South Korea the Hwan-periode (1953-1962)

In the closing-phases of the Korean War the government of South-Korea
introduced a currency-reform on Feb.14th,1953.
100 Won (1946-52) became one Hwan (no subdivision).
All stamps in Won-currency were demonitized.

First Hwan-definitives,issued April 5th,1953

 

Air-mails,issued April 5th,1953;
Same design,but in different colours as the Won-denominated set,
issued Oct.15th,1952.

 

Red Cross,issued Aug.1st,1953; (the Korean War was not over yet)

 

Y.M.C.A. 50th anniversary,issued Oct.25th,1953

 

definitives issued April 16th (10,30 Hwan),April 1st,1954 (others);

 

The first 126 souvenir sheets of South-Korea,issued between 1948 -1958
range from expensive to very expensive.Only the 1952/52 series of 22
s.s.,honoring the allied countries of the Korean War,is quite affordable
with less than $ 1000.- for the set.
I own just one of those early s.s.:

Issued 1954,I bought it for my butterflies collection.I think it
is the s.s. of this thematic with the smallest print: 500 s.s.

 

Air-mail stamps on watermarked (curved lines) paper,
issued July 1st,1954.

 

Thank you sir for the wonderful Korean stamp information and exhibition !

 

Thank you Michael ! I´m glad you like the thread.



Tok To-Islands definitives,issued Sept.15th,1954.

 

World-Forestry-Congress (in Dhera Dun,India !),issued Dec.12th,1954.

 

Issued Dec.25th,1954,the stamps show presidents Rhee and
Eisenhower shake hands.

 

"Reconstruction" definitives (first series,wmk.curved lines),
issued Oct.19th (20 Hwan),Feb.10th,1955 (others).
The 20 Hwan is one of the most expensive stamps of Korea, - in
mint condition (Michel € 2000.-),while in used condition the catalogue
value is affordable € 20.-.

 

Rotary´s 50th anniversary,issued Feb.23rd,1955.

 

President Rhee´s (1875 - 1965) 80th birth-anniversary,
issued March 26th,1955.
Like many early stamps of South Korea the stamp also exists
imperforated.(And also issued in a souvenir sheet.)

 

10th anniversary of liberation from japanese rule,
issued Aug.15th,1955."Gate of Independence"

 

Definitive similar to the one shown in post #1,but in different (darker)
green and KOREA in latin letters omitted (among other changes),
issued Oct.19th,1955.

 

36th National Athletics Games,issued Oct.23rd,1955.

 

United Nations Organization 10th anniversary,issued Oct.24th,1955.

 

definitives,issued Feb.10th (20 H.),Oct.19th (15,50 H.) Nov.1st,1955
(100,200 H.)
From here on most stamps,what were issued till the end of 1956,were
issued on laid paper.
Laid paper is actually a kind of watermark.As it is difficult to be seen
on a scan,here an illustration from a catalogue:

The shown pattern,with vertical stripes is the normal variety on
korean stamps.However some were also printed on horizontal laid
paper as well.
For many years prices for both types were not much different.
But roughly a decade ago,the prices for horizontal laid specimen
"exploded".Prices for most are now 10-20 times higher,than for
vertical laid ones.
From the above set only the 20 H.exists in both varieties.
Michel lists it € 15.- vertical laid and € 180.- horizontal laid.

 

10th anniversary of the (south) Korean Navy,issued Nov.11th,1955.
The stamp shows ships of the Korean 16th century fleet,wiht a
so called Turtle-Ship in the foreground.
To the left there is a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin (1545-1598),
Korea´s most revered national hero,commander of the Korean fleet during the 1592-1598 Japanese invasions.