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SWITZERLAND forgeries of the 1850 issue, part 3, SPERATI forgeries

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Sperati forgeries

Sperati made several forgeries of these stamps
2 1/2 r (Ortspost) Reproduction A and B (types 37 and 38; also exist printed together), reproduction C (constant cancel)
2 1/2 r (Poste Locale) Reproduction A and B (also printed together), reproduction C, reproduction D (constant cancel), reproduction E, reproduction F, reproduction G;
Without cross: type 28,
5 r blue and red (Rayon I), type 4 with cross, type 14 with cross,
10 r (Rayon II) type 11 with cross, type 12 with cross,
10 r (Rayon II) strip of three consisting of types 30-31-32,
15 r (Rayon III small figures), type 4 (constant cancel) and type 9.
15 cts. (Rayon III), type 1 (constant cancel) and type 3.

Sperati forgeries are quite rare and sought after.


ORTSPOST

Images obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'A' (left) and 'B' (right), pretending to be types 37 and 38. Sperati also made these reproductions without the black framed cross.

Reproduction 'A' has a blotch of black color on the top right hand side of the 'S' of 'ORTS' and some smudges in the black line below the 'P' of 'POST'. The large '2' has a missing piece at the top right hand side.


Sperati forgery of the 2 1/2 r 'ORTS-POST' stamp; Reproduction 'B'

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Proof of Reproduction 'C' with a constant cancel

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'C' with constant cancel. However, in the forgery on the right hand side, Sperati seems to have 'enhanced' the cancel by drawing it in by hand.


I've been told that this is a Sperati forgery, but it does not resemble Reproduction A,B or C....


POSTE LOCALE

Images obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproductions 'A' and 'B'. Reproduction 'A' has a oblique line through the right bottom part of the 'p' of 'Rp'. Reproduction 'B' has an extending left horizontal line of the 'A' of 'LOCALE'. Furthermore there is a small break in the black line below this letter.


Zoom-in of Reproductions 'A' and 'B'

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'C' with some black dots in the 'O' of 'LOCALE' and a scratch line through the bottom right part of the 'R' of 'Rp'.

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Proof of Reproduction 'D' with constant 'P.P.' cancel.


Reproduction 'D'

Image obtained from Richard Frajola's website Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'E' has the white cross not horizontal on top, but pointed (otherwise extremely deceptive).

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'F' has two white dots in the vertical left part of the 'R' of 'Rp'.

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'G' has black smudge to the right of the center of the large '2'. I've also seen it without the black frame around the central cross.


Distinguishing characteristic of Reproduction 'G'.


Sperati 'proofs' in black of the 2 1/2 r Poste Locale (Reproduction 'E' and 'G')

 


RAYON I

5 Rp black and red on blue

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
So-called Frame 'A', Cross 'A' Sperati forgery; pretending to be genuine type 39.

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
So-called Frame 'B', Cross 'A' reproduction; pretending to be genuine type 6; it is often (not always) found with this 'PP' cancel in the same position. The 'O' of 'RAYON' is broken at the bottom.

5 Rp blue and red

Reproduction A

With Cross Sperati Reproduction 'A' with frame, image obtained from a Sotheby auction Sperati Reproduction A. Image obtained from a Sotheby auction Genuine type 4 stamp
Reproduction A (with and without cross) and genuine stamp of type 4

Reproduction 'A' has a break in the outer frameline just below the upper left corner. It was intended to be type 4 of the genuine stamps. The mouthpiece of the horn is not properly done according to the BPA. I've seen it with and without frame around the cross.

Reproduction B:

Reproduction 'B', image obtained from a Sotheby auction
'Proof' of Reproduction 'B'

Reproduction 'B', image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'B' and genuine type 14 (black and red on blue stamp, which has the same types as the blue and red stamps).

Reproduction 'B' is pretending to be genuine position 14 of the plate. I'm not sure what the distinguishing characteristics are for this stamp. The mentioned dot in front of the '5' by the BPA also occurs in the genuine stamp. The horizontal line in the 'A' of 'RAYON' is not connected to the right leg of this letter. The 'Y' of this word has some smudges to the left top part.


RAYON II

Reproduction A

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Left Sperati 'Reproduction A', right genuine type 11 stamp.

Reproduction 'A' is very deceptive, it is intended to be type 11 of the genuine stamps. There should be some defects at the right hand side of the 'A' of 'RAYON' and at the head of the vertical part of the 'R' of 'Rp'. But these differences are very hard to spot.

Reproduction B

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Proof of Reproduction 'B'

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Right: genuine type 12

Reproduction 'B' intends to be type 12 of the genuine stamps. Reproduction 'B' has a dot to the right of the 'Y' of 'RAYON', another dot in the frameline just above the 'O' of this word and yet another dot to the right of the 'N' of the same word. Also, a thick black dot can be found in the right hand side of the stamp, just to the left of the bottom loop (above 'Rp'.) in the yellow section (see the above proof, since the Sperati forgery with cancel has the dot almost covered with the cancel).

Reproduction C,D and E

Reproductions C,D and E are often printed together and represent types 30, 31 and 32 of the genuine stamp.

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
From left to right Sperati Reproductions 'C', 'D' and 'E'.

Type 32
Genuine types 31 and 32.

Reproductions 'D' and 'E' have a dent in the upper part of the 'p' of 'Rp'. Reproduction 'C' has a small imperfection in the upper frameline, close to the right hand side. Sperati also made Reproductions 'C', 'D' and 'E' without the central black frameline.


Sperati forgery on letter, the cancel "FRAUENFELD 31/8" was also forged by him.


RAYON III, 15 Rp, Small figures

Image obtained from a Sotheby auction
Reproduction 'A' has a constant cancel (always in the same position); here a 'proof'.


Reproduction 'B', the top of the right hand side of the 'Y' of 'RAYON' is broken.


RAYON III, 15 Cts


Reproduction 'A' has the cancel always in the same spot (constant cancel) and can therefore easily be recognized.


Sperati Reproduction 'B". The top righ part of the 'A' of RAYON' has an extentsion, the 'O' of this word has smudges in it. There is a red dot above the 't' of 'Cts'.


Copyright by Evert Klaseboer