Eastern Silesia O.s. 1921 Overprints - Real Or Fake

Does anyone have any information on identifying the overprints of Eastern Silesia.

I recently obtain a nice batch of used stamps which included 2 copies of J1a with the black overprint ($60 each in Scott 2011), 4 copies of J10, and 1 of J11.

Here are scans of J01a. The cancellation is on top of the overprint, which is a good thing, but the cancel could be a forgery too.

Here is some History --

After the defeat of the German and Austrian Empires in World War 1, the terms of surrender were agreed and codified in the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June, 1919. The terms of the treaty required Germany and Austria to give up a sizable amount of territory to help create a newly independent Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).

The treaty stipulated that some of the border areas were to conduct a vote (plebiscite) to determine which country they would be aligned with. There were six plebiscite areas, five of which issued postage stamps to promote the event. No special stamps were issued in Carinthia, however Austria and Yugoslavia issued stamps to raise money to advocate their position in the plebiscite.

Regarding Easter Selisia (where your stamp is from) -- Although no plebiscite was called for in the Treaty of Versailles, Poland and Czechoslovakia were unable to reach agreement on the border in the territory of Eastern Silesia. The parties asked the Allies (rather than the League of Nations) to arbitrate an agreement. While a plebiscite was planned, it was never held, as a negotiated solution was ultimately agreed with the Allies in July, 1920.

Plebiscite stamps were issued in the region consisting of stamps of Czechoslovakia and Poland overprinted with various combinations of "S O / 1920". S.O. stood for the French: "Silesie Orientale", and of course 1920 for the year of the planned plebiscite. They were used in the region Feb-Sept 1920.

From the stamps that I have - the overprint looks fine.

I think the overprint is fine but the postal cancel is a later date cancel done for collectors .The cancels used on actual postage would be valued higher than the catalog listed prices. The Scott catalog calls these later date cancels forgeries.

Thanks for the historical information DC stamps. Nice summary.

Floortrader, what in the cancel points to the later usage? is it the style of the cancel? All I can see of the date is 10.IV.2, IV being April of course.