NIGER ILLEGAL STAMPS
1999

Information and Reference of illegal stamps for Niger Dating 1999 according to U.P.U. Circulars 194 and 388 and other resources

On June 5, 2000 the postal administration for Niger by request to E.M. Gharbi (Assistant Director-General) 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 194. You can view it in French or English the linked files below:

UPU Circular Number 194 in English

UPU Circular Number 194 in French

It states the following.

Dear Sir/Madam
The postal administration of NIGER asks me to inform you of the following:
"I enclose a list of stamps issued without the authorization of Niger Post by the company France Philatélie 2000, run by an individual named J C Marino Montero.
"I wish to inform you that my administration brought an action about the fraudulent activities of this individual before the Regional Court of Niamey which, at a hearing on 19 October 1999, imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine on Mr Montero.
"Another action is being brought before the Paris courts, to be heard on 4 July 2000 in the 31st Chambre correctionnelle."
Yours faithfully,
E M GHARBI
Assistant Director-General

Annex 1

List of postage stamp issues purporting to be from the Republic of Niger and offered on the philatelic market by "France Philatélie Ltd" or "France Philatélie 2000" – Mr Juan Carlo Montero.
These issues are neither authorized nor approved by the postal administration of the Republic of Niger, and as such are not valid for postage.

1 Great painters, with "PHILEXFRANCE" Logo
1 Eugène Delacroix miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 425 F
1 Eugène Delacroix block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 Toulouse Lautrec miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 250 F
1 Paul Gauguin miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 300 F
1 Renoir miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 375 F
1 Van Gogh miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F
1 Van Gogh block with 2 stamps at 2000 F
1 Matisse miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 400 F
1 French Actors and Actresses miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 675 F

II. PAPAL VISIT TO AFRICA

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F
1 block with 2 stamps at 1500 F

III. EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY

1 miniature sheet (1900-1909) with 9 stamps at 225 F
1 miniature sheet (1910-1919) with 9 stamps at 225 F
1 miniature sheet (1920-1929) with 9 stamps at 225 F

IV. PRINCESS DIANA WITH NEW OVERPRINTS: FAMOUS PEOPLE RED CROSS -AIDS, ETC

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 180 F
1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 180 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 1500 F + 250 F (surcharge)
1 block with 1 stamp at 4000 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 4000 F

V. CHESS

1 block with 1 stamp at 725 F

VI. FRANK SINATRA

1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F

VII. MARRIAGE OF PRINCE EDWARD TO SOPHIE RHYS-JONES

1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F

VIII. SPACE HISTORY

1 Halley's Comet block with 1 stamp at 2000 F
1 John Glenn block with 1 stamp at 3000 F

IX. J.F. KENNEDY

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 500 F

X. STAR WARS

1 miniature sheet with 9 stamps at 375 F
1 block with 1 stamp at 2000 F

Annex 2

'I have learned that during November 1999, issues of postage stamps purporting to be from the Republic of Niger were circulated on the international philatelic market by the companies France Philatélie Ltd and France Philatélie 2000, run by Mr Marino Montero.
I would advise readers that these issues were not approved by the postal administration of Niger and their sale could involve distributors' civil and criminal liability.'
These issues are as follows:

Events of the 20th century (1930 to 1939) 9 values at 375 F
Events of the 20th century (1940 to 1949) 9 values at 375 F
Events of the 20th century (1950 to 1959) 9 values at 375 F
Various cats 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Prehistoric animals 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Pandas 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F
Butterflies 6 values-10-30-50-100-300-500 F
Kennedy Space Center 9 values: 10-20-30-40-50-100-200-300-500 F Boats with NATO logo 4 values at 425 F
Boats with UPU logo 4 values at 875 F
Marilyn Monroe 9 values at 275 F
Marilyn Monroe on a bicycle 1 value at 2000 F
Cartoons 6 values: 10-30-50-100-300-500 F
Various dogs with scout movement logo 9 values at 100 F

For information:

New pirated postage stamps purporting to be from the Republic of Niger:

PINOCCHIO 9 values at 200 F
AMERICAN ACTORS 9 values at 400 F
EAGLES 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
BUTTERFLIES 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
MUSHROOMS 9 values: 100-150-250-350-400-450-200-300-500 F
TORTOISES 8 values overprinted CHINA 99 World Philatelic Exhibition
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1960-1969) 9 values at 500 F
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1970-1979) 9 values at 500 F
EVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY (1980-1989) 9 values at 500 F

On November 28, 2005 the postal administration for Niger by request to K.J.S. MCKEOWN (Director of Markets) posted to the Universal Postal Union a circular warning of the discovery of more illegal stamps created with their country name that are on the market. The circular is number 388. You can view it in the linked file below:

UPU Circular Number 388 in English

UPU Circular Number 388 in French

The circular describes another number of the illegal stamps discovered , but it is a bit confusing. The annexed section is written in a French/English intermixed way so a lot of the names are misspelled and kind of jumbled together. It is odd that the director never proof read it before posting it.

The circulars describe numerous sets that were found to be on the market in 2000 and 2005. The issues described are all dated in between 1997 and 1999. Many more have and are being produced since that time. Most of the illegal stamps described in these circulars are still on the market today. They are available through private stamp dealers and their websites. They are available on eBay and Delcampe. They are everywhere! These illegal issues are fabrication of stamps that have never had any postal validity in Niger and have been denounced as fraudulent. They were and are created by certain greedy, unethical and immoral stamp dealers. Any stamp seller out there that offers these "stamps" either does not know they are illegal stamps or is deceitful and they should be avoided at all costs. The deceitful ones, like the ones I mentioned on the 1997 page, prey upon unknowing collectors new and old. They prey upon topical collectors mostly because the majority do not have the knowledge that they are worthless in the stamp market. Some are quite obvious because they have hundreds of lots available on eBay and other public auction venues.

For years now there has been arguments as to whether these issues should be imaged for public viewing. The against argument being that collectors that see images of them will want them for their collections. We can see by the availability on the market and the sales generated that this argument has not worked. By only relying on descriptions of the illegal stamps through the UPU circulars the majority of collectors don't even know what they are.

I am a firm advocate against illegal stamps and the creators of them and the sellers of them. Perspective buyers of them need more than UPU circulars to be alerted to the problem. They need to see them and be able to recognize them when they are searching for stamps to buy on the internet or at stamp shows or buying from local dealers.

Because I am independent and run a site that is very public for collectors, I have decided that it is time for someone to display images of these illegal issues that have and are being reported to the UPU. The countries that are being victimized by these fraudulent printers need help and the UPU is not enough. It is up to you and me to get the word out and to let everyone know and understand about them since auction venues, stamp societies and catalogs seem to want to ignore the problem. Some who sell these fakes are large volume stamp dealers with supposed impeccable reputations. Some are in high positions in the stamp societies and in the auction venues. They in turn are avoiding the very problem by allowing these kind of sellers to peddle this junk because they also sell legitimate stamps on a large scale. The only way to stop the flow is to hit them where it hurts.

If they are selling this junk then avoid them!
Even if they have legitimate stamps for sale. Buy from sellers that do not have these in their offerings. If you are buying legitimate stamps from them you are still supporting the illegal stamp trade because they are supporting it. Tell them that you do not want to buy from them because they sell illegal stamps. There is no excuse to make them available to anyone.

The following images are of illegal stamps produced for Niger. Please remember that the producers of these illegal stamps are not only greedy, they are crude and sometimes disgusting which is the nature of these people.

To find out what stamps are real and legitimate for Niger visit the UPU WNS website and look at the Niger section. Sadly because the system was not online until 2002, it does not help in identifying the early era illegal stamps. It does show from 2002 through 2010 what the official stamp issues were in accordance to what the postal authority said in the circular. One should not buy any other issues unless only paying pennies for them. Again, sadly, the country has gone "rouge" against all UPU guidelines for philatelic best practices in regards to stamp production and issuing. I for one would kick them out of the UPU if they continue on this path. The stamps produced to this day are not anything but made to profit from collectors and are 99% excessive of postal needs.

The Universal Postal Union WNS website

I have found the Colnect online catalog to be very helpful to verify legal stamp issues.

The Colnect Online Catalog for Niger

Check out their Illegal Stamp section as well. It is upgraded as of 2023 and shows counterfeits that may be missing here.

The Colnect Online Catalog Illegal Stamp Section for Niger

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

The Stampworld Online Catalog for Niger

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 (2020) 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 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.

I will note the illegal stamps that are described in the circulars and/or noted in the Scott Catalog.

1999

In 1999 Impressor S.A. continues to produce stamps for Niger. Several issues were printed by Cartor as well.

In 1999 the company Mayfair International and France Philatélie 2000 slowed production of counterfeit illegal stamps somewhat. A major portion of the stamps produced by this company are described and denounced in the circulars. To this day associates to that company are still massively selling the illegal stamps on various venues, their websites and numerous other outlets. This must be ended. There is no denial that this company is behind it because they put their company logo on many of the following imaged counterfeit illegal stamps. To understand more about this company please visit the Niger Illegal Stamps Introduction Page.

1999 Betty Boop Souvenir Sheet of 9

Noting that in this year there are no copyright and trademark logo's on the Betty Boop sheets.



1999 Betty Boop Souvenir Sheet of 6

Noting that the color guide you can see on the bottom left edge of the selvage shows us who the printer was. It was Mayfair International.



1999 Betty Boop Souvenir Sheet of 6 on Fake First Day Cover

Here again the counterfeit illegal stamps are placed on the same cheaply made stationary and dated with a bogus cancel.
These counterfeit illegal stamps again mainly sold by the usual illegal stamp dealers/distributors. Avoid!



1999 Butterflies Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.



1999 Butterflies Souvenir Sheet of 6

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.

Noting yet again that the color guide you can see on the bottom right edge of the selvage shows us who the printer was. It was Mayfair International.



1999 Cartoon Network Cartoon Characters Souvenir Sheet of 6

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.



1999 Cats Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.



1999 Chess Pieces Souvenir Sheets of 9

These souvenir sheets are noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.




There is a listed set of chess topical stamps sheets that was produced by Impressor S.A.. Scott 1023-1026. What is frustrating and confusing are FDC's with the souvenir sheets on them. Both the listed souvenir sheets and the counterfeit illegal souvenir sheets exist on the same cheaply made stationary with the same cancel types. Is this collusion between the two parties or did the counterfeit producer again simply obtain the Impressor issues and place them on these same type covers to make the illegal stamps "look" legitimate as well? It would be nice to hear from Impressor on this.
It seems that in most cases, Impressor never made first day covers for most of the Niger issues they produced. Only with certain topics that are "matched" by the counterfeit producer are there Impressor FDC's of the same topic placed on these same style stationary FDC's.

1999 Chess Pieces Souvenir Sheets of 9 on Fake First Day Covers

This illegal stamp souvenir sheet was broken to make two FDC's to increase profits.



1999 Chess Issued Souvenir Sheet of 6 Made by Impressor S.A. on Same Style First Day Cover



1999 Dinosaurs Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.

There is that familiar color guide again. Found on many illegal stamps in the name of many countries.



1999 Eagles Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.



1999 History of Cinema American Actors Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.
This souvenir sheet is inscribed with the Mayfair International Logo.

Noting the Mayfair logo is extremely hard to see because it is inscribed in white. It is at the lower left corner at the top portion of the "NALD" of the word MacDONALD.



1999 History of Cinema American Actors Souvenir Sheets of 1

All made this way to sell individually to collectors of a specific actor.



1999 John F. Kennedy Jr. Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.



1999 John F. Kennedy Illegal Stamp on Apollo 11 Souvenir Sheet of 1

This appears to be the only stamp taken from the above souvenir sheet of 9 and placed in a single stamp souvenir sheet.



1999 Kennedy Space Center Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.



1999 Mahatma Gandhi Souvenir Sheet of 5

It is quite obvious who made it by the color guide on the right.



1999 Marilyn Monroe Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.



1999 Marilyn Monroe Souvenir Sheet of 1

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194 and 388.
This souvenir sheet is inscribed with the Mayfair International Logo.



1999 Marilyn Monroe Souvenir Sheets of 1

These souvenir sheets are inscribed with the Mayfair International Logo.

Noting how the background of these was used for the Kennedy single stamp souvenir sheet above.



1999 Mushrooms Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.



1999 Pandas Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.
This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 194.



1999 Pandas Souvenir Sheet of 9 on Fake First Day Cover



1999 Popeye Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted and denounced as illegal in circular 388.

Note the color guide at the bottom right corner.



1999 Shenzhou Macao return to China Souvenir Sheet of 9



1999 Shenzhou Macao return to China Souvenir Sheet of 9 on Fake First Day Cover



1999 Tiger Woods Golf Open Championship Souvenir Sheet of 9

This souvenir sheet is noted as unauthorized in the Scott Catalog.



1999 Wild Cats Tigers and Lions Souvenir Sheet of 9



The production of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Niger came to a screeching halt in this year. This is because of the charges pressed against Mr. Juan Montero and Mayfair International and the conviction in Niger. After 1999 there are no more Mayfair International stamps in the name of Niger that were produced.

2000

It is noted in circular 388 that certain Sydney 2000 Olympics stamps are deemed illegal. There are two sheets of 16 produced by Impressor S.A. in this year that are listed by all of the catalogs.

Niger 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
Scott Catalog No. 1051
Issued July 27 2000 Printer is Impressor S.A.


Niger 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
Scott Catalog No. 1052
Issued July 27 2000 Printer is Impressor S.A.


The problem appears to be that Impressor also produced a set of souvenir sheets of 1, using the single stamps from the above sheets on them. Apparently without authorization and because (as usual) they sold them off to stamp dealers rather than destroy them, they are deemed illegal. Here is an example of them on first day covers.

2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Souvenir Sheets of 1 on Fake First Day Covers



We once again see that the same cheaply made stationary is used on these. In theory the illegal souvenir sheets were sold or given to the same dealer who obtained other Impressor issues who then placed some on these fake FDC's to legitimize them as authentic. These are the last FDC's that were made in the name of Niger on this stationary which fully coincides with the ending of Mayfair International's production of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Niger. I note these and the souvenir sheets by themselves again being sold mainly by known counterfeit illegal stamp dealers.

I found conflicts in the catalogs on a number of Impressor S.A. issues. Scott catalog and Stanley Gibbons not listing them whereas Michel and/or Yvert listing them. A consistent problem caused by dealer and agency influences. None of the catalogs should listen to either and only take the written and verified official statements from the issuing countries postal administrations of which commercial postal usage should be proven before any catalog lists their stamp. In most cases the catalogs list the new issues months and in most cases a year or two after issue. This gives plenty of time for the verification process to happen before giving the privilege of listing. Something that even Scott catalog has negligently swayed away from in recent times.

In 2000 there was one more counterfeit illegal stamp produced.

This is a common design stamp that was counterfeited and reproduced as an illegal stamp to include the name of Niger. There are at least 16 African countries altogether with similar counterfeit stamps in sheets. There were 55 countries that were involved in the EUROPA 2000 theme that year. Niger was not one of them.

2000 EUROPA Illegal Stamp



2000 EUROPA Illegal Stamp Block

This being offered by the user Newshop2012 who is yet another corrupt dealer on Hipstamps.



All went silent after this. In 2002 Impressor's nightmare reign ended for Niger. Real Security printers took over and Niger became what it was supposed to be. A conservative stamp issuing postal system. I could find no more illegal stamps in the name of Niger.....until 2011. When globalphila began distribution of new illegal stamps in the name of Niger.

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References taken from:
U.P.U. Circular No. 194 and 388
Major Stamp Catalogs
Internet Research

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