SOMALIA ILLEGAL STAMPS
1998

Information and Reference of Counterfeit Illegal Stamps in the name of Somalia Dating 1998

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. See my introduction page for more information on the history.

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?

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!

All I.P.Z.S. Somalia 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 1998 Somalia officially issued 14 stamp sets according to circular 328.

Somalia 1998 Tribute to Princess Diana Michel 670-672 BL 45
Issued January 16, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Note the inscribed year on the stamps is 1997. The stamps were "issued" late, thus listing as made in 1998. Some dealers offer these under a search for Somalia 1997 stamps. Others under 1998. Please take note of the cancel both for reference of this and for comparison to counterfeit First Day Covers. This is the "official" cancel used on all "genuine" FDC's.

Somalia 1998 Tribute to Princess Diana Michel 670 on Official First Day Cover
Issued January 16, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Soccer France 1998 Football Cup Michel 674-681 BL 46
Issued June 26, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Insects Michel 683-686 BL 47
Issued June 26, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Milano 98 World Philatelic Exposition Michel 688-690 BL 48 and BL 49
Issued June 26, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Somali Poetry Michel 693-695
Issued September 11, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Wild Cats Michel 696-699 BL 50
Issued September 11, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Circus Michel 701-703 BL 51
Issued September 11, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Marine Fauna Crustaceans and Fish Michel 705-708 BL 52
Issued September 11, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Chess Michel 710-712
Issued December 22, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 International Year of the Oceans Michel 713-715 BL 53
Issued December 22, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Locomotives Michel 717-720 BL 54
Issued December 22, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Shipwrecks Titanic Michel 722-724 BL 55
Issued December 22, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Pink Flamingos Michel 726-729 BL 56
Issued December 22, 1998 Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 1998 Corals Michel 730-733 BL 57
Issued December 22, 1998 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. 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.

1998

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.

In 1998 the producer created yet another flurry of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia and its regions. This time he went as far as to create a WWF set that is still fooling collectors to this day. Even the known Hans Groth located in Switzerland who is commended by the WWF for donations to the fund has listed these and many other counterfeit illegal stamps in his catalogs as if they are real stamps. When confronted....no answer. Collaboration?

In 1998 the British counterfeit producer made a major change. He began producing two different "types" of Somalia counterfeit illegal stamps. The "original" type inscribed "SOMALI REPUBLIC" and the new "type" inscribed simply "SOMALIA". I will therefore from this point forward list them in separate categories as some of them use the same topics.

Counterfeit Illegal Stamps Inscribed "SOMALI REPUBLIC"

1998 Animals Illegal Stamp Set of 12



1998 Birds Ducks Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Birds Ducks Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Butterflies Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Butterflies Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Cars Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Cars Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Fish Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Fish Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Insects Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Insects Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Mushrooms Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Mushrooms Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Mushrooms Illegal Stamp Set on Fake First Day Covers

Note the fake cancels. Completely different than the official cancel used on "genuine" First Day Covers.



1998 Orchids Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Orchids Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Princess Diana Memoriam Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



1998 Princess Diana Memoriam Illegal Stamps with White Background

I found these counterfeit stamps popping up in several dealers sales on the internet. As you can see they are the same stamps as on the souvenir sheet above , only with white backgrounds instead of the blue. It appears they do not come from a similar souvenir sheet like the one shown. I did not find any offers for the full set of nine nor of a souvenir sheet with them on it. Any way you look at it....they are still counterfeit illegal stamps.



1998 Reptiles Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Reptiles Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



1998 Sailboats Sailing Ships Illegal Stamp Set of 6



1998 Sailboats Sailing Ships Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



And finally the counterfeit WWF set....

1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamp Set of 4



Noting this set in different forms is being massively offered on eBay and other venues. A really big clue as to why these are illegal stamps is simply by looking at who is selling them. Yes, some of the biggest counterfeit illegal stamp distributors out there.

What else convinces. How about this statement made on one of the biggest illegal stamp dealing websites in the world.



This dealer is offering these on eBay right now. Do you think he is stating this in those sales? Think again, he is not and will happily sell them to you as if real and never tell you the truth. At present there are around twenty dealers selling them and all do not say anything. Avoid!

This WWF set was so massively produced it really is....unbelievable.

1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamp Set Produced in souvenir sheets of 16

After over two decades, still being sold for dirt cheap!



1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamp Set Produced in Deluxe souvenir sheets of 1

Almost exclusively sold by Avion Stamps. Wonder why.....connect the dots people!



1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamp Deluxe souvenir sheet of 1 Color Proof Set

These are exclusively sold by Avion Stamps.....



1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamps on Faked First Day Covers

Note the cancels. Again not and never will be "official". They are fake made with a false instrument which is a crime to do.



1998 WWF Caracal Illegal Stamps on Faked First Day Canceled Postcards

Note the cancels. Again not and never will be "official". They are fake made with a false instrument which is a crime to do.



These people made a "killing" on these and apparently are still trying to make more off of them. Hopefully this evidence helps people get wise to these cons.

Counterfeit Illegal Stamps Inscribed "SOMALIA"

As stated in the beginning of this page the British counterfeit producer began creating this new style of counterfeit illegal stamps. You will see in the following pages that the production of this type increases dramatically.

1998 Famous Cinema Actors and Actresses Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 6

Yes, the "familiar" style of counterfeit illegal stamps this producer made for many countries. I note these have no year date inscribed thus dealers are placing them for sale under numerous year searches. The Avion Stamp website claims them to be made in 1998. Who else better would know.....hint....hint.





This last sheet must have "sold out" on the Avion site.



In 1999 the British producer continues production of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia.

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

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