Griqualand Cape Of Good Hope 1 Shilling Large G Black Ovpt

Thanks for looking.

As far as I can see in my Gibbons this is not listed.

If I am missing something obvious I will do this

If it is a forgery I will do this

If it is an unlisted variety

I'm not willing to make a pronouncement about it, but I will agree with you that it doesn't appear to match anything in Gibbons. I have some forgery examples on another computer that I can compare it with later.

Thanks Cjd

According to my Stanley Gibbons it is a Griqualand West (Cape of Good Hope stamp s.g.#26a) ...overprinted with a capital "G" in 1877-78 and given the s.g.# 9a ...S.G.value it at around £18 - £20 in good condition.

Hi scotzm - that overprint is red not black ? or am I misssing something

I think the 1sh overprint should be red for SG9, and this G looks a little pregnant to be a Type 1a overprint. To my eyes.

Strictly my opinion. I'm no expert.

You're right... RED overprint on the one shilling stamp.

The 1/- WAS overprinted in black in 1879 (Scott states 1878)
Listed as Scott 101, Gibbons 96 (old), 28 (new)



The posted example does appear rounder than it should be

Yes, but the later issue with a black G is a small G, Type 17 in Gibbons, I believe.

These always make me nervous. One of the reasons why I like this Griqualand West revenue is that I am much more certain that it is not a faked GW stamp...

The overprint does look like a type 1a but it should be red on a one shilling stamp so the possibility arises that it is a fake overprint ...but why fake the wrong color or why fake a not too expensive stamp.
A measurement of the overprint (if it is indeed a type 1a) should be 5.50mm x 5.50mm which is the size of black or red overprint type 1a.
It might have been difficult to fake that exact size of font so it IS possible that the overprint is genuine but done in black in error. Worthy of further research.

I don't have the proper Griqualand West reference material to form an educated opinion on this stamp.

However, 1000's of dirt cheap stamps have been forged over the years.
Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it hasn't been forged.

I see what you mean ClassicalStamps but in the case of this stamp it would not be a forgery...it would be a (possible) fake overprint. Faking anything...or most things...is not a crime whereas forgery would be a possible crime.

Size is more like type 2 approx 4.5mm x 4.5mm

If you have measured it and it IS 4.5 x 4.5mm then it could be a fake overprint as I believe there is no "G" overprint with those dimensions. I also believe the type 2 overprint to be 4.75 x 4.75mm