Modern technology is such that a back street handstamp maker needs only a photocopy or a computer print-out and the simplest of equipment and premises in order to make an accurate canceller. In addition to this, so many genuine Cyprus cancellers, from old to new, are unaccounted for, that it would not be surprising if some had found their way into the hands of people who might be tempted to misuse them. These problems must apply to postmark collecting in general, and they have spoilt an intriguing aspect of philately.

As for incentive - high prices are now often paid for loose stamps with good and collectable postmarks, but in Cyprus during the 1950s little or no premium was charged for a stamp with an unusual cancellation.  At an auction in 1992, the following prices were obtained:-

VR Ay Elias £525, VR Ora £90, and a block of six stamps with VR Karpas fetched £250.

A few forgeries are very poor attempts and are easy to spot, but others are very accurate indeed and only by detailed comparison letter by letter and checking relative positions do differences sometimes become apparent. In some cases it is impossible to be certain which of these really are forgeries, the fine detail seen in postage stamp printing does not apply to an impression made with an ill-treated canceller and a messy ink pad.

An important indicator is the appeal to normality - if an item has been considered by long-standing specialist collectors as being rare for fifty years and then a number of them appear for sale, if an item appears in prime condition when all that has been seen previously is a barely legible smudge, if an item is seen on a stamp value that was not the standard rate of postage for the period, then suspicions ought to be aroused. Be wary of stamps that are not of the current internal rate. Clear, upright and centred strikes are very uncommon in normal use and should be treated with caution.

AKANTHOU

London Proof Book

Forgery

Fonts differ, points to note are the horizontal bars of the two A’s and the K’s. The genuine postmark has not been recorded on the 1892 stamp, but it is seen on the 1896, KE and the 1912 issues. Castle scarcity D.

AVGORA

London Proof Book

Forgeries

Just look at how the two V’s sit on top of each other. Castle scarcity C.

ASHA

London Proof Book

Forgery

Once again, look at the relative positions of the V and the S. Forgery also seen on a KE 
and a KGV stamp .Castle scarcity B.

AY ELIAS

London Proof Book

Forgery

The village name is in smaller print and there should not be a full stop after AY. Castle scarcity E

ORMIDHIA

London Proof Book

Forgery

Fails the ‘V’ test. ORMIDHIA is in slightly taller font. Forgery also seen on an unaddressed newspaper wrapper. Castle scarcity D.

LIONARISSO

London Proof Book

Forgery

V over the A in the genuine article; V over N in the forgery.Other forged examples seen including a strike on a QV ½ piastre ps card.Castle scarcity C.

 NISOU

London Proof Book

Forgery

Same old problem, the V of the genuine copy is the space between the I and the S, in the forgery it is above, or perhaps even slightly to the left of the I. Forgery also seen on QV. Castle scarcity E

PERISTERONA MOR
There are at least two different forgeries of this cancellation:-
 

London Proof Book

Forgery 1

Forgery 2

Forgery 1 was reported in the Cyprus Circular Post in 1986. It was submitted to Harmers of London to be sold for someone in Cyprus. It is a particularly inept attempt, without going into more details, look at the P’s of PERISTERONA and then the pair of brackets around MOR. 
Forgery 2 is much better, but consider the line spacing between PERISTERONA and MOR. 
Three forgery 2 copies have been seen and others reported on KE and KGV. 
Castle scarcity E.

POLEMI

London Proof Book

Forgery

Here is the V problem again – the V is nearly over the L in the Proof Book copy, but is much more over the O in the forgery. Castle scarcity B.

OTHERS ON MY BLACK LIST:-

KYKKOU MON, LITHRODONTA and MORPHOU have been reported, but not seen.

There are 33 VR RURAL SERVICE cancellers recorded in the London Proof Book and it would not be surprising to find that they have all been forged, bearing mind what has been said above about the ease with which this can be done.