Technically, each stamp of Vilnius I and II issue is “one-of-a-kind” and is so collected. Genuine full sheets of 20 stamps (5×4) can be viewed to show stamp positions.

View complete sheet of Vilnius I issue 10 sk stamp (Scott, 1 Michel 1) and 15 sk stamp (Scott 2, Michel 2).

 The First Vilnius Issue (1918) Scott 1-2 (Michel 1-2)

Letterpress printing (relief printing) technique was used for printing early Lithuania (Scott 1-8 & Michel 1-8). Because of this (high pressure printing) the stamp’s image is pressed into the paper. This is clearly visible when looking at the back of a genuine stamp. Many forged stamps of the provisional Vilnius Issues (Scott 1-8 & Michel 1-8) are poor photolithographic copies characterized by white paper and uniform letter type. One well known forgery set (Vilnius First Issue, Mi 1-2 Sc 1-2) with inverted “h” has backstamp LATFIL (Latvia Filatelija) (ebay Apr 2008).

Another known forgery set of the Vilnius First Issue (Mi 1-2 Sc 1-2) with inverted “h” has backstamps NZ and Dr. Hirch.

Another forged stamp of the Vilnius First Issue with inverted “h” as shown below is a poor photolithographic copy of the Mi 1 Sc 1 (ebay Dec 2008)

The Second Vilnius Issue (1918) Scott 3-8 (Mi 3-8)

 Upon close inpection, we found this forged stamp of the Vilnius Second Issue (Sc 3 position 9) which has a backstamp A. ROIG Barselona. There are a number of distinguishing characteristics of the bogus stamp – a thicker paper and lack the definition, sharpnes, and precise shape of typeseted circles and letters ( e.g. letter “t” in Lietuvos) (Philatelic club, Vilnius, Jun 2009).

  Tip – Click to see larger image and side-by-side comparison together with a genuine Scott 3 position 9.

 Another forgery of the Vilnius Second Issue (Scott 4) is charaterized by yellowish paper and different typeset used ( e.g. for “15″) (ebay Dec 2008).

Another forged stamp of the Vilnius Second Issue (Scott 7) is charaterized by yellowish paper and different typeset used ( e.g. for “40″) (bought from a stamp dealer at the AmeriStamp Expo/Texpex Feb 2009).

 Tip - Click to see larger image and forgery characteristics in details.