SOMALIA ILLEGAL STAMPS

Information and Reference of Counterfeit Illegal Stamps in the name of Somalia

On October 17, 2005 the postal administration for Somalia by request to K.J.S. McKeown (Director of Markets Development for the U.P.U.) posted to the Universal Postal Union a circular defining all official stamps recognized and issued between 1991 through 1999. The circular is number 328. Here is a .pdf file of the circular.

UPU Circular Number 328

The circular shows all issues that Somalia authorized during those years. There is a lot of confusion as to what stamps are genuine and what were not authorized by the Somalia postal administration. Catalogs conflict on all levels. Dealers conflict on all levels as well. This is because of the complete breakdown of the government and postal system in Somalia.

First we must look at a little history of what happened. First I take reference for the following from the wikipedia encyclopedia.

In early 1991, the Somali Postal Service had 100 post offices, with a total staff of between 1,665 to 2,165 personnel. The national postal infrastructure was later completely destroyed during the civil war, with Somali Postal officially suspending operations in October 1991. Residents subsequently had to turn to traditional methods of dispatching parcels and letters. They also communicated via handwritten letters sent through acquaintances and mobile and email messaging services. Postage stamps continued to be produced illegally internationally during the war, although their subject matter suggests they were designed for external collectors.

In November 2013, international postal services officially resumed. The Universal Postal Union is now assisting the reestablished Somali Postal Service to develop its capacity, including providing technical assistance and basic mail processing equipment. In October 2014, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications also relaunched postal delivery from abroad. The postal system is slated to be implemented throughout the country via a new postal coding and numbering system. According to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Mohamud Ibrihim Adan, the relaunch's next phase will enable local residents to send letters to acquaintances overseas.

Well you might wonder......this would mean all postage stamps dating between 1991 at least to 2013 would be invalid then! So let us go deeper....

The printing company that produced stamps for Somalia and was in complete control of it in the 1980's forward was I.P.Z.S. which stands for Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Italy. We can see by the majority of stamps produced from 1994 forward that the topics in most cases had nothing to do with Somalia. We can also see that they were overproducing the stamps way in excess of postal needs of the country. This is proven by the massive quantities of mint stamps being sold on the market to this day. Where are all the covers showing postal usage? In the majority of searches there has been very little to no evidence of usage. This places this company in the same status as Impressor and Stamperija stamp issues.

At a bare minimum they are considered abusive stamps.

We still have to consider the legal issues though. According to my sources with ties to the UPU the printer had contracts with Somali post. The problem is....who after 1991 considering the postal system was destroyed?

Here we take the history from the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Following the collapse of the central government in 1991, the constitution was ignored. Various clan-based political coalitions and alliances attempted to establish control throughout the country. In May 1991 one such alliance declared the formation of the independent "Republic of Somaliland" in the north, and in July 1998 another declared the formation of the autonomous region of "Puntland" in the northeast. Each formed its own government, although neither is recognized by the international community.

Meanwhile, the fragmented, conflict-riven south lay largely in the hands of various clan-based militia groups at war with each other, despite several attempts to end the conflict and form a new government. The last transitional government was the result of the Transitional Federal Charter, promulgated in 2004. It provided for a Transitional Federal Parliament and a Transitional Federal Government, which consisted of a president, a prime minister, and a cabinet called the Council of Ministers. The charter was amended in 2009 to extend the transitional government’s original five-year mandate for another two years and again in 2011 to extend it for one more year. On August 20, 2012, the day that the transitional administration was due to expire, the lower house of a new federal parliament was sworn in, the next month, that body elected a new president for the country.

The circular shown above was introduced by that transitional government in an attempt to counter all the counterfeit illegal stamps that were being produced in the name of Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland and another called Maakar State. Letting you know that all of them were being produced by the demon British counterfeit stamp producer except for the I.P.Z.S. issues.

So, we are quite confused now on which way to go yes?

I specialize in research on the illegal stamp phenomena and cannot therefore make a determination on the I.P.Z.S. stamps made before 1997. The catalogs list the described issues that are in the circular and they list many others not described in the circular for issues made between 1991 to 1996. In my view all of them are not authorized unless they are listed in the circular.

It is in 1997 that the British counterfeit producer turned his greedy eyes toward Somalia. In cross referencing the I.P.Z.S. issues made between 1997 through 1999, I found an exact match to all of them that are listed in the circular with the Michel and Yvert catalogs concurring and what is being sold on the market also concurring. No "outstanding" issues exist other than what is listed in the circular for the years 1997 through 1999.

But we have another problem!

The circular ends the listing of stamps through 1999. But I.P.Z.S. continued to produce stamps on an even bigger scale through 2003! Those issues are listed in Michel and Yvert. As I have stated many times , those two catalogs are very flawed because they have allowed agencies and dealers to influence their listings with complete disregard to the rules of listing stamps, one of which is....stamps produced to sell only to collectors with no evidence of postal usage, proof of authorization and massively made in excess of postal needs. Sadly, they are listed and thus create another conflict and more confusion.

The Scott and Stanley Gibbons catalogs basically ended all listings of Somalia stamps in 1992. They saw what was happening and rather than bow down to dealers and corrupt agents they stopped listing them. It is only fair to all collectors of stamps to know what they really are. Because I have researched this so deeply in the hunt for the counterfeit illegal stamps, I can see it, and now I will show you.

Let us begin!

In 1997 the first counterfeit illegal stamps are detected in the name of Somalia. At the same time counterfeit Somaliland and others appeared on the market. The British producer came in at full force in this year. The 1997 counterfeit stamps are easy to detect. All of them are inscribed "Somali Republic" in english. All the "genuine" IPZS stamps are inscribed in Somali script like this.



As is my standard, first I will show you the "official" stamp issues. These should still be considered to be abusive stamps even though they are considered official in the circular. Namely because there are a ton of them on the market and very few in Somalia as noted by visitors to the Somali post in recent times. I note that in this year 2020 Somali Post is still using them with verification that no new stamp issues have been made for Somalia since 1999.

In 1997 Somalia officially issued 11 stamp sets according to circular 328.

Somalia 1997 Medicinal Plants Michel 620-623
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Cats Fantasy Drawings Michel 624-627
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Cats Fantasy Drawings Michel 624-627 First Day Covers
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Animal and Vegetable Fossils Michel 628-631
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Musical Instruments Michel 632-634 BL 41
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Butterflies Fantasy Drawings Michel 636-639 BL 42
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Arabian Tales Costumes Michel 641-648
Issued December 24, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Arabian Tales Michel 649-652
Issued December 24, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Flora Roses Michel 653-656
Issued December 24, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Architecture Grand Mosque of Rome Michel 657-660
Issued December 24, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Arabic Jewellery (Jewelry) Michel 661-663 BL 43
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1997 Birds Michel 665-668 BL 44
Issued May 2, 1997 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Online research shows that the first counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia were produced in 1997. Although Somalia is a member of the Universal Postal Union, up to this time (March 2020) they have never formally posted a UPU circular denouncing any of them. We are working toward having this done soon.

The following images are of counterfeit illegal stamps produced in the name of Somalia. 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.

I have found the Colnect online catalog to be helpful in defining genuine stamps. Sadly, they list the unauthorized I.P.Z.S. stamps from 2000 through 2003 as well. Simply because they are going by compromised catalogs rather than what is real.

The Colnect Online Catalog for Somalia Stamps

Check out their Illegal Stamp section as well. It is upgraded as of 2024 and shows counterfeits that may be missing here.

The Colnect Online Catalog for Somalia Counterfeit Illegal Stamps

I have found the Stampworld online catalog to be helpful in defining genuine stamps as well. Sadly, they list the unauthorized I.P.Z.S. stamps from 2000 through 2002. Again, simply because they are going by compromised catalogs rather than what is real.

The Stampworld Online Catalog for Somalia Stamps

You will find the styles and designs of the following illegal stamps the same as other illegal stamps produced in the name of other countries.

Here we go!

All of the following illegal stamps can be found as imperforates. Many are found as color proofs and many fake First Day Covers have been produced as well.
Many times now (2020) the souvenir sheet sets are separated and are sold individually. Many times the stamps have been removed from the souvenir sheets. All of these "tactics" are used to avoid detection by UPU circular descriptions and/or experts like myself.

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.

1997

The first sets produced in the name of Somalia were created by the British counterfeit producer I reference on many pages for many countries. This producer was heavily into producing counterfeits in the name of many countries starting in the early 1990"s. This counterfeit producer was in control of all Somalia illegal stamps until 2008.

This page is the first of a number I will present documenting the history of the production.

1997 Cats Illegal Stamp Set of 6

These were produced in sheets. In 1997 the British producer tried to make his counterfeits for Somalia look legitimate and "conservative". All counterfeit stamps dating 1997 are inscribed "Somali Republic".



1997 Cats Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Chess Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Chess Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Chess Illegal Stamp Set and Souvenir Sheet of 1 on Fake First Day Covers

Here is an example of fake First Day Covers of the counterfeits. Please note the cancel. Then look at the cancel on the shown First Day Covers of the genuine Cats issues above. That cancel was used on all official First Day Covers during the 1990's. In the case of cancelling first day covers it appears since the postal system was destroyed, the cancel was under control of the agent and printer. The cancel on this Chess set is a fake cancel. Many more fake FDC's were produced by the British producer with this "style" of cancel. Each usually having a different inscribed picture relating to the counterfeit stamps on the cover. I note an interesting "twist" to the story on the genuine cancel happens in 2003 though! More pure evil occurs.



1997 Dogs Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Dogs Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Felines Wild Cats Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Felines Wild Cats Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Flag, Map and Coat of Arms Illegal Stamp Set of 3

Here the counterfeit producer actually made a set related to the country! To bad they are still illegal stamps....



1997 Military Uniforms Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Military Uniforms Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Minerals Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Minerals Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Old Cars Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Old Cars Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Prehistoric Animals Dinosaurs Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Prehistoric Animals Dinosaurs Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Shanghai Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Soccer France 1998 Football Cup Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Soccer France 1998 Football Cup Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1997 Trains Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1997 Trains Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



In 1998 the British producer creates another mass of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia. Even going so far as to create a counterfeit set of WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) illegal stamps that many unknowing victims have been fooled into buying and still are to this day.

View Next Page here!

References taken from:
UPU Circular 328
Major Stamp Catalogs
Internet Research

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