How Do You Tell If A Stamp Is A Forgery Or Fake

Certificates from the reputable expertising bodies are easy enough to check on. They all have serial numbers.

Far more important is to make sure that the certificate is issued by some body that actually has the expertise to state with certainty that a stamp is genuine or not. I've seen far more perfectly genuine, but plain wrong, certificates than forged certificates.

So do PCGS sonically sealed holders and they are a million times harder to forge than a piece of paper. Trust me, it's an absolutely ridiculous statement. Anyone that will forge a stamp won't think twice about forging a COA.

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Like stated in previous post, only knowledge can give you the expertise to distinguish forgeries from real stamps. Therefore it's better to specialize in one or few countries. First you can learn a lot from specialized website including SCF members. And then going beyond Scott catalogue you can buy specialized books. Don't rush to buy those expensive stamps that are pointed in Scott as being forged unless you can trust the dealer. Not only you can get fooled when you buy but you can fool a inexperience collector when you eventually sell it. Enjoy the hobby. Daniel

scubu, there's no law - in Australia at least - against checking back with the expertising body on the serial number.

The greater danger by far is dud certificates, from self-appointed experts issuing worthless certificates, or expertising bodies issuing certificates beyond their area of competence.

For the Indian States, I trust BPA Certificates. I would make paper planes out of Philatelic Foundation certificates for the Indian States.

OK -------Lets back up here --------First most valuable stamps should come with a certi.If it doesn't then there is a reason .All the big cetifitying organization have records that show the same stamp has been send in three or four times all from different owners.So it has been and will continue to be a problem in the hobby. Bad certi.,then throw away the certificate and sell it to the next dreamer .
Your suppose to know whats real and whats fake ,if you don't have experience then get the experience before you buy . Most fakes are easy to tell if they are match up to a real stamp ,that is why people at this site and others are willing to help,they may have the knownledge to help .There are very few fakes that can't be determine by a scan here {my early Switzerland is a example }But most stamp chat boards most likey can give you help weather you should send it in for a expert opinion.

Here is something im working on to determine is there were any purple overprints ,done by hand or are they fakes like the first two on the top row .

Exactly, and that's what the forgers do. They look up a cert # and forge the stamp and cert that matches just like the PCGS coins. You can look up the cert number all day long and it will always match because the forgers can find the info just as easy as you.

Then if you're in the slightest doubt about a certificate, refer the whole thing back to the certifying body. Where's the problem? If you're going to outlay a significant sum on a certified stamp, why not go the extra step, and make a full check of the certificate? Stamps are far more individual than coins, after all, and a photo certificate will show the individuality of the item in question.

Incidentally, I know nothing at all of the situation with, say, US stamps, but I can say with certainty that I've never seen or heard of a forged certificate in the area I collect.

I'd still maintain that by far the greater risk is from certificates issued by bodies which aren't competent to certify the items. This crazy concoction



(Note the cancellation on the 1 Anna brown stamp at top)

came with a clear certificate from a certain individual in the US - no names, no pack drill - who seems to issue certificates like confetti, but obviously knew nothing at all about Barwani. And no: I didn't buy it on the basis of the certificate. It came in a mixed lot, and I effectively paid nothing for it.

I posted this in another thread, but I guess this is the proper place:

"I collect 600dpi images of forgeries for comparison purposes. Especially useful is the Fournier album. I also recommend getting hold of a copy of old books on forgeries, for example "The Serrane Guide" and "Album Weeds"."