An examination of the Madame Joseph forged Nicosia postmarks by Chris Georgallis.

Nicosia Type 12A Cancellations and Madame Joseph Forgeries of 6 May 1935

Fig 1 Madame Joseph (MJ) Forgeries of Nicosia Type 12A

MJ’s forgeries of 6 May 1935 are of the Nicosia Type 12A cancellation. When examining genuine examples of the Type 12A on cover, it was found that in 1935 there were at least two Type 12A cancellers in use at Nicosia. These are illustrated below and reclassified as Type 12A-1 and 12A-2 (Fig 2) for this article. Both Types have a stop between Nicosia and Cyprus (E).

Fig 2 Genuine Nicosia Type 12A cancellations with periods of use.

Fig 3 Major difference between Type 12A-1 and 12A-2.

               A flattened left side (12A-1)                    A rounded left side (12A-2)

A new canceller was introduced in 1954 (Fig 4). This has no stop between Nicosia and Cyprus (D). This can be classified as type 12A-3.

Fig 4 Illustrates Type 12A-3 with period of use.

Examining examples of the Type 12A-1 and 12A-2 canceller on cover, it is apparent that both types were in use until the introduction of Type 12A-3, and in some cases overlapped with Type 12A-3 use.

The earliest examples I have seen of Type 12A-2 are on covers dated 6 May 1935 the First Day for the Silver Jubilee stamps. However, its use went beyond this date. The use of Type 12A-2 before 6 May 1935 is probably unknown.

MJ ‘6 May 1935 Silver Jubilee’ forged covers addressed to a London stamp shop are known but it has been impossible to find an example for this article.

Differences between forged and genuine cancellations of 6 May 1935.

Fig 5 Forged cancellations of Madam Joseph (Type 12A)

Fig 5A Genuine cancellations of Type 12A

1. The two forgeries have a cancellation time of 5 – PM, but neither has a stop after the 5 (A*) which is present on genuine examples of Type 12A (B and C).

2. Examples without a stop between Nicosia and Cyprus should be treated as forgeries as the type 12A-3(Proud 5) did not come into use until 1954 (B*).

3. Covers with Type 12A-1 or 12A-2 bearing a cancellation time other than  5-PM should be treated as genuine (B).

4. Forgeries are of Type 12A-2 and not Type 12A-1 (A).

Fig 6 Example of cover bearing a genuine Type 12A-1 cancellation

Fig 6A Example of cover bearing a genuine Type 12A-2 cancellation

Both Examples have a stop after the 5 in 5-PM.

In conclusion we now have definite ways of identifying covers which are forgeries or genuine. Although genuine 6 May 1935 FDC’s are scarce, forgeries are probably very rare.

References:

• Cyprus Study Circle Circular Post
• Madame Joseph Revisited 2005, Cartwright, Brian.

CG - April 2011