SOMALIA ILLEGAL STAMPS
2000

Information and Reference of Counterfeit Illegal Stamps in the name of Somalia Dating 2000

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 the 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



On this page I will first show all the unauthorized I.P.Z.S. stamps. Some dealers, mainly who are heavily invested in these stamps will try to argue against this. They have no grounds to argue with. Ask for proof other than a compromised stamp catalog. Show a contract authorizing the printings. Show postal usage. Show why a stamp agent/printer would be authorized to print any stamps in the name of a country that had their postal system and government completely destroyed during those years.

In 2000 I.P.Z.S. produced 16 unauthorized stamp sets. None are listed in the 2005 UPU circular. None are listed in Scott nor Stanley Gibbons catalogs. They are only listed in Michel and Yvert catalogs. None have any proof of commercial postal usage. None can be found in the Somali Post today.

They are massively being sold for almost two decades now, so they are everywhere. They are right up to today, being sold in "large lot" sales on eBay, Delcampe and other venues. Many of the sellers are known counterfeit illegal stamp dealers who sell these right along side with the counterfeits dating in this year. The number of sales of these unauthorized stamps proves this company mass produced them and probably has reprinted them several times. We can see by the price variances between the dealers of them that they have little to no value because of the above mentioned problems. When you can buy 10 to 20 mint souvenir sheets of each unauthorized issue for 99 cents on eBay right now in 2020....well....you see my point yes?

Somalia 2000 Anemones Michel 798-801
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Divers Michel 802-804
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Bees Michel 805-807
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Giraffes Michel 808-810
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Helicopters Michel 811-813 BL 66
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Submarines Michel 815-817 BL 67
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Bicycles Michel 819-821 BL 68
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Desert Animals Michel 823-826 BL 69
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Octopuses Michel 828-831
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Horse Racing Michel 832-835
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Table Tennis Michel 836-838
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Crocodiles Michel 839-841 BL 70
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Marine Dinosaurs Michel 843-845 BL 71
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Canoeing and Rafting Michel 847-849 BL 72
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 Carnivorous Plants Michel 851-853 BL 73
NOT ISSUED Printer was Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato


Somalia 2000 African Elephants Michel 855-858 BL 74
NOT ISSUED 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.

2000

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 2000 the producer created yet another flurry of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia and its regions.

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 list them in separate categories as some of them use the same topics.

Counterfeit Illegal Stamps Inscribed "SOMALI REPUBLIC"

2000 Dinosaurs Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



This is a genuine common design stamp that was counterfeited and reproduced as an illegal stamp to include the name of Somali Republic. 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. This was not one of them.

2000 EUROPA Illegal Stamp



2000 Golden Tales Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



2000 Golden Tales Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 6



In 2000 the British counterfeit producer created two groups of Millenium illegal stamp souvenir sheets inscribed "Somali Republic".

2000 Millenium 20th Century People Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9




2000 Millenium Love 1920-1980 Couples Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



2000 Mushrooms Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



2000 Trains Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Year of the Dragon Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1

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 in 1998. You will see in this and the following pages that the production of this type increases dramatically.

2000 American Carousels Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9

Noting that again we have here a souvenir sheet with no date inscribed. Stated to have been produced in 2000 on the Avion Stamp website.



2000 Butterflies Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Classic Automobiles Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 4



2000 Dogs Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Elvis Presley Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Fish Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



2000 Marilyn Monroe Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 6

Noting that again we have here a souvenir sheet with no date inscribed. Stated to have been produced in 2000 on the Avion Stamp website.



2000 Minerals Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Paintings Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Paintings Millenium Renoir Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



2000 Pope John Paul II Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 9



2000 Snakes Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



2000 Tiger Woods Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheets of 4



2000 Tiger Woods Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 1



2000 Trains Illegal Stamp Souvenir Sheet of 9



In 2001 the British producer produces another onslaught of counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of Somalia. I.P.Z.S. continued to produce stamps without authorization as well.....

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Return to Somalia Illegal Stamps Introduction Page here

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

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