France Occupation Issues Of The Franco Prussian War, 1870

Some time ago, after just discovering these, I scanned them and posted to a different thread. They were then put in a "round toit" file and just now unearthed again. Fascinating issue!

I am trying to create some pages that will put them in context historically and geographically as well as determining whether or not they are legitimate copies. So far, they appear legitimate and applying the diagonal line check to the background point downward lathework seems to indicate those are original as well rather than the official reprint, which pleases me.

Aside from sharing what seems to be a seldom seen grouping, I would appreciate any and all comments and links that would help me with telling their story.

I would need large scans of each stamp to determine if any are forgeries . There may be places on the internet with my working copies of examples . These stamps of ALSACE and LORRAINE. .

If you do a search on this board for Alsace and Lorraine you will find the examples of determine the real from the reprints / forgeries from 2013 ,trying to explain the differences while my stamps and research was in Chicago while I was in Florida ,got it half-ask backwards ,but did correct it .

The diagonal line test is not always 100% accurate. There are several checks you can do to distinguish original from reprint. They are shown here (in German):
https://www.stampsx.com/ratgeber/ra...r-ndp-el.php
One of the images has the diagonal line added and explains why it does not always give the correct result.

Germania ---- Thanks for the link on the Alsace Lorraine stamps .

He doesn't say the diagonal test is wrong . He goes into a whole different test to be positive and a test you would need to issue a certificate . A well written indepth test for those stamps , he mentions other forgeries but doesn't go into details . But over all a well written study .

Thanks to both. FLOORTRADER, I did find your earlier post and it was most helpful. I can, if you are interested, do a higher resolution scan and post these individually but I would appreciate if you would let me know whether that would be something you would like. GERMANIA, I have overtaxed a translation site and have a very rough English version to play with. Previously, to identify the official reprints, I used the perforations along with the diagonal line but this gives me ever so much more to play with.

Thanks Backroads for your offer .

As with most things in life , what was good for me and others 20 years ago ,has gotten better for expertize those stamps as new methods have been shared . I will make my own notes from GERMANIA's link above .

Here's a no. 7a (Scott) (Yvert 7) on cover.

First the cover, which is a folded sheet containing an order to unspecified chemicals identified by product numbers. The receiving date stamp of Basel is on the back "flap" which I folded up.

Then a closeup of the stamp.

Also, thank you Germania for that link. Very nice.