Big Blue 1840-1940 Stamp blog

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/04/egypt-1872-1874-75-issues-2pi-2-12pi.html

Egypt 1872 & 1874-75 Issues: 2pi, 2 1/2pi, & 5pi Differences?

The higher denominations (2pi, 2 1/2pi, 5pi) for the 1872 & 1874-75 printings pose their own identification challenges. But unlike the preceding post in this series ( 20pa, 1pi), there are no lithographic stamps to consider; They are all typographic.

Interested? Check out the link.

1867 Scott 11a 20pa blue green
Type 2

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/05/four-types-of-1867-egypt-20-para-green.html

The 1867 lithographic issue presents some very interesting challenges for the collector: Namely the differences among the four engravings resulted in four major types on the stones, so that any block of four will have the four types. For a sheet of 200, there will be 50 of each type.

What makes it even more challenging is the information on the four types isn't easily found. Yes, the Egypt specialist literature has it, but all the major catalogs do not give specific information.

Well, I went on a quest to find the four types each of the six denominations.

So far, I have four types for the 5pa orange (link above -scroll up), three types for the 10pa lilac, two types for the 1pi rose red, two types for the 2pi blue, and one type for the 5pi brown.

Finding more type used copies of the 10pa, 1pi, and 2pi is still feasible (CV $10+), but, budget wise, probably not for the 5pi (CV $200).

I will continue to try to obtain all four types for the 10pa, 1pi, & 2pi denominations. I can scan @1200, and pick up all the subtle changes seen in types - the pics and scans available elsewhere are of lower resolution.

Now the good news: I also have all four types for the 20 Para greens! So here we go!

Interested? Check the link!

1853 SG 2 (Sc2a) 4 pence deep blue/ deeply blued paper

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/06/cape-of-good-hope-triangulars-1853-1864.html

For TSF members that have been following the COGH thread, you are aware that I have been interested in COGH triangulars lately. With the huge help of Chris (Beryllium Guy) - I have been able to know much more about them.

The blog post (linked above) and those that follow are my attempt to provide a basic approach for the 1840-1940 classical era collector.

Enjoy!

1864 Stanley Gibbons 19 4d deep blue "Hope" Seated
Scott 13 4p dark blue; De La Rue "Wooly" Print

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/07/cape-of-good-hope-triangulars-1853-1864.html

This is a continuation and concluding discussion for evaluating the COGH Four Pence Blues (Part B).

The Four Pence Blues introduction (Part A) is here.

Thanks Chris (Beryllium Guy ) for the considerable help!

COGH 1853 SG 3 1p brick red/ slightly blued paper
Scott 1 brick red/ bluish paper

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/08/cape-of-good-hope-triangulars-1853-64.html

The One Pence Reds, intended initially for newspapers, offers a nice challenge for collectors, not the least that the CV runs in the $300-$400 range, about 2-3X as much as the Four Pence Blues.

It follows much like the history of Great Britain 1841-1869 One Penny Reds/ Two Penny Blues, also manufactured by Perkins, Bacon, in the complexity of the issues.

This One Pence Part A post is the third in the COGH series. It will cover the Perkins, Bacon One Pence issued stamps of 1853 (blued paper) and 1855-58 (white paper). The Part B post, the next one, will review the 1863-64 De La Rue One Penny issues.

Again, much thanks to Chris (Beryllium Guy) of TSF, who served as mentor while I was attempting to "get up to speed' on these One Penny Reds. Thanks Chris!

Chris (Beryllium Guy ) - Your comments are spot on. Yes, indeed the COGH triangles are a significant and very interesting issue! And I will have 2-3 more posts about the COGH triangles before I am finished.   

(Don't worry about the careful progress on your own article. It is marinating, and getting better by the day. When it comes out, it will be worth it.)

Previously, I have turned my philatelic magnifying glass on other countries early series, just not the same issue. 

Example: Early Austria

Austria & LV: 1850 "Coat of Arms"

Austria & LV: 1858-59 Issue

Austria & LV: 1860-64 Issues

Austria 1867-84: Franz Josef's Whiskers - Coarse or Fine?

Austria 1867-84 5k rose: a study

Another excellent segment on the Cape Triangles, Jim (jkjblue)!

I will need to update the bibliography for my article again, but I don’t mind, as it is great to see you putting some good information out there.

I am closing in on getting my article finished. I estimate that it is about 80% done. It is due by mid-September, so despite my slowness, still on track for publication.

Anyway, congratulations again on your latest!

Chris (Beryllium Guy) - thanks for the compliment - this post was the easiest of the four (so far) to complete. 

I am so glad your article is getting close to being done. I can't wait to see the results. !!

FYI, I am preparing a post on COGH 4d blue sulfuretting and treatment with many examples shown. Should be published on my blog around Nov 30th. 

Portuguese India 1880 Scott 69 50r dark blue
"Portuguese Crown"
Fournier Forgery

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/09/portuguese-colonies-crown-issues.html

The "Portuguese Crown" issues for the Portuguese colonies offer a challenge for the WW collector.

For Angola, they are found in various Perfs and paper thickness: altogether 29 bolded numbers in Scott for nine denominations. Reprints (1885, 1905) of these issues on smooth white chalky paper or ivory paper were also produced.

There are also some minor number color variations.

But all the above is not the real problem. Unfortunately, there are plentiful forgeries. The major players were Fournier and Spiro, but there were others also.

Let's talk about the Fournier forgeries of the "Portuguese Crown" issues for Angola and the other Portuguese colonies.

As it turns out, Fournier first used the Angola "Portuguese Crown" issue for his forgery template. That consequently makes it more difficult to tell Fournier forgeries apart from the genuines for Angola, as they appear ( without close scrutiny and certain signs) to be identical. There will be much more about this later with the next post.

For the other Portuguese colonies, the design of the genuines are somewhat different than Angola's design. But Fournier kept some of the attributes of his Angola forgeries for the other Portuguese colonies forgeries, which makes it easier to spot a Fournier forgery for the other Portuguese colonies.

Interested? Check out the link above for a general introduction to the Fournier forgeries for the Portuguese colonies "Crown" issues.

gstamps - Sorry, your attached image is not coming through. If your question is about Gen/Forgery Angola "Crown" stamps, I suggest you wait until the next blog post on this subject is published in two weeks. It may answer your question. 

Angola 1877 Scott 9 300r chocolate
"Portuguese Crown"; Perf 13 1/2
Genuine

bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/10/angola-1870-77-crown-issue-genuine-vs.html

The Fournier forgeries are ubiquitous when it comes to the Portuguese colonies "Crown" issues of the 19th century. They are found for all of the Portuguese crown colonies that have this issue. Our most recent post looked at the differences between the Genuines and the Fournier forgeries that apply for ALL of the Portuguese colonies EXCEPT Angola. The conclusion was it is not too difficult to differentiate the Genuines from the Fournier forgeries.

For review, see bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2022/09/portuguese-colonies-crown-issues.html

Now it is Angola's turn.

And here indeed it gets more difficult.

And there is a surprising twist.

Interested?

Check out the links above.

Thanks gstamps for the info from the Michel catalog. The Typo/Litho between Genuine/Forgery is helpful.

I think the Line Perforation for forgeries is indeed a good sign. I will add it to the blog post. Thanks again! 

What an absolutely amazing blog, bookmarked for sure!

Great stuff jkjblue ; I have enjoyed your postings in the thread and those on the Portuguese Crown issues, especially.


I am not sure if that is a topic or path you want to follow, but folks should be aware...


Have fun and happy collecting!