ERITREA ILLEGAL STAMPS

Information and Reference of illegal stamps for Eritrea according to U.P.U. Circular 294 and other resources

On August 25, 2003 the postal administration for Eritrea by request to M.S. Raman (Acting Director of Economic and Regulatory Affairs) posted to the Universal Postal Union a circular warning of the discovery of a massive amount of illegal stamps created with their country name that are on the market. The circular is number 294. You can view in the linked file below:

UPU Circular Number 294

The circular describes a large number of the illegal stamps discovered to be on the market in 2003. All of them were produced and being distributed by the British counterfeit producer and his criminal stamp dealing distributors. I describe who these people are on many other sections of the illegal stamp study and will name who is selling them as well on the following pages for Eritrea. They are still being sold by them and many others to this day. There are many more counterfeit illegal stamps that were produced at the time that were not "caught" by the postal administration of Eritrea and there have been many more produced since the time the circular was made.

I also want to note that the circular explicitly states these "stamps" are counterfeit stamps. Quote:
"It is, in particular, a violation of the national legislation of Eritrea, and in particular its law on the Post and its provisions on counterfeit postage stamps. Under the terms of this law, the Eritrean Postal Service alone is authorized to issue and disseminate postage stamps in the name of Eritrea."
In other words, it is illegal for anyone to sell these counterfeit illegal stamps! They can come after you through legal channels in your own country. Got it?

Eritrea has always been a very conservative stamp issuing entity. The problem of illegal stamp production actually began in 1978 when Clive Feigenbaum had a number of counterfeits created in the name of Eritrea during the time that Eritrea was in turmoil and was not issuing any stamps at all!

You see, Eritrea stopped issuing stamps in 1934. It was formerly an Italian colony and was incorporated as a state of Italian East Africa in 1936. Eritrea was occupied by the British between 1941 through 1952 until it became part of Ethiopia as its northernmost region. Eritrea did not become fully independent until May 24, 1993. During all this time they never issued any of their own stamps. Indeed a couple local sets were made in 1978 and in 1991 but they were not available at the time of independence. One 1991 set is listed by the catalogs but official issuing of stamps did not really start until 1993.

To find out what stamps are real and legitimate for Eritrea you can visit the following online catalogs. I found that Eritrea listed their 2002 and 2003 stamp issues in the UPU's WNS system but then stopped so it is not a good resource to verify genuine stamps from to present day stamps.

I have found the Colnect online catalog to be very helpful.

The Colnect Online Catalog for Eritrea

Check out their Illegal Stamp section as well. It is far from complete but will help you verify many as well.

The Colnect Online Catalog for Eritrea Illegal Stamps

I have found the Stampworld.com Catalog to be very helpful as well.

The Stampworld Online Catalog for Eritrea

Here we go!

Many of the following illegal stamps can be found as imperforates and as color proof sets as well. Many exist on fake First Day Covers too.
Most times now (2021) the souvenir sheet sets and sheetlet sets are sold individually. Many times the stamps have been removed from the sheetlets and souvenir sheets. All of these "tactics" are used to avoid detection by UPU circular descriptions.

Sellers that call these "private", "locals", "Cinderella's", "unauthorized" are deceiving you. They are counterfeit illegal stamps produced by a stamp dealer that is bent on ripping you off! Some sellers state "we offer them because they are on the market". Well how about you use a different dealer because that seller is "on the market"? If the stamp societies, auction sites and all other venues kicked these sellers off of their sites then they would have to comply or lose their ability to sell anything.

The following images are free for the use of all to use to alert the public to them. If anyone wants to make a public list of users on eBay, Delcampe and elsewhere who are selling these issues....fine by me since the UPU, PWMO and others appear to have given up or have not been updated in years.

If you have purchased any of these stamps from a dealer or if that dealer offers them, you should avoid that dealer! You will only be supporting illegal stamp makers who are only ripping you off.

1978

It all really started back in 1978 for this country. During this time Mr. Clive Feigenbaum was happily producing massive numbers of bogus British Local stamps and many other oddities that do not conform with genuine stamps. In 1978 he had produced a set of counterfeits inscribed with Eritrea's country name and bogus denominations that commemorated the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This should have been an obvious red flag to collectors and dealers because the topic has nothing to do with Eritrea and Eritrea was not independent at that time thus not issuing any stamps. Sadly, many collectors have been ripped off by this set and sadly there are still many criminal dealers selling it and pieces from it.

These counterfeit stamps and the dealers who sell them should be avoided and shunned by all.

1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamps and Souvenir Sheet

Certain dealers in present time are calling these "essays". They are not essays and never will be. They are counterfeit stamps....period.



1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Deluxe Souvenir Sheets



Fake color proof sets exist, fake imperforates and probably fake First Day covers exist as well. Avoid!

1980

All appears to have been pretty quiet until 1980. Then the clowns decided to create this counterfeit.

1980 80th Birthday of the Queen Mother Overprint on 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp



And this one for the London Stamp Exposition.

1980 Rowland Hill Halley's Comet London Stamp Exposition Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1

How many collectors got ripped off with this one at the London Exposition?

1981

In 1981 Feigenbaum has more counterfeits produced in the name of Eritrea. This time producing a set celebrating the Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

The Scott catalog has a note on some of the following counterfeit illegal stamps. It States the following:

Between 1981 and 1986 unofficial labels appeared showing such non-Eritrean
subjects as the British royal weddings, Queen Mother, Queen's birthday,
and the Duke and Duchess of York. These labels are not listed.

This note was placed long before the definition of illegal stamps was established by the UPU. Therefore, they can be considered some of the earliest known illegal stamps. British locals that are bogus have been termed as "labels" in many cases by the PTS (Philatelic Traders Society) located in the UK. These fall under the category of illegal stamps as they fall in the same realm as the Russian republic and provinces counterfeit illegal stamps that started in the early 1990's and were produced by these same criminals.

1981 Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1981 Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1

1982

In 1982 Feigenbaum got a little bolder and started making more sets.

1982 Canoes Scouting Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1982 Princess Diana 21st Birthday Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4

Some dealers do not catch the 21 with the key symbol on the stamps and presume these to be just "Royal Wedding stamps".



1982 Princess Diana 21st Birthday Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1

I could only find the fake color proof set for one of these counterfeits. Certainly the souvenir sheet is out there.



1982 Princess Diana 21st Birthday Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Fake Color Proofs of Souvenir Sheets

The dealer (Avion Stamps) the source of the tiny lousy images asks ridiculous prices for this worthless junk. Much being exclusively sold by the guy who was a direct associate with Clive Feigenbaum and still is with the son.



1982 Royal Baby Overprint on Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1982 Royal Baby Overprint on Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1



1982 World Cup Football (Soccer) Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1982 World Cup Football (Soccer) Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1

1984

In 1984 two more counterfeit sets were created in the name of Eritrea.

1984 Dogs with Rotary Logo Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 8

I added the image of the single stamps for better clarity.



1984 Dogs with Rotary Logo Rottweiler Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1984 Dogs with Rotary Logo Rottweiler Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1 with Fake Cancel



1984 Dogs with Rotary Logo Pyrenian Mountain Dog Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 8



1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles Running Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles Hammer Throw Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1

1985

In 1985 they made this "big production" of counterfeit stamps celebrating the Queen Mothers 85th Birthday.

1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 4 with Bogus Perforation Errors



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with Girl Guides Overprint in Black



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1 with Girl Guides Overprint in Black



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with Girl Guides Overprint in Red



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1 with Girl Guides Overprint in Red



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with Royal Visit Overprint



1985 85th Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1 with Royal Visit Overprint



1985 85th Birthday of the Queen Mother Overprint on 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp



1985 85th Birthday of the Queen Mother Inscription on 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Deluxe Souvenir Sheet

1986

Finally we have this last group of counterfeits produced by the same people before "disappearing" until 1991.

1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1



1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with AMERIPEX Overprint in Black



1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1 with AMERIPEX Overprint in Black



1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with AMERIPEX Overprint in Blue



1986 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1 with AMERIPEX Overprint in Blue



1986 Royal Wedding Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



1986 Royal Wedding Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1



1986 Royal Wedding Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4 with Gold Duke and Duchess of York Overprint



1986 Royal Wedding Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1 with Gold Duke and Duchess of York Overprint



1986 Royal Wedding Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 1 with Silver Duke and Duchess of York Overprint

1991

In 1991 the British producer makes one more counterfeit.

1991 65th Birthday of the Queen Elizabeth II Overprint on 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Deluxe Souvenir Sheet



1991 65th Birthday of the Queen Elizabeth II Overprint on 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Deluxe Souvenir Sheet on Fake First Day Cover

2000

It is not known if it was the British producer who produced the counterfeits and/or forgeries of the EUROPA 2000 issues that were made in the name of a number of different countries. Sadly they were made in the name of Eritrea as well.

2000 EUROPA Counterfeit Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 2



The production of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Eritrea explodes in 2001. All of them that are described in the circular were produced by the British producer.

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References taken from:
U.P.U. Circular No. 294
Major Stamp Catalogs
Internet Research

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