France (Part 1, 1849-1852) (Part 2, 1852-1871 here w/ 2023 update)

1849-1852 Ceres Issue 10c, 15c, 20c, 40c and 1f
 

For the 1849-1852 Ceres issue of France, Sperati made reproductions of the 10c (5 types), 15c (4 types), 20c (2 types), 40c (3 types) and the 1f (7 types). In addition to the types, several exists in multiple shades. All are complete fabrications by Sperati including forged cancels. Items identified as "static dots" have position of dots cancel constant but exist with various numerals

page thumbnails:

1. there is a colorless line running from the head of the terminal "C" in bottom value tablet through the background above

2. there are two constant flaws in the background behind the head

3. there is a constant white dot just after the "P" of "POSTES"

1. There is a dot in the frame line immediately above the
"E" of "REPUB" and there are signs of retouching in
the background below the "B."

2. The ornament in the top right corner is retouched and
the top right side of the ornament is irregular.

3. There is a white flaw behind the ear which normally is partially obscured by the cancellation.

4. There is a small dot between the "ES" of "POSTES."

5. The outer frame line in the bottom right corner has been rather crudely retouched.

1. in the top left corner there is a white spot in the top left corner of that ornament

2. there is a white spot within the circle just to the right
of the central pearl which is joined to the one above and
to the circular frame-line

4. the bottom left corner of the outer frame line has been retouched particularly below the lower left ornament

5. the colored background edge below the "1" of "10" at lower right is irregular

1. there are marks in the space between the background
above "REPUB" and the top outer frame line

2. in the circle of pearls about seven o'clock there is a
deformed pearl

3. the inner frame line is broken immediately over the
last "C" in the lower panel

4. there is a white spot just above the center dot of the bottom right corner ornament

1. There is a break in the outer frame line in the top left
corner and the background to the left of the " R " of
"REPUB" has been crudely retouched and is rough at
top.

2. The word "FRANC" has been retouched. The "A"
is too small, the "N" is joined at left to the background
above and there is a serif to the bottom of the "C" as
well as a slight crack in the background to the right of
this letter.

3. There is a crack and an extra spot of color in the top
right corner ornament and the frame line is retouched
at right not only in this corner but in the corner below.

4. There is a weakness above and between the " I0" and
"C" at the left of the bottom value tablet.

5. There are white spots between the "ST" and the "E"
and the "S" of "POSTES." The final "C" is misshapen
and has a serif at the foot.

The specific tests given for types C and D hold good for the tete-beche pair but both stamps have been retouched and further constant varieties are readily identifiable. For instance in the left hand stamp (type C) there is now a spot of color in the head of the "P" of "POSTES" and a line through the bottom stroke of the "E." In the inverted stamp (type D) there is a hook-like projection from the "P" of "POSTES" but the flaws mentioned under C and D should be sufficient to identify this pair with certainty.

1. the outer frame line is broken in the top left corner and above the "U" of "REPUB"

2. the top stroke of the "F" of "FRANC" is rough on the top of the letter and the "C" has a break above

3. the last "15 C" at right has been retouched and the work shows in the background above and below the figures and also between the figures and the "C"

(first and second transfers)

1. in the top left corner ornament there are several spots and the outer top frame line is broken above

2. there is a constant weakness on the right side of the ornament in the NE corner

3. there is a constant flaw in the left margin 5 mm. from the top

4. there is a small break in the left frame line towards the foot

5. the final "C" in the lower panel is retouched and misshapen at the top and has lines of color in the foot

1. there is a stroke of color in the white space below the "UB" of "REPUB"

2. the corner ornament at top right is misshapen

3. there is a spot of color in the pearl opposite and just above the tip of the nose and there is a flaw in the circle
containing the pearls just opposite the lower lip

4. there is a constant white spot below and between the
"T" and "E" of "POSTES"

1. there is a spot in the foot of the "E" and the
top of the " P " of "REPUB"

2. there is a constant break in the right outer frame line
opposite the foot of the top corner ornament

3. there are signs of retouching of the lower frame line which are very noticeable below the first "5" and "POSTES"

no image in Sperati I (a type D variant)

no image in Sperati I
(a type C variant) 

1. there are black spots in the top of the letters " R" and
"C" of "FRANC"

2. the pearl opposite the tip of the nose is misshapen
and there is a dot in the pearl immediately opposite the
point of the neck

3. there are dots in the white spaces surrounding the
ornament in the bottom right corner

Left stamp:
1. there is a white spot between the "E" and "P" of
"REPUB"

2. there is a small white spot between the "A" and "N"
of "FRANC" and a black spot in the "C"

3. there is a colorless hair-line in the left part of the
background of the ornament in the top right corner

4. there is a white scratch running through the "E"
towards the "T" of "POSTES"

Right stamp:
1. there are black spots in the head of the "E" of "REPUB"

2. there is a white spot in the head of the "R" and the
"N" has an ingrown serif in "FRANC"

3. the outer frame line in the bottom left corner is weak
and broken

4. there is a white indentation in the background between the "P" and "O" of "POSTES"

1. the background above the "R" of "FRANC" extends
towards the upper frame line

2. the outer frame line is weak and broken in the bottom
right corner

1. the top frame line is weak with breaks above "REP" and at the extreme right corner

2. the bottom frame line is weak with breaks below the first "S" of "POSTES" and in the
extreme left corner

3. there are two colored dots between the background of the ornament in the top right corner and the upper frameline

1. the background below the " RE " of "REPUB" extends
into the white space below

2. the "N" of "FRANC" has a broken and short left limb

3. there is a break in the circular frame containing the
pearls opposite the tip of the nose and there is a dot
in the pearl centrally above the heads of the sheaves of
wheat

3. the background below the cross in the bottom right
corner extends towards the outer frame line

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

(see Sperati I text, pages 72 and 73, linked below for detailed descriptions of the type characteristics and shades of the several 1 franc reproductions)

additional information from Sperati I:  Plates 22-39  France Text
additional information from Sperati II:  Plates B & C   France Text

Richard Frajola (May 22, 2020)