THE MODERN FAKE SAINT LUCIA 1984 BRITISH MONARCHS STAMP ISSUES
FORGERIES OF THE KINGS AND QUEENS STAMPS

Saint Lucia 1984 Leaders of the World British Monarchs Stamp Forgery Set
Scott# 633-638 Stanley Gibbons# 671-682

Saint Lucia 1984 Leaders of the World British Monarchs Imperforate Stamp Forgery Set Sold on eBay
This fake set of imperforate pairs has and is being offered by eBay user russianstampsandworld.

Saint Lucia 1984 Leaders of the World British Monarchs Imperforate Stamp Forgery Strip Set Sold on eBay
This fake set of imperforate pairs in strips of five has and is being offered by eBay user balticamber2011.

I recently purchased more of the forgeries I have been warning about for almost three years now. Still no end of the movement of them onto the market.

All the stamps imaged above are fakes!

UPDATE May 2018

Well now we have another fake "error". Forgeries of this issue imperforate between. Don't get ripped off by them!

END May UPDATE

My research into the printer has enabled me to discover modern fake stamps have been created in 2014!! They are being spread across the world through online auction sites like eBay and Delcampe. Everything about them is fake except for one dangerous fact, they have the correct perf size. The gum type is different in it being white in color and very shiny. This gum type was not used until much later years, long after Format went bankrupt thus proving they were not produced by the Format International Security Printers. Obvious differences will be shown below. So far I have discovered complete sets of forgeries of the Saint Lucia Leaders of the World 1984 British Monarchs stamp issues in perforated and imperforate forms. Some call them "Kings and Queens" issues. All are being offered online right now as I write this on September 2, 2017.

I can also tell you that I have discovered that many more "modern" issues for Saint Lucia and other countries are being forged. Mainly varieties and "errors" of the issues which bring in higher profits although normal issues are also being faked in now many cases. All are being produced by the same source which is unknown at present. All are dangerous forgeries because the perf sizes are correct. Images shown on auction sites cannot be trusted because they cannot be defined by counting perforations and unless you have a comparable image of the originals they cannot be recognized by the images given by sellers. This includes the Audubon Birds issues including inverted frames, Dogs inverts, Flowers inverts, Michael Jackson inverts, imperforates and many more.

ANY INFORMATION TO TRACE THE SOURCE OF THESE FORGERIES WILL BE POSTED TO THE PROPER RESOURCES

At present sellers on eBay, Delcampe, Bonanza, and Amazon are offering them. I am sure other sources are now selling them also. A list of these sellers is being compiled and at some point the source may be revealed. At this time unless the sellers stop selling them (which is doubtful) it is up to you as a buyer to refuse to buy them without proper identification. In other words, make the seller send you 1200dpi images of the front and back of the stamps and then compare them with my images. I have posted more pages on the issues I have discovered to be forged and have included an index page listing them with links.

New information is welcome and you may contact me through this website anytime.

This set of forgeries I purchased from a Canadian seller who sells on eBay and Hipstamps. Another example of how these fake reproductions are now being circulated all over the world.

After I received the set of forgeries I then purchased a set of genuine stamps from a reputable dealer in the UK. What a difference!
I will use them for the comparisons.

I now have everything together to present to you how to detect them and not get ripped off!!

Here are gum comparisons.

Unlike the gum on most of the forgeries that are flooding the market right now the gum is more yellowish in color on these. It is opaque though in comparison with the original gum. This type of gum has appeared on several other issues I have detected as forgeries like the St. Vincent Century of Motoring issue and several Locomotives sets. It is having a tendency to curl worse than original gum. I do not know if these were produced earlier by the forger and held until now, but they did not appear here on the market until recently. Everything else about the forgeries is the same as all the other forgeries I have described as you will see. This yellowish gum does make them harder to detect though at first glance without originals to compare with.

For the imperforates...well I cannot afford to buy everything. It is possible the imperforates have the very white gum because in some cases the fake varieties of some issues appear to be produced at a later time. Perhaps one of you who has been ripped off by these sellers can get me that information. It will be posted on this page.

Gum Comparison of a genuine stamp and Forgery of the 1984 Saint Lucia British Monarchs Stamps


Screen, Font and Color Comparison of a Fake Stamp with an Original Stamp
One thing I noticed right away about the forgeries is that they all have a yellowish hue that stands out prominently when side by side with a genuine stamp.
I will use the 5c King George III stamp pairs for high resolution comparisons. I use 1200dpi scans for viewing.
These first comparisons show you how inferior the screens are. I compare the face of King George III in the portrait.


You can see that the screens used are much coarser. Much of the details are lost on the forgery. The forgeries still are very dangerous because when imaged for sale by sellers they look almost the same as the originals. Buyers will think it is just the sellers scanner making them look "different". To compensate the forger uses a shinier surface on the face of the stamps.
Noting the heavy yellow tint on the forgery.

Now let's look at the fonts.


You can see that the "George III and the Battle of Waterloo" fonts are finer on the genuine stamp issues. Noting the spacing between the words is slightly wider on the genuine stamps.

Now let's look at a section of the action image.


You can see that the detail is horrendously gone or indistinct on the forgery!
Note the extreme color differences in all the above images! The heavy yellowish hue.
I ask you....which would you rather have in your collection?

Now I will show reduced images of the original stamps with the forgeries.

Comparison of the Fake 5c King George III and the Battle of Waterloo Stamps with the Original Stamps


Now that you know what to look for it helps yes?
Notice the difference in overall color now? The heavy yellow hue?
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of very light brown versus shades of yellow-gold on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is white on genuine stamps versus it being light yellow on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The kings hair is much more pronounced and whiter.
Note the background behind the "Kings and Queens" banner. It is light brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown.

Comparison of the Fake 10c King George III and Kew Palace Stamps with the Original Stamps


Again the heavy yellow hue is prominent on the forgery.
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of very light brown versus shades of yellow-gold on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is white on genuine stamps versus it being light yellow on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The kings hair is much more pronounced and whiter.
The cloudy sky is shades of lavender purple on genuine stamps. It is shades of gray blue on the forgeries.
The trees and grass are shades of deep green on genuine stamps versus yellow-green on the forgeries.
Note the background behind the "Kings and Queens" banner. It is light brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown.

Comparison of the Fake 35c Queen Elizabeth I and her Coat of Arms Stamps with the Original Stamps


Again the heavy yellow hue is prominent on the forgery.
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of dark gunmetal blue versus shades of purple on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is very light turquoise-green on genuine stamps versus it being very light purple on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The queens hair is much more pronounced and shades of red-brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown (almost orange).
The grass on the background hills is shades of green on genuine stamps versus shades of yellow-green on the forgeries.
The reds on the coat of arms is red on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is orange.

Comparison of the Fake 60c King George III and his Coat of Arms Stamps with the Original Stamps


Again the heavy yellow hue is prominent on the forgery.
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of very light brown versus shades of yellow-gold on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is white on genuine stamps versus it being light yellow on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The kings hair is much more pronounced and whiter.
The reds on the coat of arms is red on genuine stamps versus orange on the forgeries. Also you cannot read the words on the central medallion on the forgeries whereas it is bright and clear on genuine stamps.
Note the background behind the "Kings and Queens" banner. It is light brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown.

Comparison of the Fake $1.00 Queen Elizabeth I and the Palace at Hatfield Stamps with the Original Stamps


Again the heavy yellow hue is prominent on the forgery.
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of dark gunmetal blue versus shades of purple on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is very light turquoise-green on genuine stamps versus it being very light purple on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The queens hair is much more pronounced and shades of red-brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown (almost orange).
The lower portion of the grass is shades of light green on genuine stamps versus shades of yellow-green on the forgeries.
The queens collar is shades of light blue on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is shades of light green-blue.

Comparison of the Fake $2.50 Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada Stamps with the Original Stamps


Again the heavy yellow hue is prominent on the forgery.
Noting other differences:
The pillars on genuine stamps are shades of dark gunmetal blue versus shades of purple on the fake reproductions.
The "Kings and Queens" logo band has a very wide area in the middle that is very light turquoise-green on genuine stamps versus it being very light purple on the forgeries.
The colors throughout are much deeper on genuine stamps. The queens hair is much more pronounced and shades of red-brown on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is yellow-brown (almost orange).
The cloudy sky is shades of lavender on genuine stamps versus shades of gray on the forgeries.
The queens collar in the portrait is shades of light blue and gray on genuine stamps. On the forgeries it is shades of light green and brown-gray.

You can see that there is a lot of differences between the two printings.

Because of the fact that a major portion of leaders in the stamp community wish to turn a blind eye on these forgeries. Because of dealers and buyers who are afraid to "step up to the plate" because of fear of being ridiculed by self proclaimed "experts" or because they don't want to get involved, the forgers will continue to forge more and more sets. They have already effected other issues that have nothing to do with Leaders of the World issues such as Nauru 1982 Scouts, Barbuda 1983 Manned Flight and others showing us the wide range of stamps they are capable of forging and possibly have already forged. Soon you will be the victim when you buy that fake high valued Orchid stamp or that high priced definitive set you have dreamed of getting or what you thought to be a genuine error or variety which in the end only turns out to be fabricated by these forgers and nobody wants it when you go to sell it or your children go to sell it.

You have a choice.

Continue to ignore this problem that the majority of stamp leaders and editors seem to be trying to do just like they have with unauthorized reprints and "illegal" stamps in the past. Or spread the word and complain to your contacts and leaders that these problems need to be exposed and described in magazines, newspapers and catalogs before every stamp issue made in modern times from the 1970's onward falls victim to being a suspected forgery and in turn you or your friends or associates will fall victim to it when trying to buy or sell them. These forgers are professionals and have been here for decades unseen. They will continue to harm us unless people like you stand up and take notice!

This problem effects everyone because now instead of the value being based on a set quantity of the issued stamp, we now have double, triple or even more in quantity placed on the market. It will therefore depreciate the stated value of them in the catalogs simply because they will not research them and "assume" there are tons available when in reality for many sets the originals are and have become difficult to find.

I am simply the one who discovered them because of my research on the printer.
Indeed several issues that I have researched and obtained the original varieties of are effected. I only own the sets imaged but do own some of the unissued varieties of this issue. I am a professional tradesman and have never depended on stamps to live on. There are many that do depend on stamp sales though and it is for them also that I have created this section of the website.

You can now define the forgeries of the Saint Lucia 1984 British Monarchs Kings and Queens stamps easily and can now possibly avoid being ripped off! Sorry to say this, a lot of you already have been fooled and more of you will be until the right people get serious about it!

Your friend and fellow collector and researcher,
JLowe RETURN TO TOP

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