Today I will describe several contemporary cases from Bulgarian philately that are so outrageous they practically border on what one might call organized criminal groups. These cases involve either the falsification of postal issues or the illicit removal of trial printings that differ from the originals by lacking perforation, being printed on UV paper, missing one or more colors (intentionally), or combining several of these features. Honestly, I sincerely hoped these corrupt practices were left in the past, but unfortunately we are now seeing issues from only 6–7 years ago, which leads to the conclusion that the misconduct and schemes are still going strong.

I will present several examples of falsified issues or illegally removed trial printings from the Bulgarian State Printing Works (BFN), printed after the year 2000.

1. To begin, let us look at the REGULAR issue “New Christian Temples (Churches) in Bulgaria” from the year 2000, catalog numbers 4484–4489.

The issue was validated on September 1 and consists of six postage stamps with perforation 13¾. The print run was mechanically cancelled. During a routine check of listings on eBay, I came across blocks of the 5.00 and 0.65 leva values WITHOUT perforation. A user with the username VERIMACH (I assume everyone knows who this is) is selling them for—note this—USD 295.00 per block, excluding shipping. The listings claim these are official postage stamps of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the photos clearly show a full visual match. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. Let us not forget that regular postage stamps are never withdrawn from circulation and can always be used to pay for postal services.

2. Next, we continue with the REGULAR issue “Roses – Species of Wild Rose Bushes” from 2006.

Validated on January 23, printed with perforation 12¾ in sheets of 10×10 stamps. As of 2009, print runs range from 200,000 for the highest denomination to 6,800,000 for the lowest. What do we find on eBay? The same seller is offering blocks of the 10.00 and 2.00 leva values. Each block is priced at USD 295.00. The listings claim these are official Bulgarian postage stamps, misprinted and printed on UV paper. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. And again: regular postage stamps remain valid for postal use.

3. We now reach the REGULAR issue “Lighthouses on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast” from 2013.

The issue was printed in miniature sheets of four stamps on UV paper with perforation 12¾. What do we find online? Not single miniature sheets, but DOUBLE miniature sheets WITHOUT perforation, printed on UV paper. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. And the same rule applies: regular postage stamps remain valid for postal use.

4. The next issue is the REGULAR “Mushrooms” from 2014.

Validated on February 28, printed in miniature sheets with UV fibers and perforation 13. Online we again find DOUBLE miniature sheets WITHOUT perforation, printed on UV paper. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. Regular postage stamps remain valid for postal use.

5. The next issue is “65 Years of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the People’s Republic of China” from 2014.

Validated on March 14, printed as a miniature sheet on regular paper with perforation 13. Online we find a copy of the same sheet, but WITHOUT perforation. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. The price: USD 295.

6. We arrive at October 23, 2015: the issue “WWF – Eurasian Wolf.”

The issue was printed in miniature sheets, large sheets, and a souvenir sheet. All variants have perforation 13. On eBay we again find listings of these issues printed WITHOUT perforation. Prices: USD 2500 for the large sheet, USD 490 for the small sheet, and USD 295 for the souvenir sheet. Unlike the previous four examples, this is not a regular issue. This means it is already out of circulation and cannot be used to pay for postal services. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. Update: A complete set of full sheets is also being sold on delcampe.net for EUR 2090 by the well‑known Tony Shalev, who—according to unconfirmed information—maintains close connections at the highest levels of Bulgarian philately.

7. Year 2016 – September 13: the issue “Bird Migration – White Stork,” a joint issue with Israel.

Printed in sheets of 3×5. Interestingly, neither the SFD catalogue, nor the FEPRA catalogue, nor the Bulgarian Posts catalogue (on the BP website) specifies the perforation of the issue. However, all catalogue images show perforated stamps. Online we find imperforate sheets printed on UV paper, priced at USD 2500 excluding shipping. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed.

8. REGULAR issue “180 Years of the Church of St. George the Great Martyr in Kavarna,” 2016, catalogue number BK 5244.

Validated on May 5, consisting of one postage stamp with perforation 12¾. The print run includes mechanical security features. During a routine check on eBay, I found a block of this issue WITHOUT perforation. The seller is again VERIMACH, offering it for USD 295 per block. The listing claims these are official Bulgarian postage stamps, and the photos show a full visual match. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed. Regular postage stamps remain valid for postal use.

9. Year 2019 – May 16: the issue “140 Years of Bulgarian Posts.”

The issue consists of one stamp in a souvenir sheet and was printed in two perforated varieties. The first is on regular paper with a print run of 5100; the second is on UV paper without gum, with a print run of 1000, distributed during the anniversary celebration at Kvadrat 500. Online we find a third variant: imperforate, printed on UV paper, priced at USD 950 excluding shipping. After checking the official catalogues and consulting the Ministry of Transport and Communications, it again turned out that no such variant has ever been officially printed.

So much for the factual part. Now a few reflections and conclusions.

From everything described so far, it is clear that the so‑called “error” issues are either unlawfully removed trial printings from the BFN printing works or outright counterfeit postage stamps produced by an unknown individual. Unfortunately, I cannot say which of the two is true until a precise comparison is made between the paper and UV fibers of the originals and the items being offered online at absurd prices. Personally, I find it more likely that these are unlawfully removed trial printings. What leads me to this conclusion?

Several times I have formally requested access to the so‑called “Instruction on the procedures for printing and controlling postage stamps and postal products, their storage, release, supply, sale, and withdrawal from the postal network.” Bulgarian Posts has always refused to provide it, claiming it constitutes a trade secret. Yet this very instruction defines the rules for printing postage stamps and the procedures for ongoing, subsequent, and periodic control of both the employees involved and the process itself. This strongly suggests that these rules are not being followed, that the process is not being properly supervised, and that officials may be removing preliminary trial printings. We might also ask whether the Union of Bulgarian Philatelists has any involvement. Recent developments certainly tilt the scales in that direction.

But what if BFN is not at fault, and the perpetrator is an unknown private individual? That would mean this person somehow obtained UV paper suitable for printing these issues. And here we circle back to BFN, because such paper is extremely difficult to obtain in Bulgaria and very expensive. Bulgarian Posts acquires it through public procurement. If I dig into the records, I can tell you exactly from where and from whom.

Since some of the postal issues in question are regular issues, they can still be used to pay for postal services. As far as I recall, I have seen such cases. What follows from the fact that someone is unlawfully removing trial printings or illegally producing such issues? According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Bulgaria, Section IV – Crimes Against the Monetary and Credit System, it is stated:

Art. 243. (1) Whoever produces counterfeit or alters genuine monetary signs with legal tender in the country or abroad shall be punished for counterfeiting monetary signs with imprisonment from five to fifteen years. (2) The same punishment applies to anyone who counterfeits:

1. tax or postage stamps, and

2. state-issued bonds or other government securities.

3. (new – SG 62/1997, amended – SG 27/2009) payment instruments.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for the remaining issues. For them, a different article of the Criminal Code applies, with lower penalties:

Art. 278b. (1) (New – SG 1/2019) Whoever, with the intent to obtain material benefit for themselves or another, counterfeits a work of painting, sculpture, graphics, or archaeological objects shall be punished with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of two to twenty thousand leva. (2) The same punishment applies to anyone who offers for sale or circulates such works as authentic. (3) Anyone who issues a false expert opinion certifying the authenticity of such works shall be punished with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of three to thirty thousand leva. (4) If the act is committed in the course of commercial activity, the punishment is imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of ten to fifty thousand leva, as well as deprivation of rights under Art. 37, para. 1, item 7. (5) The object of the crime shall be confiscated in favor of the state.

For some of the cases described, I have sent inquiries to the management of Bulgarian Posts and BFN. They are fully aware that this constitutes a criminal offense under the Criminal Code, yet they have not reported it as required, even though the Criminal Procedure Code obliges them to do so:

Obligation of citizens and officials to notify Art. 205. (1) When citizens become aware of a publicly prosecutable crime, they are socially obliged to immediately notify an investigative authority or another state body. (2) When officials become aware of a publicly prosecutable crime, they must immediately notify the investigative authority and take the necessary measures to preserve the scene and evidence. (3) In the cases under paras. 1 and 2, the investigative authority shall immediately exercise its powers to initiate criminal proceedings.

So, dear colleagues and friends — the misconduct in philately continues at full speed. Stay vigilant, keep pushing forward, and may you all remain healthy and well.