Q of O: Real or Fake?

Anyone who collects Belgian stamps comes across them often enough: the Red Cross stamps issued in 1914. The series of three stamps depicts 'the statue of de Mérode', designed by the sculptor Josué Dupont. Experts know it well: there are many forgeries of the stamps. First, the series. It consists of three values: 5 centimes, 10 centimes, and 20 centimes, with the same surcharge as the face values. The design and engraving were created by John Mac Donald. He was a representative of the Dujardin firm in Paris, a supplier of copperplate printing presses. As such, he was in contact with the stamp printing office in Mechelen. He supplied a copperplate printing press with a transfer machine and also installed it. By the end of September 1914, proofs could begin on the press. However, on August 8, 1914, the First World War broke out, and operations were halted. Two series were designed by Mac Donald, one featuring the likeness of King Albert I and the other the 'Statue de Mérode'. The typographical clichés for the series with the king were ready, while those for the series with the statue were in the design stage, existing only as drawings. The series were not intended to be issued as Red Cross stamps, but due to the war and the German invasion of Belgium, it was decided to use them for that purpose anyway. The designs were modified by replacing the heraldic lion with a red cross. Production of the stamps could no longer take place and was moved to Antwerp. There, the stamps were printed using lithography by the printing house Jacques Verschueren, Imprimerie de la Bourse, in Antwerp. However, with the fall of Antwerp following the bombardment of October 7, 1914, production of the stamps was halted. Returning to the 'De Mérode Statue' series. The statue stands in Berchem at the corner of Grote Steenweg and Frederik de Mérodeplein and is officially named 'Belgium Free'. However, colloquially, it is also known as 'the Three Drunkards'. The statue was unveiled on August 27, 1905, by Crown Prince Albert on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence. The statue depicts the moment when Count Frederik de Mérode is struck in the right thigh by a Dutch bullet. He is supported by two comrades named Smith and Bourcet. It appears very likely that the statue is depicted in mirror image on the stamp. The catalogue sometimes lists print runs or the number of copies sold. For the 'De Mérode Statue' stamps with an issue date of October 3, 1914, the following figures are known: 5 centimes: print run 150.000, number sold approximately 24.000 copies. 10 centimes: mintage 150.000, approximately 30.000 units sold. 20 centimes: mintage 50.000, approximately 12.000 units sold. And the forgeries? For a layperson, these are quite easy to recognize by the letter Q in Belgique. In most forgeries, this letter appears as an O. So the stamp on the left is genuine and the stamp on the right is fake. Likewise, two fake 10-centime stamps, both unused and cancelled with an Antwerp stamp dated October 7, 1914. Two genuine stamps cancelled at the same time, probably at the request of a collector, on October 6, 1914 in Antwerp. However, one also frequently encounters prints of the town of Baarle-Hertog. After all, this enclave was located in neutral the Netherlands. Prints of this place can also be found frequently on the Red Cross stamps issued on January 1, 1915, featuring an image of King Albert I, printed by lithography at Waterlow Bros & Layton Ltd in London. It seems strange, but impressions from Le Havre, the French city in Normandy in the Seine-Maritime department, also appear. How is that possible? The Belgian government led by Prime Minister Jacques de Broqueville was based in this city, in the Saint-Adresse district, during the German occupation between 1914 and 1918. The Red Cross stamps of 1915 were available there for the first time. As was a stock of the Red Cross stamps from October 1914. Another type of stamp, with the text Ste Adresse, was also in use, as can be seen on the 5 Francs stamp. To conclude, a few forgeries, imperforate on coarse, grey paper. The advice is therefore: should you wish to purchase these stamps, buy them from a trusted dealer or have them assessed first by a recognized expert in the field of these forgeries.