For over 25 years, producers and sellers of illegal stamps have flooded
the global philatelic markets with their products that imitate those
offered in the name of legitimate postal administrations, usurping their
names and sometimes national symbols. As a result, many naive collectors
fall prey to these clever and sneaky producers and buy, sometimes at considerable prices, imitations of real stamps.

Often only after many years do they realize that they have been tricked
and they blame not their naivety and lack of information, but also the
world of philately in general, which did not help them realize early
enough their mistakes.

Unfortunately, the International Federation of Philately (FIP), the main representative of stamp collectors, preferred to ignore this danger
brought to philately, because its members, much more educated in the
matter, are not directly affected by this worldwide scourge. It
preferred not to "get her hands dirty" with this problem, practically
ignoring the basis of world philately, the beginner collectors.

It was the Universal Postal Union (UPU), an old and reputable
organization that regulates world postal traffic, that was alerted to
the danger, thanks to the complaints of some concerned collectors. Its
first measure was to publish the so-called Circulars of the postal administrations that denounced illegal stamps issued in their name, but
without their consent, and asked the UPU members not to recognize them.
As long as the UPU was actively involved in issuing these Circulars,
their number was rather large and they could represent a valid reference
in recognizing and combating a number of illegal stamps. Unfortunately,
this involvement has dropped to almost zero in the last years...

A second measure of the UPU was the creation and implementation of the
WNS database of legal stamps issued by the member countries of the UPU,
with the result that it would represent a benchmark for collectors from
all countries of the world for the recognition of legal stamps, and
therefore the elimination of other products. Unfortunately, this action,
very expensive, failed miserably, because the WNS was and remained very incomplete and because, essentially, precisely the stamps issued by
developing countries, the main victim of illegal emissions, or lack
thereof, were not published in the WNS.

From the answer of the interview with Mr. B. Combes, the main official responsible for world philately at the UPU, we learn that practically
the UPU gave up its only weapon in the fight against illegals, namely
the Circulars, replacing it with "...collaboration with designated
operators, on more concrete oversight measures that are based on
exchange, discussion and education of all stakeholders." (answer to
question no. 2). It is an unspecified measure, lacking the transparency
of the Circulars and therefore one that escapes any critical evaluation.

The recent re-invigoration of the WNS, whatever its merits, does not
represent a valid solution in the fight against illegal stamps, as we
have shown above, and this despite the new efforts of the UPU to improve it.

Mr. Combes rejected our suggestion expressed in point 5, stating that: "However, I think that we can work just as effectively with our customs partners by pursuing our current course... ". We allow ourselves, with
all due respect, to specify that the "current course" did NOT prevent
the proliferation of illegal stamps and that, as in the case of those
who counterfeit banknotes, only radical measures can become effective,
this considering the maximum profits achievable with minimal efforts,
lacking any risky elements.

Mr. Combes refrained from telling us the extent and financial value of
the losses suffered by the postal administrations due to the unfair
competition of illegal stamps. The reason is not known to us, but it
could be the UPU's ignorance of the losses involved as well as of those
who cause these losses.

This may also be the reason why the UPU is not able to start an action
through INTERPOL, another reason being that the UPU considers only the responsibility of the countries to defend their interests, and not its own.

PWO will continue, with its modest means, through the collaboration with
its members, as well as the organizations and collectors who are
concerned with the problem, to fight against illegal and excessive stamps.

Link to the interview with the philately manager of the UPU: https://www.pwmo.org/Illegals/24-interview-upu.htm#

Victor Manta, PWO

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