Sorry, but it's simply a fake. Cannot go by color alone to tilt it towards a proof. It fails many of the classic tests for a genuine stamp/proof.
Fakes and reprints outnumber originals by a pretty hefty ratio. But at least you got a space-filler.
Below is a pic of a genuine Basel dove proof. Not mine, unfortunately; but maybe some day...
I'm not a collector of Switzerland - can you give us more information as to how you identify this as a fake as opposed to a proof? This will help others when they come across such an issue.
Kelly
There have been many forgeries of this stamp made. The forgeries were made by copying the essay as the forger did not have an original to copy. Even copies of this stamp cut out of other stamp-on-stamp issues have been passed as genuine to the unknowing. There are so many forgeries of this stamp, that you must presume that you have a forgery as the population of the forgeries far outweighs the population of genuine stamps.
Here are some differences between the genuine and the forgery shown. Note that all comments refer to the forgery. Compare with the original stamp shown.
1 - The letter "O" is too round
2 - The ornaments in the top corners touch the frames
3 - The "L" is straight
4 - The dove is not sufficiently embossed
5 - The background color is not blue green
6 - The short lines between the words are too long
7 - The dove's tail has the long end on the bottom and the tail touches the frame
There are other differences, but that should do for this one. Full information is available in "The Serrane Guide".
I edited the post to add a 7th characteristic of the forgery to give you a baker's dozen.
Looks a bit off but proofs have a greenish back ground compared to the light blue in the real issue. The paper has the look and feel of age. It is not modern or on card stock but my hunch is a good fake of a proof
re: Switzerland - Basil Dove Proof Forgery
Sorry, but it's simply a fake. Cannot go by color alone to tilt it towards a proof. It fails many of the classic tests for a genuine stamp/proof.
Fakes and reprints outnumber originals by a pretty hefty ratio. But at least you got a space-filler.
re: Switzerland - Basil Dove Proof Forgery
Below is a pic of a genuine Basel dove proof. Not mine, unfortunately; but maybe some day...
re: Switzerland - Basil Dove Proof Forgery
I'm not a collector of Switzerland - can you give us more information as to how you identify this as a fake as opposed to a proof? This will help others when they come across such an issue.
Kelly
re: Switzerland - Basil Dove Proof Forgery
There have been many forgeries of this stamp made. The forgeries were made by copying the essay as the forger did not have an original to copy. Even copies of this stamp cut out of other stamp-on-stamp issues have been passed as genuine to the unknowing. There are so many forgeries of this stamp, that you must presume that you have a forgery as the population of the forgeries far outweighs the population of genuine stamps.
Here are some differences between the genuine and the forgery shown. Note that all comments refer to the forgery. Compare with the original stamp shown.
1 - The letter "O" is too round
2 - The ornaments in the top corners touch the frames
3 - The "L" is straight
4 - The dove is not sufficiently embossed
5 - The background color is not blue green
6 - The short lines between the words are too long
7 - The dove's tail has the long end on the bottom and the tail touches the frame
There are other differences, but that should do for this one. Full information is available in "The Serrane Guide".
I edited the post to add a 7th characteristic of the forgery to give you a baker's dozen.