Definitive Stamps of Japan

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.

 

Top value of the OLd Kobans is the (rather expensive 45 Sen stamp.
Out of my reach.

 

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)

 

(part II of 2)
Issued March 10th,1888 (20 & 50 Sen),April 28th,1888 (25 Sen,1 Yen).

 

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)

 

The missing 1 1/2 Sen.

 

High values.issued Feb.20th,1908.

 

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.

 

P.O. in China

 

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.

 

Three more of the unwatermarked "Tazawas".Now only the 4 Sen
is missing.

 

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.

 

(part II of 2)