To Professor Petar Pfendt, In calidum, et plurium retributivus memoriae: FT IR ATR analysis of post stamps of Principality of Serbia issued in 1866 and 1868 and their forgeries: Scientific paper

In order to further define the potential use of FT IR ATR, as a non-destructive and reliable technique, for the analysis of characteristics of post stamps, certified originals of Principality of Serbia stamps (“Prince Michael issues”) issued in 1866 and 1868 as well as their forgeries were analyzed. Spectra enabling comparison of stamps paper, dye and glue 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 has been shown that applied technology is, in most of the cases, fast and suitable technique establishing clear differences between the spectral characteristics of paper and dye used for original stamps, and forgeries that were most probably made decades after the printing of genuine stamps. The differences between printings of the same issues of genuine stamps were also elaborated. It has been proposed, for the first time in philatelic history, a possibility that “Vienna issues” stamps may have been printed at two different papers, and, having in mind the technology of printing at 19th century, potentially, not even at the same time or at the same printing house.