British East Africa

1890-1894 Issue 4a, 8a and 1r (one type of each)
1894 Issue 5a on 8a (one type)
1894 Issue 7½ surcharge (only a proof has been seen)

Sperati made reproductions of three values of the 1890 to 1894 issue, 4a, 8a and 1r as reported in Sperati I. These were printed on genuine stamp paper with forged cancels. Since then two additional forged surcharges have been discovered and reported in Sperati II.

Sperati II notes regarding the surcharges: Two artists' proofs from Sperati's archives for the 5 and 7½ annas overprints, as well as a finished, signed copy of the 5 annas on 8 annas, have become available for study. These overprints are not so shiny as the genuine, though Sperati was quite capable of making them so in his finished products. They also have much less typographic bite than the genuine.

page thumbnail:
reproduction thumbnails:  

image courtesy Grosvenor

1890-1894 Issue 4a

1. there is a small dash in the head of the "C" of "COMPANY"

2. there is a nick in the top of "O" of "COMPANY"

3. there is a colon between the "I" and "G" of "LIGHT"

1890-1894 Issue 8a

1. as found on one of the genuine types, there is a dash to the right above the fifth pair of short lines from the bottom in the left frame

2. there is a dot in the upright of the "R" of "IMPERIAL"

3. there is a dot in the upright of the "B" of " BRITISH"

 

1890-1894 Issue 1r

1. the top horizontal stroke of the last "E" of "REVENUE" is detached from the upright

2. the "M" of "COMPANY" is malformed, the solid "V" of color that forms the top is squat instead of sharp and well pointed

 

 

proof of surcharge only:

 1894 Issue 5a on 8a

1. there are several white dots and spots on the number and letters of the forgery

2. there is a dash at the bottom right of the two legs of the first "A" of "ANNAS" creates slivers descending from the legs

3. there is a white dot is near the end of the top of the "S"
1894 Issue 7½a (for presumed use on 1r)

1. the "7" has a small nick in its right side, at the level of the bottom side of the top stroke

2. the left side of the "7" has a short, downward pointing spur, just above its midpoint

3. the "l" just clears the fraction bar, its right serif is thickened, there is a bump on the left side of its vertical, and the top serif is not quite concave

4. the fraction bar is thickened on the right end and is joined to the "2" in the middle

additional information from Sperati I:  Plate 3    Br. East Africa Text
additional information from Sperati II:  Plate A    Br. East Africa Text

Richard Frajola (May 1, 2020)