Decimal GB Postage Stamp Forgeries

A collection of modern British postage stamp forgeries. These were produced for the purpose making money for forgers and networks of resellers by defrauding the Royal Mail. Counterfeit stamps can be popular with collectors to compare alongside the genuine stamp. They’re often more valuable than the real version and can command a higher price.

Some copies are pretty convincing and can easily fool all but the most eagle-eyed! This is especially true with the newer Data Marix (barcode) stamps. On the other hand, the now invalid, non-barcode small Machin definitives can be rather crude. Telltale signs of are often poor print quality, blatantly incorrect perforations or fake phosphor bands.

In the near future most of these items will be for sale in our ebay shop. You will be able to purchase as a guest or with an eBay account.
Visit Apollo’s Lots GB Stamps at ebay to view all items for sale.

24p Chestnut Forgery

Based on SG X969 24p chestnut, showing a poor quality print and incorrect perforations (c. perf 11). These were commonly found in convenience stores and newsagents during 1993.

24p Chestnut unmounted mint is available in our ebay store

£7.95

2nd Class Bright Blue Forgery

Based on the 2nd class bright blue NVI design with elliptical perfs, these stamps came about in 1994. The printing is not particularly clear and the stamp has a yellow fluorescent centre band instead of phosphor band.

2nd Class Bright Blue unmounted mint is available in our ebay store

£7.95

1st Class Deep Red Forgery (no date/source codes)

Based on the 1st class bright scarlet of c.2016 onwards, from a distance this is a convincing forgery. The deeper/brighter red, opposed to vermilion, shouldn’t appear on plain backing paper. Neither should it have ‘MAIL’ no date or source codes. The iridescent security print is mirrored every second line and there is no attempt at phophor bancds.

£TBC

1st Class Large Deep Red Forgery (no date/source codes)

Based on 1st Large bright scarlet of c.2017 onwards, another convincing example. This colour shouldn’t appear on plain backing paper. The iridescent security lines are straighter than found on genuine stamps and illegible under the two side bands.

£10.95

1st Class Deep Violet Data Matrix Forgery (MBIL/M22L)

These are based on the newer Data Matrix (barcoded) stamps that came into use 2021. The colour on the fake is paler than the genuine stamp, perforations are slightly more pointed and the Data Matrix is flat where the original has a slightly raised print.

£TBC

1st Large Greenish-Blue Data Matrix Forgery (MBIL/M22L)

All the identifying features of the 1st Class Deep Violet (above) apply the first class large QEII stamps. Although, as the colour is already pale, using colour alone makes identification more tricky.

£TBC

1st Class Gold Wavy Perfs Forgery

This 1st Class Gold NVI self-adhesive Machin is an easy fake to spot. Based on SG2295 of 2002, these are believed to have been produced from 2005 onwards. The two side bands give no phosphor reaction under UV light and the perforations are wavy (c. perf 10).

1st Class Gold Wavy Perfs Fine Used is available in our ebay store

£14.95

£1 Wood/Bistre Brown Forgery (MTIL/M14L)

The £1 Wood/Bistre brown self-adhesive Machin is based on SG U2934 of 2014, and is believed to have been produced in 2016. The stamp displays two side bands. The iridescent security overprint is the giveaway: displaying ‘MTIL M14L’ which denotes booklet stamps, which is not possible as these were only produced sheet stamps ‘MAIL’.

£1 Wood/Bistre Brown (MTIL M14L) Fine Used is available in our ebay store

£6.95

2nd Class Blue Forgery (MTIL/M12L)

The 2nd class blue here is based on SG 3013 of 2012, and is believed to have been produced from 2012 onwards. Being the most common stamp used for postage at this time, there are an abundance of different 2nd class stamp forgeries, with different iridescent codes, to be found. This example showing ‘MTIL M12L’ is a legitimate code, although it’s genuineness fails on slightly pointed perforations and the lack of a centre phosphor band.

2nd Class Blue (MTIL/M12L) Fine Used is available in our ebay store

£4.95

Postage Stamp Fraud

Selling, distributing or knowingly using counterfeit stamps for postal use is a crime. If you have been offered bulk postage stamps significantly cheaper than face value there may be an issue – unless buying from a reputable discount postage seller. Should you have any doubts or require more information visit the Royal Mail stamp fraud page.