I have to start with an apology: I have by no means all definitives of Japan. But will try to give a oversight as good as I can. Japan issued the first stamps in 1871.The first 39 stamps till 1876 are all quite expensive and were forged extensively.There is a big number of varieties, so a collection of these is more than sufficient for the life time of a collector,even if he has the "big money". Of these classics I have very few,shown already in the thread classical stamps. So here just a short version: issued 1873 issued 1875 issued 1875 issued 1875
Koban-issue (old Kobans) issued 1876/77. (part I of 2) Of the 13 stamps of the set I can only show 8.
Upper 3 Sen is one of three values issued 1879 in new colours. The lower three stamps were issued in UPU colours on Jan.1st,1883. Japan joined the UPU in 1877.
"New Kobans" (new colours and additional values), issued May 6th,1892 (3 Sen),March 10th,1888 others. (part I of 2)
Chrysanthemum or Kiku - defintives, issued Jan.1st (2,4 Sen),April 1st,( 5 Rin,1,3 Sen),Oct.1st,1899 (5 Sen). (part I of 3)
Chrysanthemum or Kiku - defintives, issued Jan.1st (10 Sen),Oct.1st,1899 (others). Two different shades of the 15 Sen. (part II of 3)
Chrysanthemum or Kiku - defintives, issued Oct.1st,1899 (50 Sen,1 Yen). Additional values: 1 1/2 Sen blue,issued Oct.1st,1900 1/2 Sen,issued March 27th,1901 1 1/2 Sen lilac,3 Sen carmine,issued May 15th,1906 (a scan of the 1 1/2 Sen will follow) 6 Sen,issued Aug.20th,1907 (part II of 3)
Fron Jan.1st 1900 onwards Japan issued overprinted stamps for their post offices in China and Korea. I own by far not all of them,but will show some nevertheless. Upper overprint is for p.o. in China,the lower one for p.o. in Korea.
Addditional values.The 10 Yen has the smallest printing quantity of all P.O.in China stamps: 5000.Highest is the 3 Sen with slightly more than 14.000.000 overprints.
Just 3 out of 14 stamps issued Jan.1st,1900 for the japanese post offices in Korea.The 1 1/2 Sen has a forged overprint ! The overprints were used till April 1st,1901.From then on,and as concurrently before,japanese stamps without overprints were used till 1949,when Korea was liberated from japanese rule.
Not a definitive,but a commemorative,celebrating the wedding of the later emperor Yoshihito,when crown-prince and princess Sadako. It´s the only commemorative,what was overprinted for use in China and Korea.Shown is the one for Korea,issued April 28th,1900.
In 1913 a new definitive series,the Tazawa-series was inroduced. There were three different designs in this series. Of the first series issued on paper with no watermark,I can only show 6 stamps out of 11. 1 1/2 and 3 Sen were issued on Aug.31st,all other on Oct.31st,1913.
The unwatermarked Tazawas were printed on ordinary white paper and used a very short time only. That explains the relative high prices for used stamps. In May 1914 they were replaced by stamps printed on watermarked granite paper. Japan watermark 1 (Scott 141). The watermark is very easy to detect The watermarked 1 series is a rather complicated one,as it exists from three different plates,issued between 1914 to 1931. Specialists may also go for the many different perforations. (part I of 2) The so-called "old dies",were introduced on May 20th,1914. The size is the same as of the unwatermarked series: 19 x 22.5 mm. The 1 1/2 and 3 Sen also exist as booklet stamps,what are either imperforated on one side or on two corner-sides. Booklet stamps have a rather low catalogue-value but are not that easy to find.Booklet panes,let alone complete booklets are expensive to very expensive.
