A New Member - Penny Black - Is It Real?

Hello all,

I'm happy to become a new member of this board and I hope that some of you be able to clear this up for me.

I have this stamp for some time but ever since I received it I have this nagging feeling that it is not the real thing.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

I have my doubts.

The printing is very 'feathery' whilst the frames of the corners are very strong.
The engraving in the head is very crude.

I'd consider not-genuine. Printing/engraving is very crude, and the Maltese cross coloring doesn't make sense.

My first impression is that it was printed on a dot matrix printer.
I suppose it could also be a low resolution scan.

The ink for the Maltese Cross had to be mixed by the postmasters. They often had to buy the ingredients. There is a very wide range of reddish colours and some specific hues or even other colours have been assigned to certain offices. Also, the viscosity is variable.

I agree there is something strange about the Maltese Cross as well. It gives the impression it has been printed and not stamped onto the adhesive label. But I hessitate to dismiss it outright.

The printing/engraving does shout out there is something going on.

Fake stamp, possibly the paper is smooth and not engraved, and most likely it does not have a watermark. Maybe it's one of the many Commemorative labels that have come out in the past.

Thank you all for your your feedbacks. Each one of you mentioned a different concern I have had regarding this item, and so I learned a lot.

Hopefully, next time I'll come up with something real to show.

Thanks again.

Edit: Removed a wrong comment. Seems today I can't walk and chew gum.

Here you can find all possible Penny Black positions
https://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/...nny_Black_QL
Your QL doesn't fit anything, not even remotely.