One popular aspect of stamp collecting is learning how to identify forged and counterfeit stamps, below are a few courses from our C3a learning platform as well as some presentations that would be of interest to those looking to learn more about this fascinating topic:
Adding EFOs to Your Collection: A Three-Session On-Demand Course
During this introductory course, you will; discuss reasons for including Errors, Freaks, and Oddities (EFOs) in your collection, explore different types of EFOs, identify where get additional information, and acquire tips for obtaining these production miscues.
- Session 1 – What are Errors, Freaks and Oddities (EFOs)? Why should you add EFOs to your collection? Overview of major types of EFOs.
- Session 2 – An overview of errors, freaks & oddities by category.
- Session 3 – Where to find EFO-related information. Tips for acquiring EFOs.
This three-session seminar was recorded in May 2021.
Instructor: Cemil Betanov
Click here to purchase the course or go to https://stamps.org/learn/c3a-online-learning -> Enter C3a -> eCommerce ( in the lefthand menu) and search for the course in on-demand courses (under categories)
Stamp Collecting Fundamentals: Seven-Session On-Demand Course
Course Description:
Stamp Collecting Fundamentals is a practical course designed to familiarize beginning adult collectors with the world’s most popular hobby. Lessons include tips and techniques especially for new collectors. Captivating images and stories drawn from the vast collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum are used throughout the seven lessons (totaling 5 and 1/2 hours of content).
During this course you will learn to:
- Understand a variety of collecting terms
- Use simple collecting tools
- Distinguish between three types of printing processes
- Discover a variety of ways to acquire stamps for your collection
- Identify aspects of counterfeits, fakes, forgeries and fantasies
- Preserve your collection for future generations of philatelists
- Find resources online and in print to increase your philatelic knowledge
Instructor: Danial Piazza, Chief Curator of Philately, Smithsonian National Postal Museum
This course was recorded October, 2021.
Click here to purchase the course or go to https://stamps.org/learn/c3a-online-learning -> Enter C3a -> eCommerce ( in the lefthand menu) and search for the course on the last page of on-demand courses (under categories)
Free Video Presentations
Here are some past videos from the APS Youtube channel that focus on forgeries from specific countries:
AmeriStamp Expo 2013 seminar - Fakes, Forgeries, and Counterfeits from the National Postal Museum Collection
How to Identify Common Forgeries of pre-1925 Persia w/ Behruz Nassre - Mr. Nassre joins us from San Francisco, California to present, “How to Identify Common Forgeries of pre-1925 Persia”.This Stamp Chat focuses on the overprints of Persian stamps and the challenge of authenticating them. Mr. Nassre brings years of experience in this field and is a member of the APS Expertizing team authenticating Persian stamps. Behruz has won dozens of prestigious awards around the world for his Persian centered exhibits. He is a member of the APS as well as the Iran Philatelic Study Circle.
APS Stamp Chat with Casey Joe White: "Fake U.S. Stamps and the Forgers Who Printed Them" Join our guest, CJ White, @caseyjowhite, @philatelythings; researcher, author and storyteller as she shares her love of forgeries and the men who made them. CJ White describes the value of forgeries and why you should collect them!
Make sure to also watch this episode of Conversations with Philatelists where Michael Cortese, NobleSpirit, and Charles Epting, HR Harmer, speak with Wayne Youngblood as he discusses exactly what you need to look out for to ensure that you're not being scammed by counterfeit stamps. This episode acts as a part two of the November 22nd episode on counterfeit USPS Forever stamps. Part 1: https://youtu.be/qCL72466_NQ