FORGED POSTMARKS, ODDITIES and POSSIBLE "FUNNY BUSINESS"

[Ross Ewington]

Just spotted recently ..... a forged BN52 on an imperf 1d Chalon (numeral wmk) with a cleaned
fiscal cancel.
[attachment=0]BN52 forgery.jpg[/attachment]

A much larger image of this item can be viewed at http://tsauctions.com/bb/bn52%20forgery%20large.jpg

If you have an example of this cancel or any information as to it's origin, please post an image, etc in this topic.

[Ross Ewington]

I guess this item fits under the "funny business" aspect to this category .... more like a couple of unsubstantiated claims though.

This item was listed on eBay during April 2012

dud bn72.jpg (132.1 KiB) Viewed 7274 times

The first claim that BN72 (either type) has not been seen is not true - Hardinge rates BN72 as 'RRRRR', not NNS.

The second claim that this is an example of BN72 is rather fanciful to say the least.

I wrote to the vendor and he thanked me politely for my assistance ...I think he then added 'may be 73 or 74' but certainly did not change the
original claim in the description header!

yet again ...caveat emptor ! (fortunately, there were no bids on this item when I 'captured' an image about 8 hours before closure)

[Ross Ewington]

This is in the (not so) funny business category .....

eBay seller "yeoldecoinco' has been offering these photocopies from Part I and II of the "Green Books" for a while now

copyright infringement.jpg (204.43 KiB) Viewed 7036 times

As I understand it, according to the Australian 1968 Copyright Act, even if the photocopies constituted less than 10% of the publication (which they do not), it is illegal to SELL
such facsimiles of any publication still under copyright (the "Green Books" definitely are). This would also apply to selling such an item in any country which is a signatory to any
international copyright agreements with Australia.

read about it here

copyright infringement 2.jpg (155.5 KiB) Viewed 7036 times

and the entire act here
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2010C00476

I have sent a request to the seller via eBay for an image of the front page of the "publication" - I eagerly await a response.

Footnote: I received two responses from the vendor to general questions such as "can I have a scan of the front cover?" etc. He identified the publications without disclosing
that he is offering facsimiles for sale. I have the feeling that he has an ethics "blind spot" when it comes to offering such material for sale but then ignorance of the law is not a defence.

[Ross Ewington]

A QUERY RE BN361 (PIEMAN BRIDGE)

I have seen several nearly identical strikes of BN361 on 2d Pictorials over the last 10 years or so

...here's a couple I managed to keep images of

bn361 pieman bridge 2.jpg (105.46 KiB) Viewed 6741 times

bn361 pieman bridge.jpg (136.25 KiB) Viewed 6741 times

with 'hollow' numbers and smudged bars is it possible that these are not the real thing? I cannot recall
any other barred numeral cancellers producing consistent 'hollow' numbers.

Also, the second example above is not on a recess printed stamp!

If you have an example of BN361 that looks different than these or you have information about this 'suspicious' cancel, can you please post it here?

[Malcolm Groom]

The 361 numeral is known used late at Mt Hicks Upper on the 2d lithographed. I have seen it tied on cover and the numeral looked worn and hollow

Malcolm

[Ross Ewington]

thanks Malcolm ...I forgot about the re-allocation to Mount Hicks Upper and it's late use (to 1902 I think)

what do you think about the top of the '1'? It doesn't appear to be the correct shape?

[Malcolm Groom]

I found my scan which shows the tie to Mount Hicks Road

Mount Hicks Road.jpg (170.66 KiB) Viewed 6739 times

[Jerry Weirich]

Here is another forged BN52 cancel. A comparison of this forged BN52 with the 3 known genuine BN52 types shows distinct differences. This forgery is also different from the forged BN52 that Ross posted earlier under this topic. I captured this scan several years ago from an online auction site but don't remember from where.

BN52 fake.jpg (26.26 KiB) Viewed 6269 times

[Jerry Weirich]

Heads up and buyers beware! A number of fake BN cancels have just shown up on ebay. The vendor is from Belgium and I saw about 20 different lots that showed various BNs (numbers 16, 52, 59, 81, and Hobart dumb cancel) applied over fiscally used stamps. Attached is one example.

BN59 fake cancel.jpg (68 KiB) Viewed 5779 times

[admin]

Jerry,
I have just seen the same lots. It would not surprise me at all to see a fiscal cancel with a BN indicating reuse of a duty stamp for postage but it does look very unusual in that there is such a large number of multiples of the 6d and 1/- values with good BN cancells. Heres another Ebay item number from matthijs_philatelie: 373025983856 These items are already getting bids.

Pete

[Jerry Weirich]

Pete -- In my opinion, these are not reuse of fiscally used stamps and they are not good BN cancels. I have compared the numerals of all the items to genuine examples and all the numerals are different from the originals indicating to me they are fakes. Jerry

[admin]

Very happy to accept your opinion on this Jerry. There have also been fake first allocation BNs on eBay coming our of Sydney for a while as well. I think the stamps are fake too - possibly colour photocopies. I wonder if they are related.

Fake First Alloc.jpg (60.08 KiB) Viewed 5769 times

[John Campton]

Yes have noticed a few more than usual fiscal use Chalons with Barred Numerals offered for sale. Spring Hill has had a few appear recently. I have attached the images for perusal.

BN 85 on shilling Chalon.jpg (205.5 KiB) Viewed 5758 times

BN 85 with fiscal use.jpg (203.89 KiB) Viewed 5758 times

[John Hardinge]

the 85 is the most convincing but all are fakes. The top bar of the 59 is more sloped than the original. 60 the spacing between the bars is greater etc.