Fake and Questionable Bangladesh Items

The items illustrated on this page are fakes or forgeries or of a questionable nature. A fake item is something completely invented to represent something that does not exist. A forgery is a copy of a genuine item that exists and is generally made to make people think it is a genuine item. The term counterfeit means the same thing.

OTHER

• Forged "trial" copies of the Jessore printed overprint. This overprint was used on many fake covers. Most of the overprints on the Pakistani stamps were done with rubber stamps and were applied by hand, but Jessore had printed overprints. It is said the the Indian dealer Mr. Mondal, who lived in Calcutta, India near the border close to Jessore, approaced the postmaster and offered to print an overprint for him to be used in the post office. The postmaster agreed and Mr. Monday printed the overprints in India and delivered them to Jessore, where they were used. It is believed that he paid for everything, including the cost of the stamps. The situation is that these were somewhat genuine, but not totally. Evidently Mr. Mondal made many covers using these stamps. He was very involved in the early history of the country creating covers that were fantasies. Later his son was in Bangladesh selling fake FDCs of the country. The envelopes were slightly larger than the original covers and had no gum on the flaps.

• Genuine or not? This is the type of cover that divides opinions among collectors. The cover has the Jessore overprints, but is obviously a Philatelic cover as it has all different varieties of the stamps with the overprint. How many times does one go to the post office to mail a letter and one applies many of the stamps of a definitive set to it. Very seldom.

COVERS

• This is a beautiful cover, and very impressive to view with all of the markings. The cover was made to look as if it was sent during the war, including a burned area. It was purchased from a well known U.S. auction house back in the 1970s. Unfortunately it is a total fake and was created to sell to an unsuspecting collector. The auction house thought it was genuine, or they would not have offered it. Note that there is a Jessore printed overprint on the green stamp.

The following eight covers were purchased by the author back in the mid 1970s from a well known Indian dealer, who it turns out is known for dealing in questionable items, as well as genuine material. They are all fakes. Note that the same postage stamps are used on all the covers. During the war the same overprinted Pakistani stamps were not available at all the post offices, and each post office had created it's own rubber stamp overprint. The stamps on these covers were created for the Jessore Post Office (See above for more information). Many varieties were overprinted and whatever was available at that location would be used. Additionaly, some of the markings on the covers are made with the same rubber stamp (Mail Carried by Bangla Desh Mukti Fouze). The covers are also neatly opened on the edges and are in pristine condition. Similar covers are still offered on the internet at this time. The Indian dealers know they are fakes, but those from Europe and other countries often think they are genuine. These covers and others claimed to have been carried by the Boy Scouts have been heavily faked as there is a good market for them, especially the Boy Scout covers. Genuine covers are very expenseive and scarce. Remember that a high price does not necessarily mean it is genuine.Only purchase from a reputable dealer and always get a second opinion from an expert before buying such items.

• The cover was allegedly posted at the Mujibnagar Army Post Office and has a back marking as having been received at the Darsana Field Post Office. Note that the stamp have the Jessore overprint, as do many other fakes illustrated here.

• This cover was allegedly posted at the Jhinkargacha Field Post Office and received at the Benapole Field Post Office.

• This cover is stamped with the Darsana Field Post Office marking and said to have been received on 30 May 1971 at the Kaliguni-Khulna Field Post Office. Note the three lines on the back, bottom left, in Bangla.

• This cover was allegedly posted at the Chuadanga Field Post Office and evidently received at the Kaliguni-Khulna Field Post Office on 20 May 1971.

• This cover was allegedly posted at the Meherpur Field Post Office with a marking on the front, as well, for the Benapole Field Post Office. The only marking on the reverse states it was carried by the Meherpur guerrilla squad. Very impressive, but false.

• Posted from the Basantapur-Khulna Field Post Office on 28 July 1971 and carries a marking on the back for the Kaliguni - Khulna Field Post Office, and is dated 29 Jun 1971.

• This cover has a posting from Benapole Field Post Office, with a back cancellation of the Bangladesh Liberation Forces Central Base P.O. and dated 12 Jul 1971.

• This cover was allegedly posted at the Field Post Office - Darsana and the back has a seal of the Rajshahi Field Post Office.

Additional Fake Covers

• The above cover is much more inventive and interesting. Not only does it have a rubber stamp (purple) stating "Mail Carried by Mukti Fa[sic]uze", but and additional rubber stamp impression (red) stating, "11 December 1971/Indian Parachute Brigade/Para Dropped in Tangail Area". What is confusing is that the stamps are cancelled with a stamp that says Tangail. Why are the stamps cancelled at the site where it was dropped by the Indian Parachute Brigade? This is also a fake cover.

1972

6 February - Another Scout item made by an Indian dealer. These were made as collecting of Scout material is very popular and they were created to sell to such collectors.

1981

5 January - This is an item made by an Indian dealer. If you look closely, the stamps have cancellations, that are genuine, but are unreadable and faint. The fake Scout marking has been added to the cover. From past examples of similar items, the marking is generally applied to a part of a stamp, making it look like a cancellation. When I questioned about a different, but somewhat similar item, I was told it was a cachet and there was no room on the cover, without it touching some of the stamps. Never-the-less they claim they are genuine, but they are not and they are privately made, not made by the government.

9 October 1995 - Flowers of Bangladesh (2nd series)

• The top image is of the genuine set of Flowers of Bangladesh stamps. Below it are covers using stickers made of the stamps. No one knows who made them, but they are imperforate images of the stamps. In some instances, the total image is not present as the image was cut off at one of the edges. Someone created these covers and they did go through the mail.

• This cover bears two fake Upa-Zilla overprinted stamps. One overprint is in the normal position and the other has a second one that is inverted. It was created as a 'Philatelic Cover". The canceller was illegally purchased after Bangla became the language to be used in all cancellers in the late 1980s, and applied to this cover in 1993. The cover never went through the mails and must be considered a fake.

• Not exactly what they are represented to be. These covers appear to be sent on government business, using the SERVICE overprinted stamps, that were to be used only by government offices. While the stamps are genuine, the intent of the covers is not. They were created by a stamp collector who is a medical doctor who worked at the facility. Note all the different stamps on the top cover (one of each variety, including ones with the SERVICE overprint in different positions on the stamps). Many other markings were applied to the covers to make them attractive. To make it even worse, the cancellations are in English, that was discontinued in the late 1980s. The cancellers were illegally purchased from a post office after Bangla became the language that had to be used for all cancellers, and used on these covers in 1995. The covers are fakes in every respect and never passed through the mails.

• Another fake cover using an old canceller after English was discontinued as the language used in them.

• Another fake, even though it is dated years earlier. The canceller was illegally purchased after English was no longer used in the cancellers. Since the dates could be changed, it was back dated.

• The only value of this cover is that it is a quick reference to the three shades of the 1994 Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim stamp. The cover was never sent through the mails and was not sent Registered. The canceller was illegally purchased years previously and applied at this late date. The Post Office changed all cancellations from English to Bangla in the late 1980s and one will not find English cancellations on genuine covers after that date. This was made in 1995 and is a total fake.

• This cover is a total fantasy and was most likely made for a well known Bangladesh individual known for his less than honest dealings. This was purchased from an Indian dealer who insisted it was genuine and told me who he had purchased his copies from - Dr. Redwan, who is known for dealing in questionable items. There isn't even a city mentioned in the cancellations. While it looks like a cover that would be made by the Post Office Department, there are no markings on the back. Covers like this are virtually always sold to dealers outside of Bangladesh as the seller knows that it would be recognized as a fake immediately in Bangladesh. They are largely sold to dealers in India and are then offered on the internet auctions. Above the cover is a variety of the cancelation, with a butterfly in it.

The above cover is attractive because of the tie-in of the cachet, stamp and cancellation - all tigers. However, the cover serves no real purpose, other than to use a cacheted envelope that was prepared for a different event, but had not been used. The envelope was originally prepared for the stamp exhibition in Washington, D.C. from 27 May - 3 June 2006. It has these dates and the logo for the show on the cover, but it was used to obtain the tiger cancellation from the China World Stamp Exhibition, 2009, which was used on 11 April 2009. Such covers have little, or no value as the cancellation is common. It would be better to have it on a plain envelope, rather than a wrong one. The back of the cover has information on the cover that is important and interesting. The layout is somewhat like that on government FDCs and Special Covers. The designer is Dr. Redwan al-Karin Bhuiyan, also known as Dr. Heart. He put his logo of a heart with "HSC", which stands for Heart Stamp Center. It also has the number 12, indicating that twelve envelopes were printed.

Although this is an attractive cover it is the type that is only made to make money for the producer. It serves no purpose. The envelope has the logo of the 27 May - 3 June 2006 stamp show in Washington, D.C., the butterfly issue of 3 December 1990 and the FDC cancellation from the butterfly issue of 2012. Covers like this have no value and add little to the hobby, except confusion. This is also make by Dr. Redwan al-Karim Bhuiyan, who has a reputation for dealing in fake and questionable items.

• The purpose for the creation of the above two fake postal cards is a mystery, unless they were made to sell to Post Card collectors. The top card shows Madhabkunda Waterfall in the picture and the fake stamp image. The name on the stamp image is Verneland, with a value of 1t. The second card show the Jamuna Bridge in the picture and the stamp image. The name on the stamp image is Chartonia, with a value of 25m. Of course no such countries exist as stated on the stamp images.

• The above cancellation for 2013 is a fake, based on the cancellation illustrated above it, which is genuine, and was used for First Day Covers  of the ICC Cricket World Cup on 19 April 2007. The copy of the fake was difficult to copy as it was stamped on a black background, making it difficult to see.

• The above two covers and cancellation are not genuine. The cancellation is a fake made by a Bangladeshi named Mr. Kamrul, who is not a stamp collector and makes fake items of interest to Indian collectors of Gandhi, Tagore, Cricket, Coin and Flower themes. He basically sells his items to Indian dealers who most likely do not realize they are fakes. This was purchased from an Indian dealer, who got it from another dealer who supplies him with items.  Each cover also has a label on it next to the genuine Bangladesh stamp.

2014

• 27 April - The top illustration is of an attractive cover for the "Tokyo Stamp Show 2014" Note that is is quite similar in design to the cover illustrated under (5 February 2010, COMMEMORATIVE POSTMARKS 1995 - Present.) that cover has a genuine cancellation provided by the Post Office. The above cover and two illustrations under it do not have genuine postmarks made by the Bangladesh Post Office. The Bangladesh Postal Department did not participate in this show. The bottom line in the cancellation is in Japanese. Not illustrated is the cancellation for the 26th. These were privately created and are sold outside of Bangladesh where people do not realize they are not genuine covers.

STAMPS

29 July 1971 - 1st Stamps of Bangladesh

71-7 Rs.5 Sheik Mujibur Rahman

• Note that there are two varieties of the fake overprint. One has a bar through the denomination, and the other one doesn't. The overprinted bars on this stamp were done by an Indian dealer who had them put on covers and mailed from a few cities in Bangladesh. This unaddressed cover was made for the market. This is a total fake. These stamps are also seen on commercially used covers but they are generally addressed to Indian addresses as the dealers wanted to retrieve the covers and then sell them. Occasonally one will see mint stamps offered on eBay or Delcampe. The dealers are usually from India and always claim they are genuine when questioned.

20 December 1971 - Bangladesh Liberated (Overprint on #1, 7 & 10, measuring 12mm horizontally)

• These examples of the overprint on plain paper are fakes and began to appear with frequency on the internet close to forty years after the stamps were issued. The majority of these, if not all of them, were being sold by stamp dealers outside of Bangladesh and by companies and dealers that did not specialize in the country. These were obviously peddled to dealers as being genuine.

• All the stamp above have fake overprints applied to them. There were no reported inverts, or double printing at the time the stamps were issued. These started appearing in the internet auctions around 2010, close to forty years after the stamps were issued. Those selling them either believe they are genuine or are dishonest in claiming they are. The entire set of stamps were overprinted, but the Post Office only accepted the 10p, 5R and 10R values for postal use.

10 December 1973 - 25th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1973

• It is believed that this SPECIMEN rubber stamped overprint is not genuine. It is also known on the 25 September 1974 set of two stamps for Bangladesh being a member of the United Nations. The two sets were offered by a dealer in India, known for dealing in dubious Bangladesh items.

73-4 10p Flame within a wreath - blue background
73-5 Tk.1.25 Flame within a wreath - purple background
2 Stamps

 

25 September 1974 - Bangladesh in UNO

• It is believed that this SPECIMEN overprint is a fake and was not applied by the Post Office Department. It was sold by an dealer in India, known for dealing in questionable Bangladesh material.

74-6 25p UN headquarters and flag - lilac and multi
74-7 Tk.1 Un headquarters and flag -blue and multi
2 stamps

23 February 1980 - 75th Anniversary of Rotary International

80-1 40p Rotary emblem in red and black
80-2 Tk.5 Rotary emblem in blue and gold
2 stamps

• Fake "SPECIMEN" overprint with badly smudged rubber stamp at the bottom left of the images. The same overprint exists on the overprinted Rotary stamps of 1987.

16 May 1985 - Upa-Zila Election 1985 (Overprint on 29 April, 1978 Flowers of Bangladesh set)

• All of the above overprints are fake. These were not made by postal employees using the genuine overprint. The overprint is slightly different from the genuine. The lower image has an inverted overprint.

85-5 40p Champa - Michelia champaca
85-6 Tk.1 Sonali (Pudding Pipe tree) - Cassia fustula
85-7 Tk.2.25 Krishnachura (Flamboyant tree) - Delonix regia
85-8 Tk.3.50 Shapla (water lily) - Nymphaea nouchali
85-9 Tk.4 Palash - Butea monosperma
85-10 Tk.5 Kadam - Anthocephalus indicus
6 stamps

• Cover with fake double overprint, with one inverted. This is a philatelic cover, not one that was used to send mail to anyone.

18 July 1985 - UN Decade of Women

85-12 Tk.10 Woman at microscope

• The left stamp is a forgery of the genuine stamp on the right. The quality of the printing in the forgery is not good.

29 Dec. - 3rd Bangladesh Scout Jamboree (Overprint on the Tk.5 value of the 22 January, 1978 First National Scout Jamboree stamp)

• Both the double overprint and double overprint with one inverted are considered fakes.

12 January 1987 - Rotary Conference for Development ’87 (Overprint on 23 February, 1980 75th Anniversary of Rotary International set)

All of the varieties of the overprint listed below were done either by, or with the cooperation of Mr. Zahid Husain (Helal Bhai), who is known by all the senior collectors and dealers as the man who had access to, and handled all the early major errors of the country. Since he has not told who printed these, and when seen under magnification, it is apparant they were all done at one time and place, therefore making it seem likely that they were done by an employee of the pringing company that had the contract.

87-1 Tk.1 Black overprint on red, tan and black 40p Rotary stamp (New denomination)

• Fake SPECIMEN rubber stamped in bottom left of stamps. This is identical to the SPECIMEN rubber stamp used on a pair of the original issued stamps in 1980.

a. ovpt. shifted to the left, most of old denomination visible
b. obliteration only, no text ovpt.
c. ovpt. inverted
d. ovpt. double
e. ovpt. double but no obliterations
f. ovpt. double with “O” of “FOR” omitted, no obliterations
g. ovpt. double and shifted to the left. Denomination fully visible
h. ovpt. double with half of obliteration on each side of the stamp - enomination visible
i. ovpt. double with half obliteration and no new denomination
j. ovpt. double, “C’ and “D” not visible on left
k. ovpt double, one inverted
l. ovpt double, one inverted, bottom ovpt. shifted left
m. as “k” but “C’ and “D” only partially visible on bottom ovpt.
n. ovpt. double, one inverted, upper inverted ovpt. divided on each side of stamp - old denomination fully visible
o. ovpt. double, one inverted. Old denomination largely covered
p. ovpt. double, one inverted. Correct upper ovpt. on an angle, sloping to left - old denomination not covered.
q. ovpt. triple
r. ovpt. triple - one inverted - old denomination not covered
s. ovpt. triple - “4” not covered
t. Ovpt. triple - no obliteration over over old value
u. ovpt. triple - two inverted
v. ovpt. vertical - facing left
w. unissued ovpt. – horizontal thin line through 40p
x. test print – printed four times on stamp in green ink
 

87-2 Tk.5 Black overprint on blue and gold Rotary stamp
a. ovpt. inverted
b. ovpt. shifted left. “CO” and “DE” not visible
c. “O” of “FOR” missing
d. ovpt. double
e. ovpt. double, one inverted
f. ovpt. double, one inverted, one shifted left, the other right
g. ovpt. triple
h. as “g” but ovpt. shifted higher. “Conference” almost in line with central circle
i. ovpt for the 40p stamp
j. unissued ovpt for 40p stamp (87-1u)
k. as “j”, but top line of ovpt. missing
l. as “J” and “k” but top line totally missing

• A 16 page booklet entitled Rotary Movement in Bangladesh, written by Siddique Mahmudur Rahman, and published by the Bangladesh Institute of Philatelic Studies, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, lists and illustrates these varieties

2 January 1990 - National Population Day 1990

90-1 Tk.6 Silouette of parents and two children

• A forgery of the genuine Population Day stamp is on the left and the genuine stamp on the right. The quality of the printing is quite poor in the forgery.

22 September 1990 - XI Asian Games, Beijing, ‘90

90-23 Tk.2 Rowing

• The left stamp is a forgery and the one on the right a genuine stamp. The colors in the forgery are not very accurate, compared to the genuine stamp.

26 March 1991 - 20th Anniversary of Independence 1971-1991

91-5 Tk.4 Freedom fighter statue 5 stamps in a strip of five

• The forged stamp is on the left, with a genuine stamp on the right. Since the set of 5 stamps was printed in strips of five, it seems logical that the other four values of this set must also exist as forgeries. Note that the forgery is smaller than the genuine stamp.

30 May 1991 - President Ziaur Rahman

91-10 Tk.2 President's head inside a stylized blue circle

• The left stamp is a foargery and the right stamp is genuine. The colors are very muddy in the forgery.

7 August 1991 - Poet Rabindranath Tagore

91-17 Tk.4 Portrait of poet superimposed in front of his home

• The stamp on the left is a forgery of the genuine stamp on the right. Under magnification it is obvious that it is not genuine as the printing is not clear and the pattern of dots is not like the genuine stamp.

26 November 1991 - Archaeological Relics from Moinamati

91-23 Tk.4 Utinsils (Bowl and ewer)
5 stamprs printed in a strip of five

• The forgery is on the left and the genuine stamp on the right. Since this issue was printed in strips of five different stamps, it seems logical to assume the other four values can be found as forgeries as well.

7 April 1993 - World Health Day '93

93-6 Tk.10 Ring of figures around earth, weapons above (Prevent Violence)

• The left stamp is a forgery and the genuine stamp on the right. Note that the forgery is not as clear and is slightly smaller.

7 December 2003 - ICCDDR,B 25th Anniversary
03-14 Tk.10 Logo in center with olive leaves and writing (genuine stamp)
1 stamp

• On the right is a fake of a similar ICCDR stamp. The person making it made it a different value, Tk.8, instead of Tk.10, and printed different colors on the sides. If one had seen the genuine stamp one would assume this was another denomination in a set of stamps. On the left is a genuine stamp.

1995 (Unknown date) - SERVICE overprinted on definitive in red in Bengali

• This is the "SERVICE" variety of this stamp which was issued as a regular definitive first. This variety was released in the mid to late 1990s. There is no consensus of opion as to whether this particular item, and similar ones to it, were genuine errors or printer's waste that made it to the philatelic market. This variety is also found on several philatelic covers. The item in the illustration above has full, original gum.

95-1s Tk.2 National Diabetes Awareness stamp of 1995 (#95-1d) - multicolored
1 stamp

SPECIMEN FOR APPROVAL FOLDERS 1996 - 1999

New Heading

• The folders are of two sizes. The larger, which appears to be the older of the two sizes is from 29.8 to 30.3 x 11 cms. (The genuine folders are 29.8 x 10.2 cms.)
  The smaller folders are 26.8 x 9.8 cms (The genuine smallers folders are the same)
  
  The larger fake folders are a smooth shiny paper with some being glossier than others and there appears to be two shades of white, with one being creamier in color. (The genuine folders seen to date are all on the glossy paper but this could change as more copies are examined)
  The small fake folders are largely made on a ribbed, high quality paper but are also found on a smooth white paper. The ribbed folders can be found in slightly varying shades of white. (The genuine folders seen to date are on the same high quality ribbed paper as the fakes, but this could change as moe copies are examined)
  

• This image of the inside of a folder was digitally cleaned up and the English translation added.

• In the above folder you will see on the left the description written in Bangla. To the right the imperforate stamp and written in English "Approved" and a signature below it in Bangla. To the right, the Bangla printed "APPROVED* text has a check mark made on it. This checking of the "Approved", or "Not approbved" text was not done on many of the fake and genuine folders. Below that are four lines rubber stamped in English.
  
  DESCRIPTION ON LEFT: Bangla is written so that it appears that most of the tops of the figures are in alignment, with a few markings above the line, therefore it appears to "hangs" below a line. The illustrated folder above has it above the dotted line. In the majority of the small fake folders, it is written above the dotted line. In the larger fake ones it is written above and below. In the genuine folders, the majority have the description written below the dotted like, but a few are found with it above it.
  
  APPROVED or NOT APPROVED: On the genuine folders this would not be written in English with a signature in Bangla. There are a few fakes with the signature written in English as well. The genuine folders seen to date do not have this comment, nor a signature. This is found written with a pen or a ballpoint pen in black, blue and green ink. It was even printed on some folders, rather than in script. Often the two choices (in Bangla, under the stamp) is left blank or checked. Ironically many of them have "Approved", but the Bangla "Not Approved" checked, or just the opposite, with it stating "Not Approved" and the Bangla "Approved" checked.
  
  SIGNATURE: In the fake covers the signature is found in ink and ballpoint pen. The colors are blue, black and green. Often it is obvious, even though the name is the same, that it was written by someone else. In two instances they listed directors after Mr. Sanullah was relieved of his duties, and another name is that of a person who was never Director.
  
  RUBBER STAMPED 4 LINES OF TEXT: On the fake covers it can be found in English or Bangla and either purple or black. The genuine covers do not have this in either language. However I do believe I have seen one folder and it did have the rubber stamped text but it said "Stamps", rather than "Stamp". The ones on the cards in Bangla state that Sheikh Mohammed Sanaullah is the Director.
  

19 July 1996 - Olympic Games ATLANTA

More Fake Specimen for Approval Folders

SERVICE Overprints

About 1999 numerous SERVICE overprints in Bengali began to appear on the market, in the form of shifts in the overprint, inverts, double, etc.. Most were on the Russian printing definitives, but several were also on the Harrison and Asher printings. They were done on stamps that were not officially overprinted, nor scheduled to be overprinted. Many collectors soon lost interest when it appeared they were being produced illegally by a government employee, in collusion with a local stamp dealer, Mr. Zahid Husain (Helal Bhai), and the number of such items was increasing. The following items must be considered fraudulent and are not considered legitimate post office issues. While it is true that they were overprinted at the same location as other overprints, Mr. Hosain gave the person sheets of stamps to overprint. It is not true that they were "trial" overprints, items to be released but then cancelled, etc. They are outright fakes and nothing more. It is said that one or more of them can be found on Specimen for Approval Folders. While this is most likey true, the folders are also fakes.

The person responsible for these fakes has lost track of all the varieties that were created. It is said it could be as high as 200 different varieties. Many others, not shown here, exist.

83-1d 5p Mailboat - light bluish-green - Mezhdunarodnava Kniga printing

This 5p stamp was never prepared by the Post Office with this Bangla overprint. The stamp was released earlier with the SERVICE overprint in red ink, in English.

Black overprint
a. overprint reading down
b. overprint reading up but misplaced and partially on top and bottom of stamp

Red overprint
a. overprint reading up
b. overprint reading down, misplaced and partially on top and bottom of stamp
c. overprint on back of stamp - reading up

79-3d 5p Lalbag Fort - brown - Harrison printing

Red Overprint
a. overprint double
b. overprint inverted

78- 1d 10p Fenchuganj Fertilizer Factory - blue - Harrison printing

Black overprint
a. reading up
b. overprint on back of stamp, reading down

• A philatelic cover with a block of four of the stamps with a fake overprint doubled.

Red overprint
a. reading down on gutter pair, left overprint is in the gutter and not on the stamp on the left
b. reading down, double

83-2d 10p Dacca Post Office counter -magenta - Mezhdunarodnava Kniga printing

The 10p value was officially released by the Post Office, on 23 August 1996, with the black overprint in Bangla, and on an unknown date with the red SERVICE overprint in English. The black overprint in Bangla must be considered genuine. This should not be grouped with these listed items that were intentionally created. Please note that all the black overprints that are inverted, partially printed on each side of the stamp, etc, are all created "errors" and were not officially released by the Post Office. They must not be considered genuine errors of the issued stamp. The same applies to the pairs with one stamp missing the overprint.

Black overprint

• This block of four makes it possible to have the two pair configurations listed below. Although this stamp with the black overprint was officially released on 23 August 1996 by the Post Office, this block of four and all the overprinted varieties are not genuine. The same configuration is found with the overprint inverted.

a. horizontal pair with one stamp missing the overprint
b. vertical pair with one stamp missing the overprint

c. overprint double
d. overprint double, bottom overprint shifted left
e. overprint inverted
f. overprint inverted horizontal pair, one stamp missing the overprint
f. overprint inverted vertical pair, one stamp missing the overprint
g. overprint on back of stamp
h. overprint partially on both sides of the stamp
i. overprint inverted and partially on both sides of the stamp

Black and red overprints
a. double overprint, black overprint shifted down with inverted red overprint above and shifted to the left

81-1d 15p Pineapple - yellow-orange - Harrison printing

Red overprint
a. reading up

83-3d 15p IWTA Terminal - blue - Mezhdunarodnava Kniga printing

This 15p stamp was never prepared by the Post Office with this Bangla overprint. The stamp was released earlier with the SERVICE overprint in red ink, in English.

Black overprint
a. normal
b. normal, shifted right

Red overprint
a. normal
b. overprint inverted

79-1d 20p Gas well - dark carmine - Harrison printing

Red overprint
a. reading up
b. partial on each side

83-4 20p Railway mail service - gray - Mezhdunarodnava Kniga printing

The 20p value was officially released by the Post Office, on 23 August 1996, with a red overprint and must be considered genuine. This should not be grouped with these listed items that were intentionally created. Please note that all the red overprints that are inverted, partially printed on each side of the stamp, etc, are all created "errors" and were not officially released by the Post Office.They must not be considered genuine errors of the issued stamp.

Red overprint
a. overprint double
b. overprint double, one near top of stamp
c. overprint double, lower overprint partially printed on both sides of stamp
d. overprint on back of stamp
e. overprint inverted
f. overprint inverted and shifted left
g. overprint inverted and smeared

Red and black overprint
a. red overprinted shifted left, black overprint below it shifted right with black partial printing on both sides of stamp

76-d 25p Tiger - rose lilac - Ashur printing

Red overprint
a. overprint reading down
b. double overprint, one reading down, one reading up

79-2d 40p Baitul Mukarram Mosque - rose magenta - Harrison printing

Black overprint
a. normal overprint

Red overprint
a. normal overprint

76-6d 50p Fish (Hilsa) - rose lilac - Asher Printing

Red overprint
a. double, one inverted

83-7d 50p Mobile post office - light brown - Mezhdunarodnava Kniga printing

Black overprint
a. normal overprint
b. overprint on back of stamp
c. overprint shifted so partial printing on both sides of stamp

Red overprint
a. normal overprint
b. inverted

80-9d 80p Garh excavations - dark brown - Harrison printing

Black overprint
a. overprint reading down

Red overprint
a. overprint reading down

76 - 90p Handicrafts - Red-brown - Asher printing

Red overprint
a. reading up

15 June 2002 - National Tree Campaign & Fruit Tree Plantation Fortnight

02-15 Tk.10 Drawing of a child and plants

One value of the set of three.

• At the top the stamp on the left is a genuine stamp, but the stamp on the right is a forgery and was purchased at the same time as the stamps used on the cover illustrated below. This illustration was taken of one stamp from a vertical strip of five. The lower image is of the same stamps from the back. Notice the poor quality of the perforations. All of the forgeries of genuinely issued stamps were made to be sold and used as postage, they were not made to sell to collectors.

• This cover bears five forged copies of the Tk.10 stamps. In a sense it is a "philatelic" cover as it was known that the stamps were forged. The cover was sent to document the existence of the stamps.

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  21 July - Coins of the Independent Sultans of Bengal

• The top cancellation is the genuine cancellation and the bottom one is a forgery. Notice the position of the English at the bottom, within the enclosed circle. It is crooked, the letters and numbers don't line up in the same positions with those below it as it does in the genuine cancellation, the printingis is not as clear, but easily noticeable is that there are no stars outside the circle between the Bangla and English writing. These were purchased from Indian dealers who most likely believe they are genuine. Go to page for the year 2011 in this catalog and scroll down to this issue and click on the link to see various cachets with the forged cancellation.
  

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