Most pre-decimals stamps have a security marking in the way of a watermark. Early issues had a ‘Single Crown over A’, then a large multiple version of the same, later a ‘Small Crown A’ in a multiple horizontal line. The last of the watermarks were similar only ‘Small Crown and multiple CofA’. Watermarks were discontinued with the introduction of decimal currency on the 14th February 1966.

The first forgeries were of the extremely rare ‘Two Pound Kangaroo on Map’ with first watermark (Single Crown over A). The forgers name is Jean Sperati, an Italian national living in France who was notorious for forging many of the worlds great stamp rarities. It was never proved that Sperati tried to sell his forgeries and he was never charged with forgery, although he did spend some time in jail due to his actions.

Today his forgeries are often sold in philatelic auctions and in early 2007, ‘Christies’ (New York) auction house devoted an entire auction to his forgeries.

For the most part the prices realised for his forgeries were higher than that to be expected of genuine examples. This also applies to his forgeries of the Australian ‘Two Pound Kangaroo on Map’ which are considered to be better than the originals. I am not permitted to state how he went about producing these forgeries, but it was most ingenious. His forgeries were considered so dangerous that the British Post Office purchased all of his stock and printing techniques in the 1950’s.

In 1932 two of Australia’s stamps were forged with the intention to defraud the Australian Post Office and hence the Commonwealth of Australia. At this time the post office was known under the auspices of the PMG or Post Master General which was a senior government position.

The first Australian stamp forged was the 2d red (Two Pence) King George V Head (Side Face) which had been around in various forms since 1913 and unlike today, it had remained basically unchanged with many, many millions being printed. The second forged stamp was of the then recently opened Sydney Harbour Bridge, also a 2d red value which was the domestic postage rate of the day which equates to about 50 cents in today’s money. Millions of these were sold hence a half good forgery would be hard to notice.

The objective of the forgers was to sell forged Tattersall’s lottery tickets. Postal authorities were totally unaware of the forged stamps even though they were processing examples daily. It wasn’t until an eagle eyed collector in country South Australia complained about not being informed of a new issue that the penny finally dropped.

The printing of the forgery was rough but so too were many of the same stamps printed during World War 1, where inks and paper supplied from England dried up and Australian inks and paper were used. During this time Australia was ill prepared to produce it’s own stamps without help from England. The forged stamp was the same, only rougher, than that currently available, and which had been available since 1913. The domestic postage rate had changed from 1d (one penny) to 1 and one half penny (1 1/2d) to 2d (two pence, pronounced as; tuppence). It is also during this period that many of Australia’s truly great stamp rarities occur.

The early Australian stamp printers were also the Australian currency note printers. Bank notes and stamps were printed at the Treasury Building, Melbourne. Printers could not display their names on bank notes but they could do so with stamps. They first displayed a circled monogram, JBC for John Cooke and later an inscription located at the bottom centre of each plate which read something like, John Ash, Australian stamp and note printer.

The 2d postal forgeries were printed using a plate consisting of 25 impressions whereas the genuine stamps were printed using the designated format of each plate consisting of 120 units. Four plates could be utilized at the same time meaning that 480 stamps could be printed simultaneously.

The differences between the forgery and a genuine example are obvious to the collector but not so to the postal worker. The postal worker would note that all stamps issued since Federation and those issued by the various states previously were valid for postage, many of which were less than perfect.

The obvious differences between the forged and the genuine stamp are: the quality of the printing, the perforations and the absence or type of watermark.

The genuine example will show either a ‘Small Crown A’ or a ‘Crown CofA’, this applies to the 2d ‘King George V Head’ side face, the 2d ‘Sydney Harbour Bridge’ should show the ‘Crown CofA’ watermark only. The forgeries were roughly printed, had the wrong perforations and had no watermark. The later became obvious to authorities in that watermarks served no useful purpose. A watermark on a stamp adhered on an envelope could not be readily identified so watermarks were gradually phased out from this point on.

Eventually the forgers were located in an Sydney suburb and two people were arrested and charged, one of whom was the printer, though it is believed many more were involved. Both received one year jail sentences .The printing plates and unused stamps were confiscated, however, unused (mint) forged stamps appeared in stamp dealers hands and a police officer was also arrested.

Because of the history of these forged stamps, and it being one of the only instances in the world where a forgery was specifically targeted at defrauding the post office, mint examples sell for around $1,600, used examples around $15,000 and examples on envelope command any price for they are extremely rare (only 7 are known to exist). It should be noted that these prices are increasing on a daily basis, and for good reason!

It is estimated that each 2d forged stamp cost the forgers 1 and 1 halfpenny to produce, or 75% of the face value, considering the risks involved it is no wonder that few have ever tried to emulate these forgers.

Although I would not usually recommend the purchase of stamp forgeries, these have two important qualities that exceed those of Sperati. These forgeries have a single purpose and that is to defraud the Australian Post Office. These stamps have history.

4th January 2008.