There are many sites to help the stamp collector with the identification of stamp forgeries and general identification. Many books and articles have and continue to be written on these and related subjects. One such website that captures the spirit of identifying stamp forgeries is Stamp Forgery Guide developed by Mr. G. Kock. Great pains have been taken to alert the philatelic community to stamp forgeries from around the world.
The Stamp Collecting World website features useful information about forgeries and fakes, stamps from around the world, collecting, and a host of other stamp related items.
We are happy share the article below regarding fakes and forgeries on eBay.
From Die Briefmarke 10 2007 p 54
Translated by Peter Meschter
Fritz Hans Sturzeis, the well-known stamp examiner and forgery hunter for Austrian material, writes:
“Unfortunately, the number of crooks is not decreasing. A collector friend in Tyrol showed me copies of faked covers that have been repeatedly offered for sale on the Internet, as well as being inserted into lots sold in regular auctions.”
The only genuine elements in the covers shown (Figures 1 and 2) are the inexpensive 1945 Posthorn stamps (Allied Military Government for Austria Scott numbers 4N3, 4N7, 4N8, and 4N12) and censors’ closure tapes, which have been placed on the covers by the faker. The rubber-stamped markings “Lienz (Drau)” are clearly wrong. The “express delivery” labels date from a much later time period. The censors’ numbers are “borrowed from the French”, although East Tyrol was a British zone of occupation. Finally, the rubber stamps “EXPRESS” and “REGISTERED” are from a modern lettering case.
Another relevant example of a faked cover was offered by auction house Philatelie Stadler in its 18th live auction in Novotel Linz on July 28, 2007 in lot number 1162 (a collection lot), estimated at 65 Euro ($86) and sold at 95 Euro ($126). The auction house recommended a careful examination of the lot in its description. One hopes that the buyer followed this recommendation, recognized the fake, and was able to justify his investment with the other covers in the lot!
Fritz Hans Sturzeis ends with this well-intentioned advice:
“Please always consider the physical characteristics of a document to determine whether such an offering can possibly come from the stated time period. An expert in the relevant area would be glad to assist you.”
Some Genuine Covers for Comparison
Fritz Sturzeis can be contacted via regular post at: Beckmanngasse 32/15, 1140 Vienna, Austria.