Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW) 24 Mar 2021 12:59:29pm
I now have five out of six 1946 B.C.O.F. colour trial proofs. Only a few weeks ago I found out that the 1d with red overprint is a forgery confirmed by Chris Ceremuga. A very good example of a forgery overprinted on a MUH stamp giving a fine example of what should have been a genuine trial proof.
To collect all B.C.O.F trial proofs is a very difficult project, I originally had six of the seven trial proofs, the trial proof missing is the 3d with red overprint. I thought I was doing well with six in my possession, well I thought I had six, and so did the specialists I bought it from.
When I spoke to Chris Ceremuga an internationally known expertiser, after picking up the stamp plus others he had expertised for me, I was taken aback when I was told the 1d B.C.O.F with the red overprint was a forgery, yes, a forgery; and a very good one at that.
As the forgery is as old as the authentic stamp (the forgery is about 75 years old and in pristine condition), the ink being about the same age, further examination with advanced equipment to identify if the proper ink was used had also detected fine imperfections of the font exposing the deception.
I now have a near perfect forgery where the font looks exactly like the real thing. The forger also used a new stamp of the time and placed the red overprint onto the stamp, now he has a trial proof (trial proof forgeries are very scarce).
I do not collect forgeries as a rule, unless they are a Sperati, I now have four proofs; the others I do know are real as they are certified by Ceremuga.
As you can see, the forged overprint looks exactly like the authentic overprints on the other trial proofs.
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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 24 Mar 2021 02:55:24pm
re: A forgery of the B.C.0.F. 1d trial proof with red overprint
I'm just curious - if the forgery is so good, how does the appraiser make his/her decision? Are there any appraisers in our group who can explain? Do they just know their area so well that it is obvious to them?
Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW) 24 Mar 2021 09:01:19pm
re: A forgery of the B.C.0.F. 1d trial proof with red overprint
Hi Harvey
Chris Ceremuga who has been a full-time expertiser for 22 years is a world renowned expertiser and has the necessary equipment to detect forgeries no matter how good they are, I have many of his certificates as they are accepted world-wide.
His webpage explains a lot more about his expertise in Philately.
re: A forgery of the B.C.0.F. 1d trial proof with red overprint
Hi Rob
That is why Philately is known as the hobby of Kings and Commoners.
There is always something new to find, and it has always been the amateur who has discovered all the great classic errors and rarities for the wealthy to purchase.
Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW) 26 Mar 2021 08:57:42pm
re: A forgery of the B.C.0.F. 1d trial proof with red overprint
The mystery here, that someone as good as this forger would forge a low value stamp instead of the high value stamp such as the 5/- which had a lower printing and would have been more sought after by collectors.
Rob
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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 03 Apr 2021 10:36:51pm
re: A forgery of the B.C.0.F. 1d trial proof with red overprint
".... The mystery here, that someone as good as this forger
would forge a low value stamp instead of the high value
stamp such as the 5/- which had a lower printing and would
have been more sought after
y collectors. ...."
Perhaps the forger is so good that his efforts on higher
value stamps has yet to be detected ?
Or the forger used a variation of the Mr. 888's principle?
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "