... Estonian Forgeries ...
1920/23

Mi 14, 41-45
Airmail


Forgery

Original

Many different forgeries of these famous triangle air mail issues exist, both as single triangles (Mi #14, 41, 42) and double (tete-beche) triangles (Mi #43-45). Although the two main characteristics described in the previous page are normally sufficient to identify a forgery, it is possible to further distinguish between a fairly large number of forgeries due to minor varieties. This gallery will describe the different forgeries as presented in [1], with illustrations added as I get hold of them... Contributions are most welcome!



The infamous Simson-Kull organisation lithographed these issues in blocks of 8 clearly distinguishable plate types, as shown in the illustration to the left [1]. Most of the forgeries on the market today are of these 8 basic types. Corrections were made to the plates, however, and the number of varieties that can be identified from the Simson-Kull production is even higher. Note that the positions IIa and IIb are inverted compared to the other pairs!

Thanks to Simon Kelly, USA, I am also able to show a complete sheet of these forgeries (expertized by Eo Vaher)!




Ia1:
  1. Shading lines not quite parallel
  2. Upper right shading lines crowded
  3. "O" in "OHU" smaller, but slightly thicker on left side
  4. Larger circular ornaments over shading lines
  5. Occurs tete-beche with Ib1
  6. Note that there seems to be correct no. of shading lines to the left of EESTI (9) on this issue!
    7.




Ia2:
  1. Top ornament and outer frame broken on right side
  2. Shading lines not quite parallel
  3. Upper right shading lines crowded
  4. "O" in "OHU" smaller, but slightly thicker on left side
  5. Larger circular ornaments over shading lines
  6. Occurs tete-beche with Ib2
  7. Note that there seems to be correct no. of shading lines to the left of EESTI (9) on this issue!

Ib1:
  1. Shading lines around "OHU" very poor and irregular
  2. Missing circular ornament over right shading lines
  3. Break in 4th and 6th shading lines next to "EESTI"

These types with missing circular ornament are the easiest to spot in internet auctions with even the smallest pictures...


Ib2:
  1. Shading lines around "OHU" improved, but floating together by "EESTI"
  2. Missing circular ornament over right shading lines
  3. Break in 4th and 6th shading lines next to "EESTI"
  4. Hair line from right frame apex to top ornament (hidden by perforation!)
    5.


IIa1:
  1. Shading lines good, but not quite equidistant and parallel
  2. Small dent in outer frame
  3. "U" in "OHU" not quite symmetrical
  4. Accent mark of "O" touches or almost touches the "O"
  5. Bottom two shading lines next to "E" touch or almost touch each other
    6.


IIa2:
  1. Shading lines good, but not quite equidistant and parallel
  2. "U" in "OHU" not quite symmetrical
  3. Accent mark of "O" in "OHU" touches or almost touches the "O"
  4. Bottom two shading lines next to "E" touch or almost touch each other
  5. Irregular frame line and ornament at apex


IIb1:
  1. Inner frame lines slightly closer together under EESTI
  2. Shading lines fairly parallel but not equidistant
  3. Large round ornaments over shading lines
  4. Tiny dot above "O" in "OHU"



IIb2:
  1. Apex of outer frame strongly blunted
  2. Outer frame line and ornament broken on top
  3. No dot above "O" in "OHU"
  4. Inner frame lines slightly closer together under EESTI
  5. Shading lines fairly parallel but not equidistant
  6. Large round ornaments over shading lines

IIIa:
  1. Shading lines good, but not quite equidistant and parallel
  2. "U" not quite symmetrical
  3. Accent mark of "O" in "OHU" touches or almost touches the "O"
  4. Bottom two shading lines next to "E" touch or almost touch each other
  5. Large dot after "EE"

IIIb1:
  1. Inner frame lines slightly closer together under EESTI
  2. Shading lines fairly parallel but not equidistant
  3. Large round ornaments over shading lines
  4. Small "hump" on left outer frame line (line sometimes broken)
  5. Large dot on left stem of "V" in "VIIS"
Note also the fake perforation on this particular sample!


IIIb2:
  1. Inner frame lines slightly closer together under EESTI
  2. Shading lines fairly parallel but not equidistant
  3. Large round ornaments over shading lines
  4. Left outer frame line repaired
  5. Large dot on left stem of "V" in "VIIS"

IVa1:
  1. Shading lines not quite parallel
  2. Upper right shading lines crowded
  3. "O" in "OHU" smaller, but slightly thicker on left side
  4. Left frame line broken
  5. Left round ornament distorted
  6. Two tiny dots next to "S"


IVa2:
  1. Shading lines not quite parallel
  2. Upper right shading lines crowded
  3. "O" in "OHU" smaller, but slightly thicker on left side
  4. Left frame line and ornament reparied
  5. Two tiny dots next to "S"
  6. Tiny dot above top shade line next to "O" in "OHU"


IVb:
  1. Shading lines around "OHU" very poor and irregular
  2. Missing circular ornament over right shading lines
  3. Break only in 6th shading line next to "EESTI"
  4. Slight indentation in outer frame line next to "ST"


The Simson-Kull forgeries described above are the most common to be found on the market. However, a number of other forgeries with unknown origin can also be distinguished, although these seem to exist in much smaller quantities. I will add these to this gallery if I get hold of them....


Source:

1. P. G. Gleason: Estonian Airmail Forgeries, Eesti Filatelist No. 18-19, 1976

This page made with contributions from S. Kelly, USA, B. Stoten, UK, and M. Willems, Holland