Somali Coast 'Varieties'

Scott notes that various 'varieties' from the 1902 and 1903 issues of Somali Coast, imperfs, inverts, transposed colors, originated out of Paris, and many were from fraudulent printings. Anyone have a good resource for the full stories?

Here is an imperf example:

I ran across 2 of these inverts while transferring Somali Coast collection. Presuming the inverts are from what Maury calls "tirages clandestins" (illegal printings) in Paris.

First row is 1902 issue, shows Sc #41 normal and then invert, also #45
Second row is 1903 issue (black centres), show normal Sc #61, inverted #62

I don't have any background on it, but below is what Maury says on differences between those ones and legit. If anyone does have more detail, would love to hear it. Didn't see anything mentioned at stampforgeries.com beyond a reference to an article by the French & Colonies Philatelic Society journal from 1943 (which I don't have obv.).

Some more details:
https://www.apfelbauminc.com/the-tr...rted-centers

That's excellent thank you, so already was murky in 1905 when that was written. Love the biting commentary from the journal editor in that article.

Our late friend Brian, on SCF
https://goscf.com/t/37357#337318 br /

Why do Scott place these under "Somali Coast" rather than France?
Protectorate?

Any members have an idea on these NVI's (Non Value Indicated) ?
I have placed a rough estimate of the Scott numbers.
Maybe Proofs?

The "0" stamps are from the color trial color proof serie.

The "0" stamps are from the trial color proof serie.There are at least 11 different.

Thank you Perf 12
Michael Rogers Auctions (Unknown Date)

The French catalogs also split the stamps up based on Pre- and Post-independence. I agree it's quite annoying that catalogs are inconsistent in this regard. Upper Volta is all listed under "Burkina Faso" but clearly should not be. Yet Gold Coast and Ghana are split apart as are British Guiana and Guyana. There are many examples.

Dumb beginner question - why are these being called proofs? I thought a proof was a test printing of a completed and accepted design - with presumably the correct denomination. I thought these would be essays - a proposed design, but often differing in color or some other design element from the eventual final product.

Askphil:

Proof:
a trial printing, known as a strike, taken from a new printing plate for inspection purposes; this can be used to inspect for defects, or to see which ink color looks best for that particular stamp.

Essay:
1: a trial design for a proposed postage stamp.
2: rejected and unused stamp design.




Bear in mind, there may be 3 "plates" involved here,
1.Vignette
2.Frame
3.Currency Value tablet.