To Professor Petar Pfendt, In calidum, et plurium retributivus memoriae: FTIR-ATR analysis of post stamps of the Principality of Serbia issued in 1866 and 1868 and their forgeries

Abstract

In order to further define the potential use of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, as a non-destructive and reliable technique, for the analysis of the characteristics of post stamps, certified originals of the Principality of Serbia stamps (“Prince Michael issues”) issued in 1866 and 1868 as well as their forgeries were ana­lyzed. Spectra enabling the comparison of the paper, dye and glue of stamps of so-called “Vienna issues”, having denominations of 10 (orange-yellow), 20 (pink) and 40 para (blue) and “Belgrade issues” (1 para-green and 2 para-reddish brown), as well as 24 expert-certified forgeries, were taken. It was shown that the applied technology was, in most of the cases, a fast and suitable technique for establishing clear differences between the spectral characteristics of the paper and dye used for the original stamps, and forgeries that were most probably made decades after the printing of the genuine stamps. The differences between print­ings of the same issues of the genuine stamps were also elaborated. It is pro­posed, for the first time in philatelic history, the possibility that “Vienna issues” stamps may have been printed on two different papers, and, having in mind the technology of printing in the 19th century, potentially, not even at the same time or in the same printing house.