The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
MAKING COUNTERFEIT STAMPS
TRiPS SIR ABROAD FOR THE
AMERICAN COLLECTOR.
ital, and Spain SkiIful In the Fraudulent
Worl-Large Quantities Of Poor Iml-
tatlOns Turned out by Germanl-Jap-
anese Bogus stamps sold 80 Tourists.

antst bOEhs stamps SOFA 20 lOUTlNts
While the counterfeiting Of rare stamps
has almost been stopped in this country
said stamp dealer, still there are many
expert engravers in other countries who
ara continually turning out copies Of some
OF the rarest issues Perhaps Germany
leads all the rest in the number of bogus
stamps made but the oleverest engravers
are in Italy and SPAN, while Japan comes
in close fourth
One OF the big dealers Of this city re-
ceived the other day from an Italian stamp
dealer a specimen Of a Baltimore ten cent
stamp which, after close examination. was
held TO be a counterfeit, and Of n character
TO deceive any ono but an expert There is
reason to suspect that counterfeits Of a
five cent Baltimore stamp are also in cir
culoton
The counterfeit ton cent Baltimore is
an imitation Of the second Of the three
known varieties of this stamp tits thought
that it was made by some Photographic
process, and while very like the original
still il differs in minor details The prin-
cipal differences are in the color Of paper
and printing ink and in the writing ink used
for the cancellation.
These Baltimore stamps are worth any,
where from $500 to 81 400. which price was
paid for one specimen Of the ten cent
Baltimore. and is the highest price ever
paid for an American stamp.
In Barcelona. Spain, there are also some
of the finest stamp engravers in the world.
and one man in particular is said to be the
most skilful engraver ever known. He
can make reproduction 81 any stamp.
no matter how intricate, which will de-
ceivo the most expert
This is a regular business with him.
Spanish laws permit Of the reproduction Of
stamps provided they bear word equiva-
lent to fac-simile This engraver makes
stamps which. If genuine. would be worth
thousands II dollars. but which he sells for
nhout 80 cents each. On each ono il the
Spanish word for imitation in small let
fers
When n steamer arrives at Yokohama
Or any other Of the big Japanese seaports
Il is common thing for Japanese peddlers I
10 come aboard with nicely mounted sheets [
bearing all issues Of tho common and rare /
Japanese and Formosa stamps Tho whole 1
set Is offered for Eve yen, which amounts I
10 about SIS This is apparently dirt
cheap for such stamps.
The rare stamps on these sheets arc
in every instance. Tho com
noner varieties can he bought for 10 cents
Z hundred, and these are mixed with the
mutations 40 that the whole outfit has the
lppearanor OF being genuine
The JAPANESE Government doesn't pro-
1ibit the imitation u stamps. but they
must bear he word showing that they are
'oples. This word is printed as a rule in
uch a manner as 70 convey no information
o foreigners.
Since the beginning Of the Russo
japanese War japanese counterfeiters have
'een turning out immense quantities OF
apane-e and Corean stamps The jap
nose don attempt 10 counterfeit the
lamps Of any other country eTcert their
Vn and Corea
Germany is the country where most Of