Two stamps switch places on counterfeit U.S. 2021 Emilio Sanchez panes

By Charles Snee

Pictured here are two panes of United States 2021 nondenominated (55¢) forever commemorative stamps (Scott 5594-5597) picturing four works by artist Emilio Sanchez.

The pane of 20 at left is genuine. The right pane is a counterfeit; the bogus stamps [Scott 5594(CF1)-5597(CF1)] are listed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Counterfeits.

At first glance, both panes look identical.

On the genuine pane, the designs are arranged so that the same stamp (with the exception of the four corner stamps) appears in each row along a diagonal from the top left to the bottom right.

This symmetry is disrupted on the counterfeit pane because the second and fourth stamps in the third row are in the wrong position.

Linn’s was not aware of this subtle difference until Ray Beer of Ohio contacted Linn’s June 23 in response to an article in the July 8 issue of Linn’s about a similar position miscue on counterfeit double-sided panes of the 2021 nondenominated (55¢) Western Wear stamps [Scott 5615(CF1)-5618(CF1)].

Aside from the position miscue, the bogus Emilio Sanchez pane is a near clone of its genuine counterpart.

The most readily apparent difference is the colors, which appear duller on the counterfeit pane. Closer inspection also reveals differences in the tagging and the shape of the serpentine die cuts.

During the past few years, the number of U.S. stamps being counterfeited has exploded. Almost without exception, the quality of these fake stamps is remarkably close to the real thing.

The counterfeiters have solved the challenges associated with printing stamps: paper, ink and printing quality; die-cutting; and, most recently, tagging.

Collectors can still spot the bogus issues, but the typical purchaser of stamps cannot. That might explain why counterfeiters aren’t concerned about producing a stamp in a format that doesn’t exist for the genuine issue. And the forgers aren’t particularly worried about size, either.

In the Sept. 25, 2023, issue, Linn’s reported the discovery of counterfeit panes of 20 of the 2010 44¢ Love stamp (Scott 4450) printed in a size noticeably larger than the genuine issue.

In the ongoing saga of counterfeit U.S. postage stamps, a new chapter was written in early September 2023 when ...

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