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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

UNITED STATES SEMI-OFFICIAL LOCAL ISSUES and CARRIERS for Baltimore

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Semi official local issues exist in the following towns: Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Louisville, New York and Philadelphia. WARNING: many of these stamps exist forged, some of the stamps shown here could be forgeries too! If I have note indicated that the stamp is genuine, then I'm not quite sure.

Baltimore

1851 Inscription "GOVERNMENT CITY DISPATCH", horse and rider

Genuine stamp

  1 c black
  1 c red

("SENT" instead of "CENT")

These stamps exist with inscription "SENT" instaed of "CENT" (see image above).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

The genuine stamps were printed in panes of 10 (2 columns of 5), where position 7 exhibits the "SENT" error.

A whole sheet.

Four types of forgeries exist at least (in the beginning of the 20th century according to Album Weeds).

First forgery

The above forgeries can simpliest be recognised by the fact that the "ONE CENT" label does not touch the upper label, in the genuine copies it always does. Also the tail of the horse is pointed, in the genuine copies it is not. Also note the shape of the banner to the left of "CITY", which is different from the genuine stamps. I believe these forgeries were made by Hussey. I've only seen these forgeries in the colors black and red.

Second forgery

(The "G" of "GOVERNMENT" has a large cross bar in this forgery)

This forgery, I believe, was made by Taylor. It exists in many colors, besides red and black. I've also seen it in violet and green.

Third forgery

Two other forgeries, made by the same forger

Fourth forgery

Another forgery

This forgery has the sides with the background pattern very wide (especially at the left hand side).

Two forgeries made by the same forger.

"Reprints" in blocks of four were made by the Baltimore Philatelic Society in 1935, the have "BALTIMORE PHILATELIC SOCIETY" instead of "GOVERNMENT" and "3rd EXHIBITION - PEALE MUSEUM" instead of "CITY DISPATCH". Furthermore the text "11-AM TO 11-PM." and "MARCH 25-30 1935" is written to the left and right of the horse. They existt in black and red color.

1852 Inscription "POST OFFICE DESPATCH"

(Genuine stamps on letter, reduced sizes, images obtained from a Shreves auction)

(Genuine stamps obtained from a Siegel auction)

Genuine stamp

  1 c red
  1 c red on blue
  1 c blue
  1 c blue on blue
  1 c green

There exist several types of these stamps as well as forgeries (also genuine stamps put on letters on which they did not originate).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Example of forgeries (I'm not sure if all the above stamps are genuine):

"T" of "CENT" is placed too far to the left when compared to the "H" of "DESPATCH".

Taylor forgery, the "O" of "ONE" is too elliptic and not slanting backwards enough. The "S" of "DESPATCH" has the upper part too small.

Other, very similar forgery; again with the "O" of "ONE" too small.

Forgery with the first "F" of "OFFICE" slanting forwards. I've also seen this forgery in the color blue.

Forged "Eagle post" on the front and "Post Office Despatch" stamp on the backside of the stamp, proving that these two forgeries were made by the same forger (Taylor?).

A stamp in a similar design with inscription "ONE CENT L.M.B." exists (only one copy known). For a picture of this stamp see: http://www.siegelauctions.com/1999/817/yf81724.htm. It is supposed to be issued in 1849 by a certain Mr. L.M. Bennett.

1856 Inscription "CARRIER'S DISPATCH ONE CENT", eye-like design

Genuine stamps

  1 c blue
  1 c red

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

First forgery

Doves and lettering are different in this forgery.

This forgery type exists in several colors.

Second forgery:

Forgeries with too narrow "N"s in "ONE" and "CENT".

Very similar forgery.

Third forgery:

White doves and letters are totally different in this forgery. I've also seen this forgery in lilac color.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer