The North Ingermanland forgeries or fakes that I have observed were philatelically created many years ago. Originally, the intent of the forger was probably to create "packet material" from a small country whose stamps were hard to obtain; the intent was certainly not to defraud the post office. Years ago the forgeries sold for low prices, not really in an attempt to cheat collectors, but to give an "opportunity" to have stamps from this small country. However, the real stamps are now more costly and the forgeries are of high enough quality to be "dangerous" to those collectors who do not have the real stamps for comparison.
The forgeries exist on yellowish or extremely white paper. According to the Finnish forgeries manual (available from me), the yellowish paper forgeries were printed in sheets of 10x10 and the extremely white paper forgeries in sheets of 5x5. However, I have seen 5x5 sheets that I consider to be yellowish paper, thus the subject needs further research. In general, all can be identified by a) whiter paper; b) brighter ink colors; c) usually obvious brush marks in the gum; and d) often rough perforations (not a defect; the originals do have rough perforations too). Imperforates, missing centers, inverted centers, and other types of errors also exist (all usually never having been gummed), but are seldom seen on the market.
Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise indicated. All items are available for viewing on approval.
When gummed, the gum was roughly applied by brush. I use the condition "NH" for stamps that do not show any sign of ever having been hinged (whether gummed or ungummed), even if a gummed stamp shows gum disturbance due to the conditions of manufacture.
IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
209613
8-14 Forgeries. Perforated. NH F-VF/VF/Superb complete set in 4-blocks. Blocks of these forgeries are seldom offered. Furthermore, many blocks have a pinhole in one or more stamps; complete sets of blocks without any pinholes are extremely scarce. This set is perfect!
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
109.00
233413
8-14 Forgeries. IMPERFORATE. Mint (never hinged) Ungummed, VF. Complete set of imperforate singles with large margins. The imperforate forgeries have not been recorded with gum. The imperforate forgeries are VERY SCARCE and are rarely seen in complete sets.
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
17.00
209647
8 Yellowish Olive Green Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, ungummed, white paper, right-margin horizontal pair. NH VF. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
39.00
236493
8 Yellowish Olive Green Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, ungummed, white paper, horizontal pair. NH VF. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
39.00
236494
8 Dark Olive Green Frame, Missing Center. Full offset impression on reverse. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, left marginal 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
98.00
236495
8 Dark Olive Green Frame, Missing Center. Full offset impression on reverse. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, single. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
26.00
236496
8 Dark Olive Green Frame, Missing Center. Full offset impression on reverse. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, single. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
26.00
209678
8 Missing Frame, Blue Center. Full offset impression of Frame on reverse, even though frame is missing from front! Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, horizontal pair. NH VF. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. This is the first time in 33 years I have seen this particular type of forgery variety.
ACTUAL item.
58.00
236498
8 Missing Frame, Blue Center. Full offset impression of Frame on reverse, even though frame is missing from front! Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, upper left corner margin 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
112.00
236499
8 Missing Frame, Blue Center. Full offset impression of Frame on reverse, even though frame is missing from front! Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, top margin single. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
236500
8 Missing Frame, Blue Center. Full offset impression of Frame on reverse, even though frame is missing from front! Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, single. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
30.00
236497
8 Missing Frame, Blue Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, right margin horizontal pair. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. This is the only center-only forgery variety I have had of the 10 Penni in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
60.00
236490
9 Yellow Brown Frame, Gray Green Center. Perforated, yellowish paper, gummed, NH F-VF/VF 4-block.
ACTUAL item.
13.00
230638
9 Yellow Brown Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, bottom margin pair. NH VF. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties.
ACTUAL item.
39.00
209652
9 Yellow Brown Frame, Gray Green Center DOUBLED. Perforated, yellowish paper, gummed, Mint VF. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. Any type of double printing is extremely scarce.
ACTUAL item.
40.00
236501
9 Missing Frame, Gray-Green Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, pair. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
38.00
236502
9 Missing Frame, Gray-Green Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, marginal pair. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
40.00
236503
9 Missing Frame, Gray-Green Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, marginal 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
78.00
236504
9 Missing Frame, Gray-Green Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
76.00
236505
9 Missing Frame, Gray-Green Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience this value is scarce with any such varieties. I have made only one find of this particular forgery variety in 38 years.
ACTUAL item.
IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
238362
10 Perforated, White Paper. NH Fine (gummed) with CENTER SHIFTED significantly down and to the right. With the rough perforations that are more typical for this denomination. Varieties of the 50 penni forgery are much more unusual than some other values.
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
9.00
236487
11 Pink Frame, Gray Center. Perforated, white paper, NH, gummed (with usual gum irregularities) F-VF+ 4-block.
ACTUAL item.
15.00
236488
11 Pink Frame, Gray Center. Perforated, white paper, NH, gummed (with usual gum irregularities) F-VF+ 4-block.
ACTUAL item.
15.00
209657
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, sheet margin single. NH VF. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
22.00
209662
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, FULL SHEET OF 25. There is a diagonal crease in the UL corner affecting one stamp, but otherwise NH VF. A spectacular showpiece and an example of a 5x5 sheet on what I call yellowish paper (contrary to the Finnish Forgery Handbook).
ACTUAL item.
295.00
236506
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, sheet margin single. NH Superb. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
22.00
236507
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, lower left sheet margin corner single. NH Superb. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
24.00
236508
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, pair. NH Superb. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
40.00
236509
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, lower margin 4-block. NH Superb. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
76.00
209659
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. The frame of the left stamp is DOUBLED. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, horizontal pair. NH VF. The only example of such a forgery variety I have seen in 33 years.
ACTUAL item.
IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
230641
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. The center is shifted strongly to the right. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, horizontal pair. NH VF.
ACTUAL item.
45.00
230642
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center. The center is shifted strongly to the right. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, horizontal pair. NH VF.
ACTUAL item.
45.00
236510
12 Red Orange Frame, Gray Center SHIFTED TO UPPER LEFT. Imperforate, yellowish paper, ungummed, top marginal pair. NH Superb. Scarce!
ACTUAL item.
45.00
236491
13 Violet Frame, Red Center. Perforated, white paper, gummed (evenly, which is unusual), NH Superb 4-block.
ACTUAL item.
22.00
236492
13 Violet Frame, Red Center. Perforated, white paper, Mint (NH) gummed (usual irregular gum), VF 4-block.
ACTUAL item.
16.00
236511
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, upper right corner margin single. NH Superb. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
13.00
236512
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, right margin single. NH Superb. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
10.00
236513
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, right margin single. NH Superb. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
10.00
230644
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, bottom margin horizontal pair. NH VF. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
16.00
236514
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
236515
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
28.00
209667
13 Violet Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, FULL SHEET OF 25. NH VF. In my experience the 5 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
139.00
238363
14 Very Dark Brown Frame, Dull Violet Center. Perforated (clean), white paper, gummed. NH VF single with full offset impression of frame on reverse. This type of variety is quite unusual.
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
18.00
236516
14 Brown Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, bottom margin single. NH Superb. In my experience the 10 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
24.00
236517
14 Brown Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, single. NH Superb. In my experience the 10 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
24.00
236518
14 Brown Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, 4-block. NH Superb. In my experience the 10 Mark forgery is scarce with varieties.
ACTUAL item.
80.00
209674
14 Brown Frame, Missing Center. Imperforate, white paper, ungummed, FULL SHEET OF 25. NH VF. Marginal paper piece missing from lower left corner. Stunning! In my experience the 10 Mark forgery is very scarce with varieties. The only forgery sheet of any type I have ever seen of the 10 Mark in 33 years.
ACTUAL item.