Is This A Natal Center Missing Or A Forgery?

I saw this Natal stamp on ebay. It's "mint no gum" and it has a watermark Crown CA. I lost the bid. But I am not sure if is a center missing or forgery? Any comments? Many thanks in advance

Forgery. Seen then before, but not often. The centre has been chemically removed. I'd pay 50c for it simply for the curiosity value, but no more.

The whole thing is a forgery.

It appears that this stamp has been altered. The paper is bright white. It looks like it was bleached. It would be interesting to see it, but I wouldn't bid on it.

Sold yesterday
164588800957
(Appears to have been purchased by someone with a lot of feedbacks...dealer?)

$33. Ouch!

Try $44, unless postage was free.

The lack of gum hides a multitude of sins.

At least the watermark looks genuine

The closing bid tells me that the bidders know that this is not genuine but could not help but take a chance.

Seeking clarification:

Tim H says:



perf12 says:



This has me confused as to the exact sequence of events - and the precise term which would apply of altered, counterfeit, fake, forgery, reprint, etc.

Are any parts genuine? The paper/watermark? The frame? If a complete forgery, then is the watermark real?

Was the center ever there? Did it start from a real stamp and have the frame removed - or if a complete forgery, there was no need to ever print the center?

Exactly,
Personally I decided it was a genuine, but altered stamp.
(Chemically or otherwise)

It does stand, that a forgery could be had by printing on watermarked selvedge, I am not aware of this in Natal material.
The lack of gum is a concern.

I find it especially odd that a few original (?) ink spots remain inside the head plate area, and that 2 specks are missing at upper right from the frame plate.

The £1 10sh is Sc.97 which exists only on Wmk 1 Crown CC paper.
So the forger washed of the stamp.It may of been another colony stamp.Wmk 1 is not on the forged stamp.Pic below for comparison.
Major differences.



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The entire frame is a poor forgery.Now why the forger chose Sc.97 instead of 98,99,or 100 is probably he didn't want to look to greedy.
Compare the frames with next to a genuine stamp.

Check the "one pound". Looks like a totally different font.

Peter

Ok, much clearer. Thank you.