Dear Friends:

I am re-presenting to you NIGEL GOODING'S Queen Isabella II collection "II", the "II" to denote that this is the re-formatted version of what I added to the site last month. Last November 7, I made the first edit by adding the 1864 Typographed Issue, revised a few pages with a couple of images including this fantastic cover: 1863 February - March Printing Un Real Mixed Franked with 1856 Dos Reales for the Triple Overseas Rate. 

The "II" thing is to emphasize the elevation of the collection to a much higher level, in the same manner to Rick Miggin's Spanish Philippines Surcharged Collection where I teased you first with a few issues then blew you off with the complete collection. Be prepared to be blown away, again! 

On the "Forgery Primer" page I am reproducing the Introduction page of Nigel's latest handbook entitled SPANISH - PHILIPPINE STAMP FORGERIES, Volume I, Queen Isabella II 1854 - 1864 (Surrey, United Kingdom, May 2006). With certainty I will declare that this is the most extensive forgery collection ever assembled. We all must thank Nigel for allowing the Philippine Philatelist to illustrate major parts of his handbook for the benefit of everyone.  One need not be a Spanish Philippines collector in order to appreciate what Nigel has done. Foremost of all is knowing what it is all about. Owning pieces of Isabellas is only second. 

In doing the forgery pages I debated for considerable time on the propriety issue if it was proper or not for me to describe the forgeries or just let the images do the talking in order to protect Nigel's book. Relevant to this is the fact that I am not a Spanish Philippines specialist and Nigel is. I asked myself what right do I have to describe the pieces when many of them I have seen for the first time? If it were USPI or Japanese Occupation or even foreign countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, U.S. postal cards or even Japan First Flights, then I will rightfully share my mind. With Isabella II forgeries, saw a few in the past so I know my limitations.

In the end and mainly for presentation purposes as the pages looked bare without descriptions, I opted to add a few lines of text except on the 1863-64 forgeries for which descriptions taken from Nigel's collection pages. They are not detailed and for this reason I urge you to get a copy of Nigel's handbook.  For a minimal cost you'll learn so much from someone who spent half of his life studying the 1854 - 1864 issues. Don't ever settle for second rate data when you can have the best from a certified specialist. 

Take the time to view the reformatted Isabella issues before going to the forgeries. Before of you open the first forgery page I suggest you bring out, if any, your Isabella II pieces so you can check what you have, genuine and forgery stamp images enlarged for easy comparison. If you're not into Isabellas, take the time to study the issues. If by chance you get to find one in your collection, make the most logical move -- give it to Nigel so he can continue his studies. It is also the best way of keeping these stamps out of circulation.

If you have plans to copy the contents of this presentation please go first to THE COLLECTION page for the very important copyright notice.

Without further ado,  Nigel Gooding's Queen Isabella II Collection, 1854-1864 Issues and Forgeries is just a click away.

Thank you very much

Abraham Luspo, Jr.
Manila, Philippines