BOGUS STAMPS
Transmississippi: T20 , T26 , T30 , T37
1863 Regular Issue: T59
Click Image to Enlarge
The stamp is the wrong color. It is a Straight Red March which is unknown to the census. By itself this doesn't look too bad but warning bells soon went off as other stamps, never before seen, started to show up.
Here is image that compares this bogus stamp to a genuine Straight Red March. In the same image is the Straight March Black that later surfaced on a T26.
Click Image to Enlarge
You will notice that the ink color is uniform on the top genuine stamp.
While it is heavy in places and light in others that is a characteristic
of genuine stamps of this type. The text (type) isn't even but is
crooked and this too is characteristic of genuine stamps. The spacing
between lines 1=2=3 on the genuine stamp are roughly equal while with the
two bogus stamps the lines are uniformly straight (modern stamp characteristic).
It appears that the bogus stamps were made with three different stamps
to make one 'stamp image'. The size of March (red) and March (black)
are different. The next two lines the text seems identical.Enlarge this image and study the placement of letters and SHAPE of the letters. Go back and compare genuine stamps found on TM stamps on the other page.
Close-up of the Stamped Area
Doug Ball never saw a March Black Straight Line TM stamp on any CSA Type!
Click Image to Enlarge
Click Image to Enlarge
Notice that on the original stamps, the A beginning the 3rd line is nearly directly under the A on the second line. On both the bogus stamps the A on 3rd line is set to the left of A on 2nd line. It is more difficult to see this on the black bogus stamp but if you enlarge the image and study the stamp closely you can see it is exactly like the red stamp. The only difference in the two is that one is Peach color and the other Black. The sizes of type in MARCH & MARCH are different. The 1st smaller being a lot lighter than the rest of the text and the 2nd larger much darker than the rest of the text.
T30
Note is Genuine / Stamp is Bogus
Click to Enlarge
Note is Genuine / Stamp is Bogus
Click to Enlarge
This is the second Bogus two line March 1864 to surface
and is identical to the stamp found on the T20 above. The note is
genuine. It has probably been washed and pressed resulting in the red
serial numbers being slightly weaker and the signatures have taken on a bit
of yellowish tint. The stamp is just a bit faded and the color is
wrong. This note is in a 3rd Party Slab when brought to the attention
of the Trainmen. It is being offered by a major auction company in
one of their yearly sales. The bid is already at $750 when it was noticed
by Trainman Randy Shipley TM07 who then brought it to the attention of the
Trainmen. The auction house and the slabbing company have been notified
as I add this item to the website. I will try to notate the final disposition.
I will also try and add the reverse image at a later date.
Click to Enlarge
This was the first Bogus Circular Red February to surface.
The note is genuine. It has been washed out and pressed. The
stamp is faded leaving the impression it was washed and faded, but the ink
seldom changes color on these stamps when a note is cleaned and certainly
wouldn't fade in this manner and run. We don't know what the status
of this note is. It was sent back to the owner, offered on eBay and
ultimately removed from auction. Whether it was sold to some unsuspecting
collector is as stated - Unknown!
Comparison Image:
Genuine T37 Circular Red February (left)
Bogus T37 Circular "Pink" Stamp (right)
Click Image to Enlarge.
Bogus T37 Circular "Pink" Stamp (right)
Click Image to Enlarge.
Once again you can see that the spacing and placement
of the letters (type) are slightly different. The shape of the letters
(type) is slightly different. Spacing between 1st and 2nd lines is
different - closer on bogus stamp. The lines of the circles are about
the same size on the bogus stamp while the inner line on the original stamps
is always smaller than the outer line. This is evident even when the
lines are smudged!
Click to Enlarge Image
A made to order ERROR note! It is hard to tell at first glance
that this is a bogus (left) stamp. On the other hand, is it at all
possible that this type of error could occur? I personally don't think
so, but I am told double stamps are known to exist. I am waiting to
see examples. It is my belief that the double stamp would be accidental
and on the same side - both on right. In any case, when you image the
two stamps together (cut & paste) you see they are different in coloration,
size of letters and numbers and spacing and shapes are different as well.