PART OF PHILATELIC EXPERTS WEB SITE
INCLUDING STAMP FORGERY GUIDE –
information on stamp expertising and identification of forgeries.

FORGED POSTMARKS WORLDWIDE
on mainly pre-1920 stamps

Many of these fakes are still very common today, especially the CTOs of Luxembourg, Montenegro, San Marino, Liberia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Salvador and Ecuador. My main sources are German stamp catalogues, books and magazines published up to about 1920 – information that perhaps is largely forgotten by today's general collectors or available only in specialised country handbooks. More recent postmark fakes are generally excluded from this list. Pre-1920 postmarks from my other lists (see links below) are repeated here for easy reference.

Most of the post markers here are forged, but also some fraudulently used genuine cancellers are included. The postage stamps themselves are usually authentic. In this list the presentation of dates and names may have been simplified and lower case letters are used. Of course no list like this one can come even close to being complete, but my intention is still to make improvements here from time to time.

Compiled by G. Kock  11.2006–2010
 Blum forgeries, other German forged postmarks.  Finnish postmarks.  Commonwealth.
Contact information here.  Address of this page: www.filatelia.fi/forgeries/forged_postmarks.html


E U R O P E
AUSTRIA
PO Turkey: Alexandrien: 10/6, 10/7 78, 18/8 [88], 8 or 5 or 2/?? ??.
Constantinople: 9/3 83, 20/6 85, 8/?? ??, 10/8 ?? (note second T), 10/9 ??, 11/10, Constan-tinople I 8/3 87, Constantinople III 23/7 9?.
Filippopel: 21/10, 5 or 9 or 25/??.
Galatz: 10/7.
Giurgevo: 7/10.
Jerusalem: 1/7 93.
Salonich Salonicco: 15 5 78, 6/7 87.
Schiffspostamt Constantinopel Varna: 3/4 75, 25/2 76, 3/4 83.
Smirna: 11/7 78.
Smirne: 22/8, 21/3 80, 26 6 85, 9 7 87.
BELGIUM
Characteristics of genuine postmarks. Time: before May 1897 1-M to 12-M or 1-S to 12-S, from then on 1 to 24. Month: before 1911 in words, from then on in Roman numbers. The below postmarks can be found on the 1894 and 1896 commemoratives, and on later issues.
Anvers: 15 mai 8-9 1894, 16 sept 19-20 1897, 5 or 19 nove 9-10 1901.
Bruges: 1 dece 8-M 1896.
Bruxelles: 3 sept 8-9 1894, 22 janv 10-M 1897, 5 avril 3-4 1897.
Bruxelles 5: 22 janv 10-M 1897.
Charleroi Station: 12 mai 18-19 1902.
Liege: 12 mars 1-2 1894, 18 or 19 juin 8-9 1897, 8 avril 10-11 1899.
St. Bernhard: 10.I.01, 14.II.01, 4.III.01, 12.IV.01, 7.VI.01, 21.VIII.01, 17.XI.01, 15.XII.01, 22.V.02, 30.VI.02, 24.VII.02, 27.IX.02, 25.X.02.
Eupen: Eupen: c19121c1 (no dots).
Malmedy: Malmedy: A11-221.15A.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Bjelina, K und K Milit Post XVI: 9.12.05.
Dol. Tuzla, K und K Milit Post: 4.IV.04, 22.IX.05.
D. Vakuf, K K Milit Post XV: 27.4.06.
Gradacac, K und K Milit Post: 22.12.04.
Plevlje, K und K Feldpostexpositur No 1: 27.IX.04, 12.IV.05, 1.X.05.
Prjepolje, K und K Feldpostexpositur No 1: 31.XII.04.
Prnjavor, K und K Milit Post: 2.12.05, 14.7.06.
Sansikomost, K und K Milit Post: 13.VIII.04.
Sarajevo, K und K Milit Post: (without date).
Sarajevo, K und K Milit Post XXXII: 19.10.06.
Sarajevo, K u K Militär-Postamt: 19.10.06.
Zavidovic, K und K Milit Post: 14.VI.04, 16.VIII.05.
FINLAND
All postmark fakes are listed here.
FRANCE
Colonies (their own issues): more than 50 diff. postmarks with the common properties that the date is made unreadable and the type of ink.
GERMANY
Altenkirchen: 20.9. (19th century).
Bad-Ems: 17.8.72.
Bebra: 21.6.01.
Berlin: 9/9 74.
Danzig: 10.8.83, 26.01.20.
Dortmund: 20.8.20.
Dresden 1: 15.11.20.
Frankfurt (Main): 10.6.12, 22.6.12.
Friedland Mrg: 16/2 (19th century).
Goerlitz-Bahnhof: 5.6.73.
Hungen: 24/8 (19th century).
Itzehoe: 7/3 2-5N (19th century).
Leipzig 2: -7.10.05.
Miltenberg: 6/3 (19th century).
Niedersedlitz: 13.12.72.
Reichenbach (Vogtl): 19.1.15.
Stutthof (Danzig): 28.1.20.
Weimar: 15.5.19, 21.5.19, 1.7.19.
Bavaria: Nürnberg II: 26 1 6Nm.
Hamburg: with stars at left and right, numerous dates, on genuine stamps and on reprints. Image.
Hamburg, St.P.A.: 17 8 6-7A.
Hamburg: 15.5.74.
Schleswig-Holstein: Sterup: - 12 1865 (CTO of 1865–66 stamps).
Wurttemberg: two common CTO-postmarks.
Alsace-Lorraine: Dieuze: 17.4.71.
Münster in Elsass: 17/12 70.
Colonies: Ost Useji [bogus name]: 7.12.01.
PO China: K D Feld-Poststation No 2: (various dates).
Amoy: 7/3 03.
Itschang: 24/1 07.
Shanghai: 15/2 87, 16/5 90, 26/4 95.
Tientsin: 16/7 95, 27/7 99, 27/7 01.
Tsintanfort: 26/1 98, 26/3 98.
Tsintanfort Marine Feld-Post: 26/1 98.
PO Morocco: Arsila: 12.5.11.
Tanger: 24.7.08, 25.11.09, 27.5.11, 18.6.11.
PO Turkey: Constantinopel: 13/11 73, 16/10 78, 17/11 81, 4.12.83, 15.9.85, 22.1.01 2-3N, 25.3.01 11-12V, 30.8.05 8-9V (all forged).
Constantinopel N.P.A.: 29/7 70.
Jaffa: 1.11.98.
Maritime POs (Deutsche Seepost; on various colonial stamps):
Australische Hauptlinie: 28/1 01.
Jaluit-Linie: 10/3 07.
Linie Hamburg-Westafrika: 18/8 04.
Neu-Guinea Zweiglinie (Hongkong): 7/12 01.
Neu-Guinea Zweiglinie (Singapore): 4/2 03.
Ost-Afrika Linie: 10/11 06, 24/3 09.
Ost-Afrikanische Hauptlinie: 27/2 05, 8/9 11.
Ost Asiatische Linie 5/10 00.
Sydney-Jaluit-Yap: 6.6.02.
Occupations: Gent (Belgien): 5.12.14.
GREECE See image.
HELIGOLAND
Heligoland: JY 23, JY 27, AU 20, DE 14 (all without year or just 18; on reprints), MY 13 85.
HUNGARY
Pecs 1: 916 Feb.3.
ICELAND
Hraungerdi: 17 8.
Reykjavik (in sans-serif letters instead of with serifs): 28 3, 10 4, 14 5, 25 6 (two), 28 8, 13 9, ?? 11, 9 12 (all on 1873 issue remainders).
ITALY
437: on 1879 30c and 1888 2l stamps.
PO abroad: 234 or 235 in dotted square, 234 or 235 or 437 or 3364 or 3862 or 3364 in bars.
LIECHTENSTEIN
Vaduz: 1.II.12 *b* (CTO of first issue), 12.IV.21.
LUXEMBOURG
The following CTO postmarks are found on the remainders of the 1875-82-93 issues +Official.
Echternach: 20.11.91.
Esch-sur-Alzette: 25.4.83, 22.5.83, 28.5.83, 22.9.83, 25.4.88, 25.4.89, 14.5.94, 14.5.98.
Ettelbruck B: 25.10.??
Luxemburg: 16.12.76, 4.11.86, 15.4.88.
Luxembourg-Ville: ??.11.88, 31.10.91.
Mersch: 28.?9.??.
Postes Relais Nr 13: 8.7.85.
Rodange: 31 7 86.
Rumelange: 10.11.??, 18.??.??.
MEMEL
Memel 1: 24.9.20, nd.
MONTENEGRO See image.
1: also dated 18/6. CTO.
2–5 (same device): dates: 8/3 □, 26/7 □, 2/11 □, 12/11 □, 26/7 9, 26/7 93, 12/10 □3, 26/2 96, 26/3 96, 26/7 96, 26/9 96, 26/9 97, 12/III 97, 26/7 97, 12/11 97, 26/7 98, 26/7 99. CTO.
6–7: forged.
8–9 (same device): CTO.
10: forged (vertical lines touch, cf. 11).
Type 11: CTO in violet-black on 1908 issue:
Cettigne: 28.III.08, 19.XII.09.
Chavnik: 10.III.08.
Niegouche: 6.V.07.
Podgoritza: 17.III.08, 27.VI.08.
Rieka: 27.III.08.
Velimlie: 7.IV.10.
PORTUGAL
Azores, Madeira Note that used stamps with genuine overprints have the following num. cancellations:
1853–69: 48 Angra do Heroismo, 49 Horta, 50 Ponta Delgada or 51 Funchal.
1870–78: 42 Angra do Heroismo, 43 Horta, 44 Ponta Delgada or 45 Funchal.
RUMANIA
Bukarest, Braila, etc: backdated cancellers used in heavy black ink on commem. issue of 1891.
SAN MARINO
In addition to cancelling by favour the 1892–99 remainders with backdated handstamps, new devices of old type were made. Dates for the latter: 7 mar 94, 15 nov 94, 20 ?? 96, 15 dic 96, 5 lug 98, 16 nov ?8, 16 ott 9?. The ink is pale and gray or gray-black. Postmarks Borgo 12 dic ?? and Serravalle 1 apr ?? were also used.
1894 commem.: 30 ott 1894 (stamps were valid only until 9 Oct. 94).
San Marino: 25 giu 97.
SERBIA See image (most are forged).
1: also single circle 30.XI.83.
2–4: on 1890 issue stamps.
5: 25.X.02, 15.V.03, 15.VI.03, 14.VIII.03, 25.VIII.03, 25.X.04.
6: 23.V.03, 34.VII.03, 64.VIII.03.
7: no date (on 1890 issue), 16.10.04, 15.11.04, 10.12.04.
8: 23.III.03, 23.VII.04, 28.VIII.04, 12.X.04.
9: 19 (or 18).VI.03, 11.V.03, 18.VIII.03, 16.V.04 (or 03), 18.VI.04 (or 03), 18.VIII.04, 18.X.04 (or 03).
10: 7.XI.04, 18.XII.04 (both CTO).
11: 27.II.04, 25.XI.04, 25.XII.04 (all CTO).
Belgrade (types unknown): 15.VI.04, 14.VII.04, 25.VIII.04.
Types 5–11 were used on remainders (not the 1901 Dinar values) of all the 1901–04 stamps.
SPAIN
1907 Exposition: 1, 6, 15, 21, 22, 24 or 29 OCT 1907; violet-black ink. (In the genuine: OCTO (or NOVI), violet.)
SWEDEN
Åbyhammar: 9.2.75.
Jönköping: 20.2.88.
Kristianstad: 5.1.88, 8.2.88, 28.3.88, 8.4.88, 10.5.88, 8.7.88, 23.7.88, 25.9.88, 30.9.88, 3.10.88, 6.10.88, 10.10.88, 18.11.88, 30.11.88, 4.5.89, 18.5.89, 4.6.89, 21.6.89, 6.7.89 (two), 9.7.89, 20.7.89, 10.5.90, 7.6.91, 18.7.91, 27.11.91, 13.12.91, 16.12.89. (Aniline-black ink.)
Linköping: 15.5.80.
Östersund: 8.3.87, 15.3.87.
Stockholm 1 ank.H: 18.??.??.
SWITZERLAND
Forged or backdated cancellations abound on remainders of the 1862–81 issues.
Acacias Geneve: 31.VIII.10.
Ballwil: 12.XII.12.
Lausanne Ouchy: -9.1.15.
Schaffhausen: 14.XII.12, 30.XII.12.
TURKEY See image (all forged or CTO).

A F R I C A
ANGOLA
Loanda: oval, various dates 1879–85, on remainders.
CAMEROUN, GERMAN
Akonolinga: 18.3 08.
Banjo: 4/7 06.
Bare: 17.5. 11.
Bipindihof: 9/9 06.
Buea: 18/9 00, 2/12 00, 7/12 00, 2/1 01, 7/2 01, 19/3 01 (all in deep black ink).
Duala: -9.12.13.
Kribi: 29/10 01.
Longji: 19.5.11.
Marienberg: 16.8.09.
Rio del Rey: 16/8 00, 23/10 01.
Victoria: 27.3.89, 10/6 01.		 EAST AFRICA, GERMAN
Bagamoyo: 1/6 91.
Dar-es-Salaam: 26/9 91.
Kilimatinde: 13/4 06, .
Kilwa: 18/9 96, 23.9.08.
Kondoa-Irangi: 26/2 06.
Korogwe: 30/6 02.
Leganga: 8.4.11.
Lindi: 4/6 91.
Mkalama: 23.5.10.
Mnyussi: 15.7.13.
EGYPT
Alessandria: 21.E.??, 3.??.??, 2.I.IX, ??.SE.72, ??.SE.80, ??.SE.85, ??.SE.91. (The date, when visible, is vertical.)
Alexandrie A: no date. (10 vertical lines in upper half circle, 12 in genuine.)
Ibrahimia Alexandrie: 7.X.?? TI (no year).
LIBERIA
Most stamps are CTO with datestamps or bars.
PORTUGUESE GUINEA
Bolama (two types): no date visible.
RHODESIA
Bulawayo: 3.12.12 4XOPM, etc. (CTO).
SAINT HELENA
Rhombus with 4 lines: on remainders, in violet
SOUTH WEST AFRICA, GERMAN: Keetmanshoop: 25/7 00.
Nauchas: 10.3.04.
Neudamm: 7.1.08.
Otjosondu: 9.4.07.
Ramansdrift: 1.3.??.
Richthofen: 14.2.08.
Windhuk: 27.4 07.
TOGO, GERMAN
Assahun: 12.10.13.
Klein-Popo: 5/11 01.
Kpandu: 10.9.11.
Lome: 20.5.07.
Noëpe: 7.11.12.
Nuatjä: 23.12.09, Nuatyä 1/4 07.
Porto Seguro: 5.2.07.
Station Sansanne Mangu: 19 Jun 97.
Tokpli: 4.12.09.
TRANSVAAL All these forged.
Barberton: No 16 85, No 15 87.
Johannesborg: 13 or 18 Feb 96.
Johannesburg: ?? Mei 86.
Krugersdorp: 23 Apr 02.
Ottoshoop: 1 Nov 95.
Pietersburg: 2 Mei 86, 18 Sep.e 95.
Rotchefstroom: ?? Mei 85, 3 Mei 00.

A S I A
CHINA
Shanghai (local): Shanghai: 16 Jun 98.
JAPAN
Telegraphic cancellations abound. Postal datestamps have the time at bottom.
KIAUTSCHOU
Mecklenburghaus: 14.8.09.
Tsingtau: 26/2 0?.
Tsingtau-Kaumi: 27/2 02.
Tsingtau-Kiautschou: 13/2 01, 30/8 01.
Tsingtau-Weihsien: 29.11.02.
MONGOLIA
Forged: box postmark with Roman for month and circular one with Arabic numbers; for the genuine types it is the other way round.
THAILAND
First issue: CTO, later cancelled with other postmarks that were not yet in use at the time.

P A C I F I C
CAROLINES, GERMAN
Truk: 5/4 07.
Yap: 7/12 99.
FIJI IS
Suva: 15 Dec 00, De 9 19 01, and maybe others. (CTO of 1892–96 issues.)
MARIANA IS, GERMAN
Saipan: 31/10 01, 13.11.01, 19/11 01, many other dates (fraudulently used, also forged).
MARSHALL IS, GERMAN
Jaluit: 8/7 81, 8/6 00, 9/6 00, 7/7 00, 10/7 00, 12/7 00, 16/7 00, 17/7 00, 22/7 00, 24/7 00, 27/7 00, 28/7 00, 10/8 00, 17/8 00, 27/8 00, 1/10 00, 5/10 00, 11/10 00, 18/10 00, 29/10 00, 8/12 00, 12/3 01, 28/9 01, 29/9 01 (in soot-black ink).
Nauru: 11.8. 08.
NEW GUINEA, GERMAN
Eitape: 30/10 12.
Finschhafen: 7/15 04.
Hatzfeldthafen: 21/7 88.
Herbertshöhe: 19.1.98, 25/10 01.
Stephansort: 1/7 98, 1/11 01, 17/2 02, 15/7 10.
SAMOA, GERMAN
Aleipata: 7.2 10.
Apia: 24.7.04, -2.7.07, -9.1.09.
Fagamalo: 26/5 07.

C E N T R A L  A M E R I C A
COSTA RICA See image.
1: CTO.
2: Forged.
3: Forged, no visible date.
4: Forged, with various dates.
5: on 1892 issue and later.
DOMINICAN REP.
Santo Domingo: May 14 1901. (On 1901 map.)
Santo Domingo (two circles): 20 ene 02. (On 1902 commem., also cancelled with 5 vertical bars; on covers to Peru a square R handstamp. Produced by Bela Szekula in 1903.)
S. P. de Macoris: May 17 1901. (On 1901 map.)
GUATEMALA
Num. 6 or 14: genuine have 3 rows of dots on each side and are 5–8 mm wider.
Guatemala: 1886 24 oct.
Guyotenango: no date, with big five pointed star 3 mm at right, violet ink. The star is also used separately. In the genuine star the left halves of the arms are filled.
HAITI
Port-au-Prince: double circle, CTO: 12 janv 6, 13 janv 6, 22 janv 6, 13 juin 6, 23 aout 6, 13 oct 6, 23 oct 6, 9 janv 9, 7 oct 9, 22 fevr 97, 11 avr 97, 29 avr 97, 12 aout 97, 19 sept 97, 20 sept 97, 16 oct 97, 16 nov 97, 27 janv 98, 13 fevr 98, 7 mars 98, 25 juin 98, 26 juin 98, 3 juil 98, 26 juil 98, 29 aout 98, 9 oct 98, 24 oct 98, 31 oct 98, 10 dec 98, 10 fevr 99, 5 mars 99, 10 mars 99, 5 avr 99, 21 avr 99, 23 juil 99, 29 juil 99, 24 oct 99, 26 dez 99, ?? dez 01, 27 mai 03, 2 janv wavy line, 18 sept wavy line.
Single circle, CTO: 3 juil 1905, 12 juil 1905, 26 oct 1905, 11 fevr 1906, 3 sept 1906, 23 nov 6, 20 avr 1908, 24 juil 8, 28 avr 9.
Forged: 19 nov 1905 (on 1904 reprints).
HONDURAS See image.
1, 2: CTO on 1878, 1890–94 and 1903 issues.
3: on 1892 issue, when in black CTO.
4: litho in blue-black on 1896 issue.
5–7: in green, blue or black-violet; forged.
8: on 1892 issue in violet, forged.
9: in green or black-violet, forged.
10: on 1898 and 1903 issues in violet or black, forged.
11: in green or black-violet, forged.
MEXICO
Certificado (in oval): forged. On 1879–82.
Of:na de Correos en Barranca del Oro Tamaulipas: oval, CTO on 1884–95.
Of:na de Correos en Ecatzingo E. de Mexico: oval, CTO and forged, on 1884–95.
Mexico DF: Dic -9 94 10AM (CTO).
Franco en Ziracuaretiro Michoacan: oval, CTO, on 1884–95.
NICARAGUA
Administration de Correos Nicaragua: ene 81 1904 (forged; on 1903–04 Zelaya commem.).
SALVADOR See image.
1: on 1867 in black or blue, forged, 18 mm (genuine 15 mm and dots, not dashes).
2: on 1867 in black, forged, letters 3½ mm (genuine letters with serifs, 3 mm high).
3: on 1867 in blue, 18 mm (genuine 15 mm).
4: on 1867 in black, 13 mm (gen. 15 mm).
5: on 1890 and later (also on reprints), CTO.
6: on 1890–99 in black, violet: 28 jul 90, 20 nov 90, 25 feb 91, 17 mai 91, 1 ago 91, 25 dic 91, ?? oct 93; forged (genuine has wider letters).
7: on 1890–99 in blue, violet to black, 19 mm, forged (genuine 17½ mm).
8: on 1892, CTO.
9: on 1890–99 in blue, violet to black 14x21½ mm, forged (gen. 14x20½ mm, rounded points).
10: on 1890–99 in blue, violet to black, 19 mm (genuine 20½ mm).
11: mainly on 1899 in violet, 18 mm (genuine 18½ mm).
12: on 1890–99 in red, blue or violet, crisp.
13: on 1890–99 in green, red or black-violet.
14: on 1890–99 in red, green, blue or violet, forged (genuine has C in centre).
15: on 1890–99 in blue, violet to black, crisp.
16: on 1890–99 in red, blue, violet to black, 18½ mm (genuine: 17½ mm, double-lined circle, name is Acajutla. and with dot).
17: on 1890–99 in green, blue, violet to black, 19½ mm (genuine: 17½ mm, double-lined circle, name is Sonsonate).
18: on 1890–99 in red or violet, 20 mm (genuine 19 mm).
The 1893–94 issues were CTO with some very warn datestamps.

S O U T H  A M E R I C A
COLOMBIA
Cartagena: abr 8 1903.
Antioquia: Medellin: in oval with no date, violet ink. Oval 30 mm wide (gen. 28), Medellin 22 mm (gen. 21 mm). On 1899 issue.
Bolivar: Cartajena Franca: with no date, red-violet to black ink.
BOLIVIA
On 1897 issue: vertical or horizontal bars.
ECUADOR See image.
Issues 1881–96: Real CTO postage stamps cannot be distinguished from genuinly used ones, except for the 1896 commemoratives and 1892 official stamps, which were virtually not used at all. The following postmarks are fraudulently used ones, not CTO.
1, 2: with various dates (only rarely without).
3: not a 19th century postmark.
4: with various dates.
5: in use from 1902 only, and then inscribed encomienda or Guayaquil.
6: with various dates. Also inscribed Admon de Correos or Admon Gral de Correos de Quito. Or Direccion General de Correos y Telegrafos with Quito - UPU instead of encomienda.
Issue 1904: The dealer who purchased the remainders also got genuine cancellers, which cannot be distinguished from properly used ones. Later the the government cancelled further remainders by favour with postmark 3, and with no. 5 inscribed Correo del Ecuador Encomiendas or Correos del Ecuador Guayaquil.
Issue 1908: Postmark 1 with date 1908 jul 3, no. 4, no. 5 but inscribed Correos del Ecuador Portoviejo or Correos del Ecuador Guaranda (the latter with oct 24 1908 instead of the star), no. 6 and also a similar one inscribed Admon Gral de Correos de Quito set 12 1908 or Direccion General de Correos y Telegrafos (the latter with Quito encomienda 1908 in centre) or Direccion General de Correos y Telegrafos (the latter with Quito UPU in the centre). The ink of no. 6 is deep black; all have Ecuador at bottom.
PERU
Lima, Correos del Peru: 4 set 95, -8 set 95.
Truillo, Correos del Peru: 12-?C 02 1. (Not Trujillo!. By B. Szekula, cf. Dom. Rep.)
VENEZUELA
All include Correos de Venezuela. All forged.
Barcelona: 5 fev 97.
Caracas: 13 ene 97.
V-S Le Guaira: 5 mar.
Tovar: 21 ene 9.

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