Glossary Term

Forgery

A forgery is an imitation of a genuine stamp, overprint or postmark made to deceive — either the post office, to avoid paying postage, or collectors, to sell a copy as genuine.

Also known as: counterfeit, fake, postal forgery, philatelic forgery, facsimile

A forgery is a copy of a stamp — or of an overprint, surcharge or postmark — made to deceive. Forgeries have existed nearly as long as stamps themselves, and learning to recognise them is one of the most important skills a collector can develop.

Types of Forgery

Postal forgeries are made to defraud the postal service: someone prints copies of a current stamp and uses them to pay postage without paying the post office. Because they have genuinely passed through the mail, postal forgeries on cover are frequently collected and can be worth more than the genuine stamp.

Philatelic forgeries are made to deceive collectors. They usually copy scarce, expensive stamps and are sold as genuine.

Facsimiles are openly acknowledged reproductions, sometimes marked “facsimile” or “fac-simile”. They become deceptive when the marking is removed.

  • Fakes — genuine stamps altered to appear more valuable: added overprints, altered cancellations, regumming, repaired thins, reperforating.
  • Bogus stamps — designs that never existed.
  • Forged cancellations — false postmarks applied to mint stamps whose used value is higher, or to make a cover appear genuinely used.

Detecting Forgeries

Check each feature in turn:

  • Printing method. A recess-printed original has raised, sharp lines; a lithographed forgery appears flat. A magnifier often reveals the difference immediately.
  • Paper and watermark. Many forgeries are on the wrong paper or lack the watermark.
  • Perforation gauge. Forgers frequently get the gauge wrong.
  • Design details. Specialist handbooks list small points — a missing line, a mis-shaped letter — that separate genuine from forged.
  • Colour. Compare with a genuine copy or colour guide.

For any expensive stamp, insist on an expert certificate from a respected authority such as the Royal Philatelic Society London, the British Philatelic Association, the American Philatelic Expertizing Service or the Philatelic Foundation.

Famous Forgers

Jean de Sperati (1884–1957) produced forgeries so skilful that experts struggled to detect them; his work is now collected. François Fournier (1846–1917) of Geneva mass-produced imitations of stamps from many countries, and his stock was later sold off as a reference collection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forgery

What is the difference between a postal forgery and a philatelic forgery?

A postal forgery is made to defraud the post office by using copies instead of buying real stamps; these are often collected in their own right. A philatelic forgery is made to deceive collectors by passing a copy off as a valuable genuine stamp.

How can I tell if a stamp is forged?

Compare it closely with a genuine example or catalogue illustration, checking printing method, paper, watermark, perforation gauge and fine design details. For valuable stamps, obtain a certificate from a recognised expertising body.

Who were famous stamp forgers?

Jean de Sperati, who worked in France and Italy in the first half of the 20th century, produced forgeries so convincing that his work is now collected. François Fournier of Geneva produced vast numbers of copies of stamps from around the world.

Related Terms

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