Help With Modena, Schwerin And Roman States

I have three stamps which I have identified as Modena #10, Schwerin #2 and Roman States #2. Am I correct and if so, are they real?
Thanks
Mel

The Mecklenburg-Schwerin stamp passes the tests to exclude well-known forgeries. That is not a 100% guarantee that it is genuine.

Many of the details of the Modena stamp look correct, but it would help to see a larger image to know for sure.

Here is a link to a used copy of Modena 10 (with certificate) currently for sale on HipStamp: https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/mo...ert/20698345

If you search HipStamp for "Modena 10", you can also see a forgery, offered as genuine, for $292.50. Obviously it is not worth that.

Some of the points to look for:
1. Genuine stamps have a period after the numeral of value.
2. On genuine stamps, the "C" of CENTS has a serif at the bottom.
3. On genuine stamps there are 5 vertical lines in each of the upper quadrants of the shield, and 6 vertical lines in each of the lower quadrants.
4. On genuine stamps, and some forgeries, the line under the value in the bottom panel does not connect to the squares at either corner.

All the stamps of Modena were forged multiple times, by different forgers, but my off-hand opinion is that yours is genuine. Congrats!

Restoman, thanks for the explanation,
Makes for a good post. Appreciated.

You're welcome, Rod!

Thanks to all but especially Restoman. Great info and valuable link.
Mel

You're welcome, Mel!


My information comes from "The Serrane Guide", first published in 1927, but reprinted recently by APS. It is an amazing resource for identifying forgeries of the classic stamps.

Yikes! $800 Australian.........

If you can decipher French, you can read a scan of the original on the website of the French National Library:
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...ge.r=serrane

As for the German States stamps, my source is the forgery manual of the German Philatelic Society.

OMG!!!

Twenty years ago, if I had known what the Serrane Guide sells for today, I would have bought cartons of it instead of US commemoratives!

I could'a been RICH!!!

APS reprinted the Serrane Guide with an English translation in the 1990's. It was serialized in the magazine over a period of years. If you are an APS member you can search and download those issues.

If the owner of the Schwerin stamp provides a sharp high definition image we may be able to provide more info.

The Serrane Guide is open for download here
Internet Archive: Open Library

I am not aware of what requisites one needs to belong,
Only available to members.
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL838...errane_guide

UPDATE.
Appears I am a member, however the item (Serrane Guide) has been removed from service.

No, it's there. However, it is only available "for the print-disabled" download.


Hal

Thank you kindly Hal,
not sure what that means, but I'll give it another go.

Update:
Unable to access. I logged in, could not see any reference to "print disabled"
clicked "read" but no access.

FYI - Amazon has a copy of the serrane guide for $275 plus shipping.