Benin Controversy?

I am back!..:) yes us newbies can get into all kinds of trouble1..LOL
I found a lion stamp from "Republic du Benin of lions, male and female, attacking a buffalo. I don't see it listed in Scott and they suggest that there are only 3, this is not one of them and "they would like to see other examples" It has Postes 2001 in small letters on bottom. 750f.

This one may have not been "authorized"?? Have I got something worth something? or is it just something else?
Looking forward to your insights. I think I like this site!

Jim C.

Anyone got any ideas?

These stamps are not catalogued by Stanley Gibbons because there is doubt about them being true postage stamps.I cannot find any Benin stamps cataloged by Stanley Gibbons since 1999 (at least not in my SOTW 2007). This type of stamps are usually produced for selling to collectors, mostly thematic collectors I would think. Many poor countries find them a much needed source of foreign currency. Many unscrupulous dealers also hijack the country's name and produce their own versions of any topic you can think of. Your stamp would probably be classified as a cinderella and is probably not unique as they can be printed in wallpaper amounts.

Scotzm thank you. the Scott Catalogue sort of implied this. Wallpaper amounts? And here I thought I was rich!..:):) again thanks!