Scott 16	Scott 16A	Scott 16B	Scott 16,16A,16B
Second Printing	First Printing	Third Printing	All Three Printings
Go to 16 Page	Go to 16A Page	This is 16B	Go to Main 16 Page
Forgeries Discovered in 1973

Measurements of Genuine and Forged Overprints.

Click below to see a complete sheet of Scott 16B

16B (3rd printing)

Not identical to 8 point or 9 point found in 16 or 16A.
   A1 - The bottom gap in the backward five is relatively open (Kai).
   A2 - The diagonal downstroke in the adjoining character barely
         enters the bottom gap in the backward five (Kai).
   B -  The long curved diagonal stroke passes under the base of the backward 
         five and extends approximately 20%~30% the length the base of the  (Kai)
   C -  The "J" type stroke has a large bump at the end of the upper horizontal stroke (Tei).

Position                Variation
9 also 30               Top horizontal stroke in "Kai" is short
                          measuring .4mm versus the normal .8mm



10 also 96              Narrow spaced "10" appears similar to 16 (2nd printing),
                          distance between "1" and "0" is less than 1mm versus
                          the norm of 1.5+ mm (not constant in pos 10 & not Scott listed)


14                       Thick top diagonal stroke in "Kei"


 also 35,85           Wrong large font "Yen" - similar to 9p font
 

Positions 24 & 25, pic here
Positions 25-6 & 35-6 in block of 4, pic here
Positions 25 & 26, pic here
Positions 34 & 35, pic here
Large font measures 2.7 mm on left and appears darker
Small font measures 2.5mm on left side


26                      Small font "Tei", "j" character appears thick/darker
                          measuring 2.8mm horizontally by 2.6mm vertically as
                          compared to 2.6mm x 2.4mm.

Positions 25-6 & 35-6 in block of 4, pic here
Positions 26 & 27, pic here


30 also 9               Top horizontal stroke in "Kai" is short



35 also 25,85           Wrong font "Yen"

Positions 25-6 & 35-6 in block of 4, pic here


49                      White spot (ca 1/3 in from left) on the large heavy bar,
                         sometimes referred to as "worm eaten bar"



51                      Left end of large thick bar rounded rather than pointed



54                      Asterisk omitted -- Major Error - early printing, few \
                          copies (11 copies) are known, see 71 below for another
                          major error.


54                      "Kai Tei" dropped - normal is 4mm between "*" and "Kai Tei"
                          measures 2mm on this stamp, vertical dimensions (from top
                          of "Kai Tei" to outside of bottom bar) measure 17.3mm vrs
                          the normal 19.1mm, see 87 below.  Scott describes as
                          "Kai Tei" 1.25 above asterisk

Another in block of 4, pic here


60                      "1 0" spaced wider than the normal. Normal is 1.6mm
                           from the shank of the "1" to the left of the "0".
                           This variety measures 2mm.

Positions 59-60, pic here

64                      Right end of heavy bar rounded rather than pointed
d


71                      "Kai" omitted - Major Error - Scott 16Be & JSCA 16Cva.
                          Stamp (MNH VF) described as this in block with positons 
                          51-52, 61-62 attached sold in Michael Rogers auction of 
                          Dec 6, 2002 for $5,750.00.  See 54 above for another 
                          major error.

76,85,87,96 block       White sky (76), large "Yen (85)," dropped "Kai Tei" (87) and
                          narrow "10" (96) in a block of 9 (Key Multiple in Sheet)



76                      White sky variety in basic stamp



84                      "1" deformed, top serif partially missing, bottom horizontal
                           line to left of vertical downstroke broken or missing
 
In lower right corner block, click here


85 also 25, 35          Wrong large font "Yen" - similar to 9p font



87                      "Kai Tei" dropped (2mm - normal is 3mm between "*"
                           and "Kai Tei"), JSCA listed, Scott 16Bi



  
96 also 10              Narrow spaced "10" appears similar to 16 (2nd printing),
                          distance between "1" and "0" is less than 1mm versus the
                          norm of 1.5+ mm

(Scott 16Bf strip of three)


Miscellaneous/Unlisted - Varieties (not in Scott or JSCA, prehaps not constant)

74                      Indent (upward curve) on bottom thin bar (ca 1/4 in from left)

84 &                    Deformed "1"

In lower right corner block, click here

94                      Deformed "1"

In lower right corner block, click here
In block/4, click here

"J" does not touch next character
Base of "1" broken & deformed (pos unknown)


Slanting Bars           Noted in numerous positions - 1, 2, 11, 12, 51, 52, 61, 62

Inscription Block 6     Lower right block of six with inscription
 


Higa Block  (no)        Only 2nd printing confirmed with Higa seal in upper rith selvage.

Pos 14                  Thick top curved stroke in Kai (minor variety)

General Comments Quantity Printed: 16 200,000 16A 200,000 16B 40,000 440,000 Total Gum on 16 Series Stamps. Don't expect to find 16 series stamps with nice clean shinny gum. While they certainly can be found in that condition, it is not the norm. The norm for this series is a dry flat appearing gum. In some cases the gum has browned slightly. Pencil Plate Position Annotations on the gum side of 16 series stamps. A common practice of dealers who broke up sheets of the 16 series was to make light pencil annotations of the sheet positions on the stamps. In my opinion, this adds to the value of the item rather than detracts. It ensures that you can quickly and accurately plate the stamp(s). Below is an illustration of the back of a 16 series stamp which shows the dry flat gum and dealer's pencil annotation of position.   Forgeries. By the term forgery, I am referring to a stamp that was made with the intent to defraud the postal service of revenue. They are manufactured and used without paying the postal service. There are well documented forgeries of the 10 yen Kai Tei overprint. Two such forgeries are called the Gushikawa forgeries. These are discussed in From the Dragon's Den, Volume 15:2, (Whole No. 49) April, 1983. The overprints appear different than the genuine 16, 16A, 16b and they can easily be confirmed as forgeries if they have part of Gushikawa cancel (1953) as show below. Forgeries are in demand. Most collectors do not have them. Consider yourself fortunate if you have a 16 series forgery in your collection. Two types of the Gushikawa forgery have been recorded (See FTDD 15:2). Type a. The first type has the large middle bar (pointed on both ends) with a pair of bars (thick and thin) above and below the center bar. In this respect the stamp is similar to the genuine 16s with a total of 5 bars at the bottom of the overprint. The balance of the overprint appears to have been applied separately and at times the "10" rests on the upper thin bar. The "0" in "10" is usually shorter than the "1". Type b. This overprint has only one thick bar above and below the large middle bar for a total of 3 bars at the bottom of the overprint. As in the type a forgery, the "0" in "10" is usually shorter than the "1". Dates of Use. Below are the earliest and latest date uses I have personally confirmed of both types of forged stamps. Type a. Earliest & Latest: 53.2.18 (only use I have confirmed) Type b. Earliest: 53.2.16 - Latest: 53.7.2? The forgeries (to defraud the Postal Agency) are listed and valued in a footnote in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers at the conclusion of the listing of stamps in the 16 series. The footnote advises of the two types of forgeries. Perhaps because it is so obvious, the type b forgery is the one that I see the most.

(Gushikawa) Type a. Gushikawa Forgery Another Type a. Gushikawa Forgery Type b. Gushikawa Forgery Gushikawa Forgery - Types a & b Counterfeits. By the term counterfeit, I am referring to a stamp that was made to defraud stamp collectors. Unfortunately, counterfeits of the 16 series also exist. This is a very specialized area. The counterfeits are also discussed in the previously cited article (FTDD 15:2). My advice would be to acquire copies of all three printing that you are confident are genuine. Carefully, compare these with others and if they don't match - be cautious. Sun Philatelic Auctions Number Ninety Four, which closed July 26, 1998, offered a very extensive collection of 16 series stamps. There was one lot of 81 counterfeits. It had an estimated cash value of $2,500.00. Covers. Any of the 16 series stamps on cover is an excellent item. I have a steady demand for this series on cover. If you have them to sell, please contact me.

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