... Estonian Forgeries ...
1920


Mi 21
Invalids


Forgery
Original

The so-called "Invalids" issues (Mi #21-22) have a rather poor printing quality, and there are several plate errors in borders and ornaments. There are no particular characteristics in the paper quality to distinguish originals from forgeries. The easiest mathod is to check the features of the faces of the people in the central motive. The faces are rather poorly drawn also on the original issues, but are completely missing on the forgeries [1]. Furthermore, the following characteristics can be noted [2]:

  1. Original issues have a rather even print, but with many spots in the red colour. The forgeries have a much more uneven print with even more spots.
  2. The "Sun rays" over the center motive have uneven thickness and are frequently broken on ORIGINAL stamps. On the forgeries the rays are thicker, more even and almost totally unbroken.
  3. The olive margins around the center motive are somewhat thicker with a larger "lump" in the end on forgeries than on originals.
  4. The oak leaves on the sides of the center motive have wavy edges and sharp ends on the originals, but are more rounded with less distinct waves on forgeries.
Forgery
Original


Original
Forgery


Mi 22


Forgery
Original

Forgeries of Mi #22 have a clear blue green colour with even printing, while the original stamps have a more greyish blue colour with uneven printing with many spots. Apart from the missing face and details of the persons in the center motive, the following characteristics can be noted [2]:

  1. The birds around the motive have uneven edges but rather pointed wings on original issues. On the forgeries the birds have more even edges but rounded wings.
  2. The crosses in the corners of the stamps are drawn with very thin lines on the originals, thicker and frequently broken on the  forgeries.
  3. The letters have uneven edges but more precise form on originals, more even edges but less precise form on the forgeries.

Forgery
Original

Original
Forgery

Sources:

  1. "Focus on Forgeries - Estonia: 1920 35-penna+10p Aid to the Wounded semipostal stamp", Linn's Stamp News, 1993
  2. E. Sjoegren: "Distinguishing features of Jaan Lubi forgeries of Estonian stamps II", Eesti Filatelist #29, 1983