1. Height of surcharge is 6 mm
2. Distance between number and bar is 4 3/4 mm
3. Total width of numbers is 4 3/4 mm
4. Width of bar is 4 3/4 mm (See comments below!)
5. Inner width of "0" is 3/4 mm
6. Equal height of "1" and "0"

Billig's Handbook describes three different forgeries of this surcharge which deviates considerably from the criteria above, but NONE of my stamps fulfill criterium #4 above. As the enlargements show, the cancelling bar on one stamp is centered under the numbers but only 4.60-4.65 mm wide. The other two enlargements also fulfill ALL the criteria above except no. 4. The cancelling bars are only 4.50 mm wide, too short either to the right or to the left.

These deviations are caused by inaccurate printing which is not referred in Billig's Handbook.

T. Hitzler, Munchen:
- All the shown stamps are genuine - no doubt! The original overprints show some squeezing signs from the typography and the bogus ones not. And most of the time they show a clear impression into the paper. In my opinion all overprints with clear impression and an even color with squeeze remnats have to be geniune.

N. Penev, Varna:
- I fully agree with Mr. Hitzler's opinion. Original overprints have really squeeze remnants from the black colour. I think your shown stamps are genuine. According to all bulgarian catalogues the measure for the width of the bar is 4.5 mm!

Original	Original

- Here are at least some samples of overprints which are definitely forgeries...

Forgery	Forgery

As a bonus, I also show some really homemade fantasy issues....

Forgery	Forgery

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Source:
- Billig's grosses Handbuch der Faelschungen, Part 34, Vienna, 1937

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