France (Part 2, 1852 - 1871) (Part 1, 1849-1852 here)

1852-1861 Napoleon Issues 10c, 20c and 1fr
1869 Issue 5fr (new in Sperati II) see 2023 update below
1870 Bordeaux Issue 2c, 4c, 20, 30c and 80c
1859 Postage Due Issue 10c, 1871 Postage Due Issue 40c and 60c
1868 Telegraph Issue 1fr

For the Napoleon issues of 1852 to 1861 Sperati made reproductions of only the 10c and 1 franc. All are complete fabrications by Sperati including forged cancels. Items identified as "static dots" have position of dots cancel constant but exist with various numerals. The Sperati 1869 issue 5 franc is discussed in detail in Sperati II.

For the 1870 Bordeaux issue Sperati made reproductions of the 2c (3 types), 4c, 20c, 30c (2 types) and 80c (2 types). The Paris Museum also has negatives of two additional 80c types that are not known as finished reproductions. Sperati also made reproductions of three different postage due designs. Each in a single type. All of the above reproductions were fabricated completely by Sperati and all cancels are forged.

page thumbnails:

1. there is a white spot between the "R" and "A" of "FRANC" and the central line of shading immediately above the circle below the top panel is missing

2. there is a spot of color outside the right hand frame line in the center

3. in the lower panel the word "POSTES" has been retouched (some minute dots in the top right portion of the "P" in the bottom left portion of the "O" and in the top of the last "S" of this word)

4. in the bottom panel there is a horizontal scratch running from the last "O" through the head of the "C" up to the corner square

1. there is a colored spot in the head of the "B" of "REPUB"

2. there is a curved scratch in the background below the "U'' of "REPUB" and colored dots in the white line below this word

3. in the bottom panel there is a colored spot just above the frameline and below the "0" of first "10," there is a white spot following the "P" and a colored mark not unlike a comma in the foot of the "O" of "POSTES"

this is transfer of reproduction A where the static cancellation has been touched out (one used example reported and the cancellation obscures the retouching)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

(see Sperati I, pages 74 to 76, for a description of the several 1fr reproductions)

Left stamp-
1. there is a white dot on the lower right side of the top left corner star

2. there is a white dot between the "E" and "M" of "EMPIRE" and a white dot following the "F" of "FRANC"

3. there is a white scratch in the background immediately in front of the first "C" in the lower panel

4.there is some retouching in the lower panel which can be easily recognized by the extension of the background after and below the last "0"

right stamp -

1. there is a white spot after the "P" of "EMPIRE"

2. there is a white scratch running from the right side of the top stroke of the "F'' of "FRANC," and in the frameline below the "N" of this word there is a break

3. there is a white diagonal stroke running away from the bottom left of the "T" of "POSTES"

perforation match (genuine at left, Sperarti at right)

size of printed design comparison (wider Sperati at top, genuine below)

image of fronts under strong UV blacklight (Sperati productions above, genuine below)

image of backs under strong UV blacklight (Sperati productions above, genuine below)

In the June 26, 2023 auction of David Feldman two lots (#50475 and 50476) were unused and canceled examples of the Sperati forgeries. These specimens, in conjunction with genuine used and genuine unused examples of the 5Fr supplied by Steve Walske, allowed me the opportunity to directly compare the the items. My conclusions based on these new comparisons are summarized below. The image thumbnails are in column to the left.

1. The Sperati unused and used forgeries are printed on washed genuine stamps. This conclusion based on perfect overall stamp size match and perfect perforation matches with genuine stamps (one the one horizontal perforation comparison scan the stamps moved slightly but are perfect matches).

2. The gray print width is longer on the Sperati forgeries as well as a small bit taller. This likely a result of photo reduction and enlargement.

3. The paper on each of the two Sperati stamps is different. The unused is on very bleached paper which plainly shows on the black light images. The used Sperati is on a bluish tinted paper not at all like the genuine. Both Sperati stamps feel thicker than the genuine stamps which I attributed to the bleaching process used to remove the original cancels (but I may be wrong as to the reason). The black light stamps have Sperati stamps on top, the genuine on bottom).

4. The colors are off on the gray as well although the used Sperati is pretty close. See Sperati II link for a description of the 5fr reproductions)

(see Sperati II link for a description of the 5fr reproductions)

(see Sperati II link for a description of the 5fr reproductions)

(see Sperati II link for a description of the 5fr reproductions)

1. the "C" of "FRANC"" has too long a head

2. there is a white spot in the background just right of the pearls opposite the chin

3. there are two white spots behind the head

1. the background behind the word "FRANC" has been heavily retouched and this is visible under magnification in spite of the cancellation

2. the upper frame line extends at the right

3. there is a dot in the outer frame line at left opposite the foot of the letter "R"

4. the background above the right figure "2" has been retouched

Top Left Stamp -

1. the left leg of the "A" of "FRANC" is extended

2. the pearls opposite and underneath the chin contain dots

3. there is a break in the outer frame below the "P" of "POSTES"

4. there is a line of color running through the foot of the final "C"

Top Right Stamp -

1. the "U" of "REPUB" is rather crude and looks as if it might be an "O"

2. there are a number of dots in the white space above this letter and below the frame line

3. there is a dot on the outside of the right frame line, 6.25 of an inch from the top

4. there is a break in the circle above the join to the inner frame at right

Lower Left Stamp -

1. the pearls immediately opposite the tip of the nose are joined

2. there are dots in the pearls behind the hair

Lower Right Stamp -

1. the top of the letter "E" of "REPUB" extends through the space and touches the outer frame line above

2. the outer frame line at right is broken diagonally 6 mm. below the right corner

3. there are spots of color in two of the pearls immediately above the left "2"

Sperati made two reproductions, one of which is a carefully retouched transfer of the other. Either reproduction may be identified by the tests given but the first reproduction may be distinguished from the second as it is always canceled with large numeral in dots in such a way that the dots fall across the heavily retouched portions of the stamp.

1.the outer frame line above the "AN" of "FRANC" is curved downwards

2. the circular frame line below the letter "U" of "REPUB" is broken and retouched

3. the circular frame above the "ST" of "POSTES" is broken and retouched

4. the inner frame line at right is broken away just below the part where it should touch the circular frame

4.the outer frame line at right is broken opposite the numeral

1. the circle containing the pearls has a clear break immediately below the letter "R" and again below the letter "P" of "REPUB''

2. there is a gap in the shading immediately above the center of the circle

3. there is a diagonal crack running down from the tail of the last "S" of "POSTES" and from the front of the figure "2" that follows

4. to the right of the "O" of "POSTES" there is a diagonal break in the background

1. in the top left corner square there is a weakness in the background above the cross

2. there is a white spot between the bottom of the "R" and "E" of "REPUB" and a weak spot in the shading below the "RA" of "FRANC"

3. the pearls at the extreme right in the center are joined

4. there is a white mark on the upper right arm of the cross in the lower left corner

1. there is a white spot in the head of the "R" and another below the "P" in "REPUB"

2. the outer frameline is not joined at the top right nor at the bottom left

3. the background below the left "3" in the bottom panel is curved and a stroke extends above the figure

4. there is a white spot between the "O" and "S" of "POSTES," below the "S" the background is irregular and the frame line is broken between the "S" and the "T"

1. there is a stroke of color in the right side of the head of the "R," a white spot inside the curve of the "U" and a white dot in the head of the "B" of "REPUB"

2. there is a white crack running at right angles from the upright of the "R" of "FRANC"

1. there is a small crack in the top panel which runs down to the top left corner of the letter "F" of "FRANC" and a further irregularity in the background to the top right of the letter "C"

2. there is a mark like an accent over the first "S" of "POSTES" and the background immediately above the top of the "T" is broken

1. in the top panel there is a white spot in the bay of the "C," constant black marks below the "H," an extension of the background above "IF," a white spot after the second "F," and white spots to the top left and bottom left of the "E"

2. in the left panel there is a small white dot in the center of the "O," the background is extended above "ST," there is a black spot in the center of the "T," and a white spot following the final "S"

3. in the lower panel there is a break in the inner frame line above the letter "A" and a white spot on the head of the "E"

1. in the top panel there is a weakness in the background before the word "CHlFFRE"

2. in the left panel there is a line of color running below the "P" to the inner frame line and a general weakness in the background around the "O"

3. in the right panel there is a white spot between the "S" and "T" and between the "T" and "E" the background above these letters has a small nick

4. the horizontal bar of the "A" of "TAX" is very weak and usually shows a clean break

1. in the top panel there is usually a weakness in the back­ground of the lower half of the "H," there is a white spot touching the left side of the "I" and a black spot in the left side of the "E"

2. there is a small white spot over the "E" in the right panel

3. in the lower panel there are constant dots of color, two of which are large with a white space below the "E"

(same cliché used by Sperati for both the black and the bistre shades)

1. there is a weakness in the background between the "C" and "A" of "FRANCAIS" which is particularly noticeable about the tail of the "C" and in the form of a white spot on the left leg of the "A"

2. in the genuine stamp there are colored spots in the "I" and top and bottom of the "S" of "FRANCAIS" which are missing in the reproduction

3. the outline of the right wing of the eagle is continuous in the genuine but broken in several places in the reproduction.

additional information from Sperati I:  Plates 22-39  France Text
additional information from Sperati II:  Plates B & C   France Text

Richard Frajola (Sept 2, 2023)