... Estonian Forgeries ...
1919


Mi 12


Forgery
Original

The first Viking ship issues (Mi #12-13) were printed on two different paper types. The 1st issue in 1919 (Type x) was printed on white compact paper, while the 2nd issue in 1920 (Type y) was printed on coarse grey paper. All known forgeries of these issues by Jaan Lubi are printed on a grey paper type similar to the 2nd issue [1]. The most important design characteristics to distinguish originals from forgeries are:

  1. The inner edge of the black frame on original issues has rather pointed spikes with even distances. On forgeries the spikes are more rounded with uneven distances.
  2. The heads of the vikings in the ship are clearly separated from the spears on original issues, but connected on forgeries.
  3. The design lines in the sail and the wavelines under the ship are much wider on forgeries than on original issues.
  4. The shields along the ship are distinctly separated on originals, but partly connected on forgeries.

There are also a number of other differences in design details, e.g. in the frame around the values.

Original
Forgery


Forgery
Original


Mi 13


Forgery
Original

Original

Forgery



Forgery
Original

Source:

1. E. Sjøgren: "Distinguishing features of Jaan Lubi forgeries of Estonian stamps II", Eesti Filatelist #29, 1983