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Sale 97: The Westpex Sale

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German War Propaganda Forgeries

Lots 290-299 Lots 300-309 Lots 310-319 Lots 320-322

Lot 290

Germany, 1944 Hitler OSS Birthday Propaganda souvenir sheet of 4, perf 8, no gum, bright and fresh, Very Fine.
Michel No. 18a    €36,000 ($40,120).

AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1944 HITLER PROPAGANDA SOUVENIR SHEET OF FOUR IN BROWN VIOLET - ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PROPAGANDA ISSUES WITH APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.

The American OSS was formed from a division that President Roosevelt enacted by Executive order and was under jurisdiction of the Joint Chief of Staff, giving the OSS the capability and status of a military branch. The goal of the operation was to disrupt the morale of the German people by using a method of large scale psychological operation (PSYOP) that the British MI6 had been pushing into service with the help of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The distribution of propaganda in letters and distributed by the German postal system was thought to be an ideal method of reaching the German population and undermine the support of Adolf Hitler. One tactic used in hopes of shaking the morale further in the German people, was to call upon master forgers to produce a variety of propaganda forgery stamps similar in nature to the current German issues. This souvenir sheet was to resemble the 1937 Hitler semi-postal souvenir sheet.

Realized: $12,000

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Lot 291

Germany, 1943, 25c Hitler & Mussolini Forgery, o.g., never hinged, Very Fine and scarce.
Michel No. 49    €2,500 ($2,790).

In 1943, the British produced these parodies of Italian issues featuring Hitler & Mussolini. The faces are changed from the original to a snarling Hitler and cowering Mussolini, and the text is changed from "Duo popoli / Un guerra" ("Two peoples, one war") to "Duo popoli / Un führer" ("Two peoples, one leader").

Realized: $725

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Lot 292

Germany, 1944, ½d-3d KGV Forgery, "Murder Ruin, Schaffhausen (Switzerland)" overprints, wavy line watermark, complete set of six, most with gutter margins, without gum as issued, Very Fine, a very scarce set.
Michel No. 9Id-14Id    €2,200 ($2,450).

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 293

Germany, 1944, ½d-3d KGV Forgery Set, "World-Slavery" overprints, wavy line watermark, complete set of six, without gum as issued, Very Fine, a very scarce set.
Michel No. 9IIf-14IIf    €2,200 ($2,450).

Realized: $1,000

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Lot 294

Germany, 1944, ½d//2½d KGV Forgeries, Bomb overprints, four different; with 1d & 1½d "Castelle Candolfo", 1½d "Monte Cassino" and 2½d "San Marino" overprints, later two with gutter margins, Very Fine.
Michel No. 10Ib-11Ib, 11Ic, 13Ie    €1,600 ($1,780).

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Realized: $850

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Lot 295 ()   

Germany, 1944, ½d//3d KGV Forgeries, "The Bluff-Charta" overprints, without gum as issued, ½d & 3d with gutter margins, Very Fine.
Michel No. 9IId, 13IId-14IId    €1,200 ($1,340).

Realized: $675

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Lot 296

Germany, 1943 6(pf) Heinrich Himmler Forgery, o.g., never hinged, Very Fine and rare.
Michel No. 28II    €1,200 ($1,340).

In 1942-43, the British created this propaganda forgery depicting Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer of the SS. The stamp design is an imitation of the German Hitler definitives from 1941-44, specifically MiNr. 785.

Two major varieties exist. The first printing (28 II) from December 1942 has narrow lines, poor shading, white splotches on the face, and overall poor quality in the design. The April/May 1943 printing (28 I) has wider lines, and overall a much better, more attractive design. It is also much rarer.

Realized: $550

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Lot 297

Germany, 1944, ½d-3d KGV Forgery Set, "Liquidation of Empire, Grenada" overprints, wavy line watermark, complete set of six, without gum as issued, Very Fine.
Michel No. 9Vc-14Vc    €1,000 ($1,110).

Realized: $425

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Lot 298

Germany, 1944, ½d-3d KGV Forgery Set, "Liquidation of Empire, Bougainville" overprints, wavy line watermark, complete set of six, three with left gutter margin, without gum as issued, Very Fine.
Michel No. 9Ve-14Ve    €1,000 ($1,110).

Realized: $400

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Lot 299

Germany, 1944, ½d-3d KGV Forgery Set, "Liquidation of Empire, Rangoon" overprints, wavy line watermark, complete set of six, ½d with gutter margins, without gum as issued, Very Fine.
Michel No. 9Vd-14Vd    €1,000 ($1,110).

Realized: $350

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Lots 290-299 Lots 300-309 Lots 310-319 Lots 320-322

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