Fake, Reprints – Beekman, Indian Creek,
Lamping, Colby, Pioneer, Langton
Reprints FAKES
H. B. PL. F. F. & F. Jan’y 1895.
Collectors of franks will be interested to know that reprints of the following express franks on the proper issue of unused U.S. envelopes are to be had, in most cases, being offered as originals:
Beekman’s – Indian Creek – La Torte – Lamping –
Coby’s – Langhn (floral design)
This set of six franks on plain white paper is also offered by a Portland Oregon party for the sum of $1.00.
Some impossible geographical contributions have also been attempted by combining some of these with other non related expresses on the same envelope, as for example, Colby’s with Bamber & Co.’s.
These fakes seem to have been largely marketed across the (??)
F.F.F. H.B P Jan’y. 1895
San Francisco, March 17th, 1894.
Mr. H. B. Phillips,
Dear Sir: – Being deeply interested in the gathering of Western Franks, I am happy to find some authority to whom I can turn and get badly needed information.
If you will take the 16th auction catalogue of R. F. Albrecht & Co. you will see six Franked Envelopes listed, among them being Lamping & Co.’s Express, Beekman’s Express, Langton’s Pioneer Express, Colby’s Nevada and Dutch Flat Express, and the Indian Creek Express. The above set is well known to comprise a group of which some dishonest person owns the original platesand they are constantly being put upon the market through numerous channels. Not long ago I received a set of these Express Franks from Portland, Oregon, printed on white plain envelopes and as I know those Franks at the Albecht sale came from the same city, I am led to believe that the plates are in the possession of some one there. Thosa sent me on plain white envelopes, were offered only as proofs, but they were too uncanny in appearance to be tolerated anywhere.
Comparing one of them with mine, I found enough difference to warrant the opinion that these reprints are easily detected and it is therefore my idea in writing to ask for an explanation of the difference to be noted between the genuine used of this set and the fakes.
If you will kindly do this, I know I will confer a favor on numerous large collectors of United States Envelopes, who have been imposed upon and have paid very high prices for that which they would not tolerate for a moment did they realize their true status.
Yours truly,
Sidney S. Peixotto.
Our correspondent has here opened a subjet that in its details and ramifications is more widespread and voluminous than perhaps he has any idea of, and one requiring far more space to properly present than is at the disposal of this department in any one issue, but which will receive its due measure of attention from time to time. As to the case in point he is probably mistaken as to the location of the electrotypes of the Franks he mentions while correct as to the assumption that reprints of them exist.
The reprints are found on unused envelopes almost without exception, and having been done at a later date than the originals, can generally be distinguished by “later state of the plate;” that is, there are certain bruises and scratches the electros received subsequent to the time the express companies went out of business and before the reprinting was done that are found on reprints and are lacking on originals. Careful comparison with an undoubted original is the onl safe method of detection.
Probably the worst of this business is the private impression of the franks of many obsolete companies on the envelopes of emissions and values never used by the companies in actual business, this multiplisity of faked specimens nearly always being found on unused envelopes, and is far from being confined to the expresses mentioned.
