Maurtius 1848 Forgery

Wonder if someone has any information about this first stamp which was bought as a forgery. The odd thing about this is how similar it is to the image in the second image and most forgeries aren't generally so precise. Albeit the engraving I assume is worn as the details in some is not a precise? Any info would be useful as not seen one like this before? Thanks

Welcome to this board .

Simon -----Those are very poor forgeries ,my guess is these were made very long ago ,when photo pictures were not printed but drawings by publishers was the way . You see pictures like you have was the normal in publishing of albums before 1900.

These stamps were forged by many people and reprints were made in sheets . I have a few of those .

Sorry are you saying both images are forgeries?

Here are my reprints of this stamp

This should help you decide , I am a worldwide stamp collector not a EXPERT at anything .

You can't compare what you have with the ones I have on display. The first reprints which I also have are 1847 "Post Office". The later are the 1859 "Sherwin". The ones I have are 1848 "Post Paid". There are lots of editions. The second image I have on display is a stamp currently on sale from a reputable dealer for £46k: https://www.ma-shops.com/mmrarecoin...m.php?id=755

I would suggest having a look through this so you can see all the different types it is a good read and good background on them:

https://www.davidfeldman.com/wp-con...5_93_NOV.pdf
(page 43)

Opinion.
I think you should have declared the second image as possibly genuine and offered the link to us, in the first post.
Concealing information in a query, can waste our time, and alter opinions.

Wasn't concealing I was under the impression that everyone knew the 1848 post paid edition - I in my limited few months of collecting learnt about these quite early and was under the impression everyone on the forum would have years more experience than me.

Philately can be deeper than you imagine.
Especially in a specialised area of Mauritius.
Books have been written about them.
Numerous forgeries abound, yours being one of them.

Genuine were realising $8,000 and $4,000 in 2005

Simple to reproduce with modern IT.
A huge genuine image was printed in the November 22nd 2013, issue of the Wall Street Journal.

Always try to offer all the known knowledge on any stamp you query.
That is good, professional Philately.
Makes our job more accurate and enjoyable.

This is also a good time to become sensitive of the subtle differences in terminology. Bogus, counterfeit, facsimile, fake, forgery, imitation, reprint, reproduction, spoof, etc. Each has a shade of meaning depending on who made it, when, how, and why.

As a possible aside, here is a page from the 1897 Scott world catalog listing Mauritius among their "autotype plates" whatever those were:

So, how do you know the certificate is from a reputable dealer?
The gentleman may well be, no argument there,
the problem arises with you "assuming"

At $46,000 I'd suggest you treat everything with caution.
The world is full of trickery.

Google
Are Brandon Certificates Reliable On Southern Africa?

Just an aside............
Do members agree in the close up of the Certificate,
The stamp in the certificate matches the close up?

They look a little different to me.
Especially the top margin.

https://www.ma-shops.com/mmrarecoin...m.php?id=755

Autotype Plates.
Not listed in "Askphil"
Mentioned here...
https://www.stampdomain.com/notable...Mirabaud.htm

Suggestion:
A reproduction printed image of all stamps contained in a "forme" of
hand engraved, original dies.
To enable identification of single stamps, and their position in the forme.

[Sicily] Diena, E., A History of the Postage Stamps of Sicily. 1904, hardbound ¼ leather, translated by E.B. Evans, 143pgs + 20 autotype plates; light/moderate wear.
Estimate; $100 - 150.
https://stampauctionnetwork.com/sr/sr78133.cfm

https://www.felzmann.de/en/mauritius-stamps.aspx

More details here and you can check the 2015 auction.

O.K.
So what is happening here? The certificate has been changed (and not initialled )

The brown tone spot has been clipped by scissors ?
ie "enhanced"
ergo, is the certificate still appropriate to the offered stamp?

You make up you own mind.