Auction # 58 - Winter 2014 Auction

Worldwide Topicals, (Forgeries) Raoul De Thuin Reference Collection. Interesting assembly of dozens of original intact approval sheets with stamps from an array of countries including Afghanistan, Columbia, Tangier, Trinidad, Paraguay, Mexico, Spain, etc., and original correspondence between Carl Walske and Thuin from 1869 to the mid 1970's giving a fascinating insight to this stamp forger's later years, hundreds of stamps with Thuin handwritten notations, photocopies of his various postmarks and some original tracing (mostly Mexico cancellations) and other documentation including original copies of James Beal The Maya Shop article, photographs of Thuin, etc., ex C. Walske.
Estimate; $3,000 - 5,000.

It is now nearly fifty years since the American Philatelic Society (Maya Shop Fraud Order), exposed the fraudulent activities and forced termination of Mr. de Thuin's activities in Merida, Mexico in 1965. Thuin had developed a vast group of non-genuine cancelling devices, overprint cliches and techniques for fraudulently producing stamps and covers that were present to customers on approval sheets. These included various worldwide stamps with some emphasis on Mexico. His correspondence with collectors was revealing as to the extent of his holdings and productions.

This assembly of material was part of the Carl Walske Collection of Fakes and Forgeries which was sold by us in February 2010 and realized $4,500 hammer.