan. 11, 1910.

continue reading "A Collection in 1910"

Under the heading, “Counterfeits,” at the end of the article on Liberia, in “A Catalogue for Advanced Collectors,” are given some “points” which are supposed to be useful in the detection of forgeries of the early Liberias. I present herewith the introduction to these “points,” together with the matter relating to the 12c. value.

“Counterfeits of the stamps of the first issues of Liberia are numerous. In order to distinguish these from the genuine we shall give some points pertaining to the latter.

continue reading "Counterfeits – Liberia 1867 12c. blue"

CUBA 1871, 25c. peseta, blue
Here is a counterfeit of a stamp which is catalogued but two cents, and of which it is extremely easy to procure a specimen ; yet the imitation seems to have had quite an extensive circulation, for I have seen several copies, all in fairly good collections. One of these copies I managed to secure, and will now describe it to you.

(1) The original is perforated 14; the counterfeit has 12Ѕ holes in 20mm., but they are not the same shape or size. Sometimes they resemble the so-called “pin perforation;” sometimes they are “regular,” and again they are like the “square perforations” of the 1868 and 1872 issues of Mexico. Some specimens were also issued imperforate, probably in order to make a “variety” and increase the sale.

continue reading "Counterfeits – Cuba 1871 25c. , 50c."

(3) The color of the original is well reproduced in this counterfeit and the surface of the paper is about the same color as the original paper, but

(4) the original paper is colored “clear through,” while that on which the counterfeit is printed is only tinted on the one (upper) surface. The stamps of France and the French Colonies were subsequently printed on surface-tinted paper, and are so issued at the present time, but this was not the case until 1876, since which time it has been the rule. Besides, the paper used by the counterfeiter is much thicker than that which received the original impression.

continue reading "French Colonies 1862, 1 centime, olive, on greenish blue paper"

This is a very clever imitation, showing great ingenuity; but for the insurmountable “silk thread” difficulty it would be really dangerous.

(2) The original, as we all know, was typographed, but the design was impressed with such force into the paper that all the white parts are in relief, i. e., raised above the colored portions. The counterfeit being lithographed, it was impossible to reproduce this effect; but (and here’s where the cleverness comes in) all the white parts in the counterfeit were made slightly larger than in the original, as if the raised portions had been ironed out or otherwise smoothed down and so increased in horizontal area.
continue reading "Bavaria 1854, 18 kreuzer, yellow"

GUATEMALA 1878, Ѕ real, green

This is not a very accurate imitation, but it has one or two interesting features, and so I will describe it:

(1) The original is perforated 12Ѕ, while the counterfeit is about 11Ѕ and also irregular and uneven, as if done by hand.

continue reading "Counterfeits – Guatemala 1878, Ѕ real, green"