Griqualand "G" Overprint. Is It Real?

I can't find an example that matches this G. Makes me think it's fake. Any thoughts?

These Griqualand overprints are quite troublesome!
It seems to me your 'G' is closest to the Scott type p - if so making it a Scott no. 74. However I agree with you, there is no good match with the illustrations in Scott:



It might very well be a fake overprint, can't tell. I presume most of mine are fake anyway. Then again - how accurate and detailed are the illustrations in Scott? I'm waiting for delivery of a more detailed St.Gibb catalog - I hope they cover Griqualand in more detail.

Presume some of our South African experts will chime in with more qualified opinions...

Blaam, thanks.
Funny, when I first looked at your post I thought, hey the one on the left is a perfect match...

Students of Griqualand must look at "Principal Types" because the font changed often.
Going by the serif on the top loop, being in front of the body of the bottom of the "G"
I would tend to think "Type 12"

Form your own opinion.

These issues are rife with fakes. However, on the face of it this looks genuine to me. The 1879 GW issues were printed on the 1871-76 re-engraved Cape of Good Hope stamps with the outer frame line removed, as yours has. Check the watermark. Your stamp should have Crown over CC, lucky you if it's inverted as this has a serious 3 figure premium even on the basic COGH issue. If you have a Cabled Anchor watermark, then you've got a fake.

I've got about 30 fakes, some of which are pretty convincing, and the watermark is the first key to identification.

Aha...! sure enough, looks like the anchor watermark.

Another fake identified. Thanks!

Looked good / genuine to me.
Thanks for posting results.

I think I've got as many fakes as I have genuine stamps. The typeset is easy to forge and I've picked up many lots in auctions only to find that the stamps I wanted are fakes.

There's one way to be (reasonably) sure with Griqualand West...



Collect revenues.



(Yes, rod, you already have this image...I posted it here many, many years ago.)

Yes I do, Collin

Would that be the same QV bust, as on the Canadian small Queens?

As usual with revenues, they provide the loveliest stamps.