Perf 8.5 Coils - If
the stamp has a double-line watermark it is clearly a fake made from the 344
and should fool no one. The fakes made from the 384 may prove a
little more difficult. In any case, one
should also examine the perforations. If the
perforations appear genuine, there is a very good case that the stamp is
genuine since there is no corresponding perforated 8.5 stamp from which to make
the fake. Also, pay particular attention to guide
line pairs, which command a high premium, and are very often faked by simply
drawing in the guide line with a similarly carmine-hued ink.
Perf 12 Coils - Scott 349, Scott 353,
Scott 386 and Scott 388 are often faked. We would advise
purchasing all of these stamps from a reputable seller only, and if possible
with certification.
All of these stamps, except the 388 which is somewhat rare, are prime candidates for fakery, since they are in that gray area in which
the cost of certification can often be more than the cost of the stamp. The
388 is considered to be one of the most faked stamp in U.S.
philately, somewhat surprising since it is folly to buy this stamp
without certification.
Particularly suspect are well-centered stamps. Although many fakes are made
by trimming a
fully perforated or perhaps a large margined straight-edge copy of the 332 or
the 375, the fakes are easily recognized since they most often
measure less than the proper width of 21.5 mm in the case of the
vertical coils and the proper height of 25 mm for horizontal coils, the measurement
being made from edge to edge on the non-perforated sides.
The more dangerous fakes are made from the imperforate stamps, the 344 and
the 384. The perforations must be examined
closely to guarantee authenticity. Keep in mind that much of the stock
of the imperforate stamps Scott 344 and Scott 384 have been given fake
perforations to resemble their more expensive coil counterparts.
