Madeira Stamp With Numeral Cancel

I have a classic era Madeira stamp of possible high value, but in order to be sure I need to know if the numeral cancel that is on the stamp matches with the area.
It is from the 1870s and has the number 45 in a circle with horizontal bars. Does this match, or should I assume this is a fake "Madeira" overprint on a "normal" Portuguese stamp?

Hi Jan. The USA Scott catalog says that the cancellation used in Madeira, in the time period you reference, was a number 51 in the circle of horizontal bars. I'd need to see the stamp, in a scan, to tell you more. But if you take a close look and it appears that the overprint was placed over the cancellation, then you likely have a forged overprint.

Hi Steve,
Where did you find this information? I went through Scott's but could not find it. However, I did find an answer to my question in the Afinsa specialized Portuguese catalogue and although I do not speak Portuguese, I managed to find out that there have been 2 postal reforms in the 19th century. At the time of the first one certain canceltypes were used (see fig. 1) and the cities / municipalities were assigned numbers. Funchal / Madeira had indeed nr. 51



Then in 1869 a second reform took place. New cancellers were introduced (see fig. 3) and the numbering was rearranged. Funchal/Madeira now had nr. 45.



Now have a look at my stamp. It is from 1873 (the overprint from 1874), so that is after the second reform, and frankly it does not really make much sense to me to put a fake overprint on this one, as the not overprinted stamp is worth twice as much :)



Afinsa does mention authorized reprints from 1885 and 1905 that are worth far less, but I cannot imagine these being cancelled with a number cancel that was abolished at least ten years before. Afinsa actually only values these reprints in mint condition, not used.

Hi Jan. The source in Scott's is in the Classic Specialized volume. I have several yearly Classic volumes, most recently the 2012 edition. At the beginning of the Madeira section, the Classic provides values for stamps of Portugal used in Madeira. It further mentions the '51' cancellation. I agree that it makes no sense to put a fake overprint on Portugal Scott #49, to create Madeira Scott #31 (as an aside, I have both in my collection; #31 with an ISPP certificate).

I don't have the Afinsa specialized catalog for Portugal & the "adjacent islands" (Azores & Madeira). So, I don't have access to the references you found. I do have the Afinsa catalog for the colonies, but Madeira/Funchal is not included.

I consulted D.J. Davies' excellent reference; "Forgeries of Portugal and Colonies;" published in 2002 by the Portuguese Philatelic Society and British Philatelic Trust. Here is what he says about the genuine Madeira overprints, of which there are three types..............

Type I 15 x 3 mm; the letters are tall and thin Type 2 14.9 x 2.9 mm; the letters are more square Type 3 14.5 x 2.75 mm; the letters are very square. More...........

'M' The point is sharp. 'A' The bar is just over half way down. The top is square. 'D' Type I The inside space is as thick as the bar. Type 2 The space is one and one half times the thickness of the bar. Type 3 The space is over twice the thickness of the bar. Types 2 and 3 have flat tops.

'E' Type I and 2 bars equal length. Type 3 top bar thinner than middle bar and the bottom bar is thicker and longer than the middle bar. 'I' All types, the top and bottom are square cut. 'R' The top and the leg are equal size and the center bar is straight. The leg ends vertically. He did not elaborate on the second 'A'.

Hope this helps. Steve

This is what Afinsa has to say about this. Basically the same as your sources. The 240 R. only exists with overprints 2 and 3.



Afinsa also mentions the what it calls "Precursores" which are, as you write, stamps from Portugal with a recognizable numeral cancel "51", but this is only for the period until 1867.

The ISPP (International Society of Portuguese Philately) has a literature service. I'm about ready to order a more current (2008) Afinsa colonies catalog than my current (2002). This thread makes me think I should also check for an Afinsa Portugal catalog.