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FRANCE CERES TYPE, forgeries, part 1

Return To Catalogue - Ceres type stamps - France Ceres type forgeries, part 2 - France Ceres type, forgeries, part 3 - Ceres, Sperati forgeries, part 1 - Ceres, Sperati forgeries, part 2 - France overview

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Forgeries of the 1849 issue:

First forgery type (Spiro):

I have seen some Spiro forgeries, although they are not very common. They usually have a very peculiar cancel: an ellipse with horizontal lines or other fancy cancels. Spiro forgeries are not very deceptive and quite badly executed. In the genuine stamps, there should be 97 pearls around the central circle.


(Spiro forgeries, reduced sizes)


Most likely Spiro forgeries


(Spiro Forgeries of the 1 F value)

In the above Spiro forgeries, the ornamental border at the right hand bottom side is different, it starts from the exterior in the above forgeries, while it starts at the interior of the stamp in the genuine stamps. Also, the buste of Ceres is horizontal at the bottom (in the genuine stamps it is slanting upwards). There is a very white 'bald' spot on the head of Ceres. I've also seen the 20 c blue, 30 c brown and 40 c orange of this particular forgery type.

 

I believe the Second forgery type, Third forgery type and Fourth forgery type were all made or marketed by Fournier. I've listed them seperately under France Ceres type (1849-1875), forgeries, part 3, Fournier.

 

Fifth forgery type:


In the above forgeries, the 'C' of the word 'FRANC' appears to large and the 'A' of this word too small. Also the 'C's in the bottom inscription are too tall. For example, in the 25 c, the '25 c' is different from the genuine stamps, the 'c' seems to be much thinner. Even tete-beche forgeries exist (see the 20 c above). I've also seen the unissued 25 (red) on 20 c blue of this particular forgery set.

1 Fr red 1 Fr red and orange
Several forgeries of the 1 F value (both shades), made by the same forger; The right "FR" is placed too far to the left when compared to a genuine stamp.

In all the above forgeries, there is a round 'pearl' in the backside of the hair of Ceres. The genuine stamps have a much more elliptic 'grape' at this spot. The words 'RAN' of 'FRANC' are placed too high. The 1 F forgery is quite common (the other values less common); I've even seen blocks of 6. I've seen the 40 c forgery of this set with a red elliptic design at the back with the words 'Phaxy & Millet' (a fancy rewritten 'Facsimile', since in French language these words sound the same):


40 c with red Phaxy & Millet 'expert mark' on the back; a joke of the forger!

 

Sixth Forgery Type


Forgeries with very pronounced 'REPUB FRANC' inscription.


Some forgeries, possibly made by the same forger.

Other forgeries:


Forgery of the 15 c, reduced size


Some other deceptive forgeries


Two forgeries, probably made by the same forger, I've noticed that both have a break in the "P" of "POSTES".


Toulouse Forgery of a 10 c tete-beche pair (Faux de Paul de Toulouse). The paper on which this forgery is printed is porous.


1 F forgery with both "S" in "POSTES" different from a genuine stamp.


Other primitive forgeries of the 25 c


Primitive forgery of a 20 c blue stamp.


Forgery of the 20 c black (or is it supposed to be 80 c brown?). Note the broad chin of Ceres.


Two forgeries with the same forged cancel 'PARIS 7E/5 NOV' in the lower right corner. The designs of the stamps are slightly different for each value. These might be cuts from some postcard with illustrations of stamps.


Very primitive forgeries with strange cancels.


Not sure what it this, 80 c black on lilac with very strange head of Ceres.

Cuts from Menke-Huber (Zurich) postcards


Primitive forgery of the 10 c with the left part of the left "1" too large. Next to it a 15 c forgery, made by the same forger. These are cuts from a Menke-Huber postcard.


A set cut outs from same Menke-Huber souvenir postcard. The borders of the stamps have brown lines.


Two forgeries probably made by the same forger.


Forgery of the 1 F with very badly done "REPUB FRANC".


Other forgeries.

 

For more forgeries of the France Ceres type click here, or France Ceres type (1849-1875), forgeries, part 3, Fournier or here for Sperati forgeries, part 1 or Sperati forgeries, part 2 and finally France Ceres type, Sperati forgeries, part 3 (Bordeaux).


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