All the best Articles on Japanese Philately written in English

No one complains the fundamental guideline to start philately is literature.

As the philatelic market in internal Japan used to be big enough for stamp dealers, auction houses, and philatelic publications, they don't give any information in English.

As STAMPEDIA, however, thought it'll be a shrink in the next decade, and it really did, we start publishing a bilingual philatelic magazine called STAMPEDIA PHILATELIC JOURNAL in 2011.

Since then, some changes occur in a certain area of Japanese philately, while the other not. Today I'd like to show all the best articles written in English for Japanese Philately.

What is important is almost all of these articles have been written by the FIP exhibitors by himself, though they're translated by other philatelists except in some cases.




Classical Period 

         The name of the article,     Writer,     The magazine having this article

• Etched Stamps(1871-1876) Shin-ichi Chiba [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2011]
• Iverted 500 Mon Dragon, Where It Came from and Where to Go? Yuji YAMADA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2018]
• “YO” of Egg-brown-6 ; The New Discovery, 7th found Takashi Yoshida [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2012]
• JAPAN Definitive Stamps 1876-1879, Koban Series Mitsuhiro SHITARA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2014]

Semi-Classic Period

• Difficulty of Collecting Blocks of U-Koban & New Koban Series and its Importance Kazuyuki Inoue [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2012]
• JAPAN DEFINITIVE 1899-1908 issue Yukihiro NAKAGAWA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2016]
• JAPAN DEFINITIVES 1913-1937, Tazawa Series Yuji YAMADA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2017]
• Plate Classification of Earthquake Emergency issue, Osaka Printing Tatsutoshi Kamakura [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2015]
• Usage of Early Commemorative Postcards Yasuharu AMANO [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2014]

Modern Period

• Japan Definitives – Highlight for collecting The “Vocational Series” Nobuhiro SUDANI [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2013]
• Japan Definitives 1950-51 “Animal, Plant & National Treasure 1st series” Haruna Yamaji [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2012]
• Making of 10 Yen Japanese Deer Stamp Design Toru SAI [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2014]
• Entire of A Proof Masato Inoue [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2011]

Ryukyu

• Ryukyu Stamps Collection(Mainly Provisional Stamps) Tsukasa Ishizawa [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2011]
• Study of Ryukyu Provisional Dollar Issue Yusuke KIDO [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2018]

Military Mails

• Tips for Collecting Military Mails of the Sino-Japanese War Jun-ichi TAMAKI [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2014]
• The RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR Kenneth G. Clark [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2012]

Postal History

• Postal History of the Japanese Prompt Delivery Kenzaburo IKEDA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2013]
• Recent Topics on Studies Concerning the Japanese Postal History of Prompt Delivery Kenzaburo IKEDA [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2017]
• Postal History of Printed Matters in Japan Kunihiro GYOTOKU [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2013]
• Overview of International Mails at Reduced Rate 1947-1959 Tomoyuki IWASAKI [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2016]

Marcophily

• Roman Letter Machine Cancellation of Japan, Its Overview and Rare Examples Takashi Yoshida [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2015]
• "ADVERTISED" Candellations in Japan - from Early Double-Circle Type to Oval Type Tomoyuki IWASAKI [Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2017]

Eight years has passed

It has been eight years since I last posted, and I enjoyed philately a lot, by meeting new friends and old friends at various stamp exhibitions during the period.

I used to be a general collector, but I became specialized in classic Germany and Switzerland nowadays and exhibited several times on the globe. I also build a new philatelic society in Japan to promote philately.

So with resuming my blog, I'd like to change the theme of this blog to promoting Japanese philately. Though I'm not a specialist of Japanese philately, I can introduce many Japanese top philatelic topics, because I'm a publisher of STAMPEDIA PHILATELIC JOURNAL.

Japan is one of the most interesting countries to collect stamps and making collections, however, no literature has been published before the publication of the STAMPEDIA PHILATELIC JOURNAL.

It's not easy for a philatelist whose mother tongue is not Japanese to collect Japanese stamps, as there are only a few works of literature in English.

All color bilingual philatelic magazine; STAMPEDIA PHILATELIC JOURNAL. changed this situation, as it's written both in English and Japanese.

However, digital method is also selected to promote the fascination of Japanese philately with a more flexible way to tell the information.

Soaking Japanese etched stamps and telegraph stamps

I've not soak almost any stamps since I re-start philately as there're many off-paper stamps on sale on the stamp market, however sometims I have to do soak for example when I found some of Thurn&taxis mint block are sticked to the other block or when I found Japanese old stamps with ugly backside with hinge or old papers.
So whenever I try soaking, I'm very serious because I do it with not cheap stamp but with stamps valued around $10 and more.

The shown is Japanese telegraph stamp 15 sen issued in 1885. which was with dirty backside before the soaking. It was in bad condition, however I'd like to hold it to check the manufacturing point. Yes I got interested in Japanese etched stamps recently.

 

EUROPEX 2013 held in Tokyo on Jan.19-20 2013

We're going to have  First Europe Stamp Exhibition during 19th and 20th Jan. 2013.

This is a non-competitive stamp show of European Stamps which we host annualy and this is the first time. The theme of the exhibition of this year is the Black Sea and Stamps of 7 countries around the Black Sea are exhibited such as Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.

 

I've been opening the stamp market.

Today I opened a stand at a stamp fleamarket at Asakusa, Tokyo and sell Stampedia Philatelic Journal, both edition of 2011 and 2012.
I heard from my friends Mr.Yosuke Naito that literatures are not popular in this fleamarket, however I sold more than ten copies in three hours, so I'm happy with the result.I appreciate all the people coming to our stand and get our magazine.
There're some people who only buy last year edition as he bought this year edition this month. So I feel it is important to publish such kinds of philatelic magazine continuously. Of course we'll publish 2013 EDITION to make you satisfy.

Stampedia Philatelic Journal gets Vermail at SHARJAH 2012 FIAP show.

We'd like to report that "Stampedia Philatelic Journal" gets Vermail at the literature division of the SHARJAH2012, FIAP show, held in UAE.

Though we got the same medal at PHILANIPPON2011 last summer, we're very happy to have this medal as it is held far from Japan. 

We're going to exhibit it at those exhibition; All Japan Stamp Exhibition 2013, Australia2013, Bangkok2013, Brazil2013 and Japex13.

I think we could improve our level by getting some advice of the judges. 

Mini stamp show of JP occupied area in S.E. asia

We'll have a mini stamp show of JP occupied area in S.E. asia during 21st and 23rd Nov. 2012 at Stamp museum in Mejiro, Tokyo.
I exhibit 3 frames (48 leaves) this time and as it is not a competition based on FIP rule, I make the exhibit work as I like to show by myself.The title means "the stamps overprinted later in JP occupied area in S.E. asia" and I showed all the stamps but 10 missing in mint condition. I also showed the overprinted stamps but as there're too many varieties, I only showed some of them.
I'll be in the mini stamp show on 23rd, why not come to our show? I'll exhibit this work on stampedia exhibition soon, however I'd like to show some leaves here.

We've finished the domestic stamp show in Japan

Last weekend, we had a domestic stamp show called JAPEX and it was 6th times since I re-started philately. I spent boring time there in the first 4 years as I do only catalogue general collection but traditional philately and no exhibit, no philatelic friend in Japan, no interest on auction houses which deals no world stamps but Japan. I spent , however, very busy days last year and same this year.

It is because my philatelic level of knowledge and people goes up than before. I'm happy with it of course. But I also think this is why philately get fewer and fewer new comers every year.

During the period of the show, Mr. Sumihide Ito, a famous collector of Japanese definitives, Showa series were near his exhibit and give a paper and talk to the people seeing his collection. I'm very happy to hear his talk and knowledge as it is very smart and I got interested in this series. I don't think it easy to do the same thing for all the exhibitors, however. I also understand the exhibition is based on the FIP rule and what i most important is to appeal to the judge but the visitors. What I'd like to say is there're something which shoud be done without breaking the FIP rule to appeal to the ordinary visitors such as providing papers, movies and audio guidance. These technology has already been used at the general museums and otherwise they can not catch new visitors who feels happy becuase they can understand it. I like both of Japex and All Japan Stamp Show and appreciate the comittee, however I'd like to do something more to appeal to the ordinary visitors.

By the way, the shown is a parcel front of 1888-92 Japan definitive 1 Yen, the highest value of the series. I'm making general Japan definitive cover collection and this is one of the difficult stamps, however I got it at the starting price at Japan Stamp Auciton held during the show this time. I'm happy because I got it cheaper and not block the other specialist of this series.

Condition can be better-than-expected Japanese visual stamp catalog!

"Visual Japanese Stamp Catalogue Vol.1 Commemoratives 1894-2000" is newlly published by JPS.
I think it's a very nice literature, though it is not on sale at Amazon.com.
It cost only 1,470 yen = 15 Euro, howerer it is A5 size 310 pages Full color.
It's very cheap when you compare it with Gibbonz Great Briatin Concise Catalogue which cost around 30 pound.
 

Visiting the music Stamp Exhibition (Oct..27th, 2012)

It's around the end of October, however this is the first time to write a blog this month as I've been so busy preparing and editing "The Stampedia Philatelic Journal 2012".

Well now I've returned to my daily philately and I've been to the Music Stamps Show this weekend. It was not a competition and small exhibition. I didn't know Mr. Onuma, my friend in thematic philately is the chairman of this music stamp society until I visit this time. He exhibited 2 frames collection of traditional philately, German stationeries of Beethoven, which is also used for single stamps such as 8 pfenniges issued in 1927. According to Micheel, there're 73 kinds of this stationeries issued, so I feel Mr. Onuma will exhibit them at some competition in the future. 

I've got also interested in Mr.Nakadate's work ”Overture 1812" which tells a story of Napoleon's life and I spent more than half a hour to see this work.

 

 

Is it common among US modern stamps?

These two stamps shown come from one lot of covers. The red ink of the right stamp is out of allignment. Can you see it? 
I think such gap is rare among Japanese modern stamps, however I feel common among US stamps. How do you think ?

What I got at the Bazaar in Osaka (Japan Stamp Auction)

I've been to Osaka for one night to participate in the Jpana Stamp Auction. Because I usually use overseas auction houses, I bid mainly on telephone but little going to the auction room. But recently I change my mind to participate in the auction room as much as possible. The reason is I realised the auction room is, especially that of the Japan Stamp Auction, hub for the philatelists in this area, I mean west side of Japan. It is a wonderful chance for me to meet many philatelists of various specialities. It cost me around 600USD to visit Osaka from Tokyo including one night stay, however I like the chance to meet many philatelists as I'm new to philately.

I can meet many philatelists there this time and they advise me and I feel interesting talking with them. Thank you very much. By the way besides bidding in the auction, there are some dealers and philatelists selling stamps like Timbre de Marche in Paris. I got many international covers before the WW2, however what I'd like to show today is panda stamp. This stamp was issued in 1982 and the first Japanese stamp depicting Panda. As I like this stamp, whenever I find it, I bought all of them! Some day I'd like to exhibit thematic collection of Panda!

Fireworks

I don't think it's very hot in Tokyo this year and here we have many fireworks events. As you know, there're several Japanese stamps depicting fireworks and I love them. We also have new fireworks stamps this year and I'd like to show the used EXPRESS example here.

Furusato stamps Local festival 8th series "Tenjin Matsuri" ( one of two se-tenants) issued on June 15th, 2012.

Post; Aug. 3rd 2012 / Numazu-Nishi 

Arrival; Aug. 4th 2012 /  Akasaka

 

97 HONG KONG WILL COME BACK TO CHINA .... What's this?

What I'm now studying is these Chinese commemorative sheet. The set contains five sheets and each has the number such as Hong Kong J97.111 5-1 but they are not stamps. I found there're  some examples in Chinese net auctions but there are no more information there. The set of five is sold at 15 RMB equal to around 2 USD. What is important for me is what it is.... If you know what it is, please give me some comment!

Japan Postal Cards Collection

It is not so easy collecting postal stationeries when I was in Jr. high school as there are no net-auction and stamp flea market those days. Of course there were some stamp show and some dealer provided those stationeries at the higher costs than the price shown on the catalogues. I can seldom get them.
The shown below are what  I get at the flea market in Tokyo last Saturday. It cost me 4USD for all (50cent per each), though the catalogue price is 12USD. They're on sale without thinking varieties of cancellation, so it is possible to make a nice collection of post cards without paying too much.
I know there are some examples with special cancellation of the trial machine cancellation and so on, however I'd like to complete it with normal cancellation at first.

Summer greeting cards and other stationery time of elementary and junior high school students, was curious in a colorful picture book reading only the hole and Japan stamp colors. Where is it at the time I also intended to collect? I did not know. I did not even online auctions, but it was not mentioned in hand with value significantly greater than the catalog value, etc. Although you will see occasionally JAPEX.
Below is a Japanese stationery, recently found a sheet from a bunch of 50 yen stamp on the market. The catalog is $ 1,200 cherry evaluation does not depend only eight so 400 yen. Because the 50 yen mark the type of uniform in spite of New Year's date and, if you pick up a decent collection, use your head. It becomes high type or special handling Hitachi enters, in the range you can buy for $ 50 a piece, I wanted to try to complete a little.

Movie of Stampedia Exhibition

 

We prepared this movie for the last PHILANIPPON2012. I'd like to show it again here. Click the triangle!

If I were a Jr. high school student, I can make a nice collection with using Stamp Flea Market.

Yesterday I went to the stamp fleamarket in Ikebukuro. I bought many covers (cost 50cent -1 USD per each) but paid only 30-40 USD at most. When I buy stamps at stamp flea market, all I need is time but money. It is really interesting finding nice material from mountains of covers, however I can keep doing at most one hour now and this time I gave up doing it after 90 min. working!! It's more fun talking with friends in a cafe nearby.

When I was in Jr. high school students, there are no stamp flea market in Tokyo. If there were such a flea market those days, I believe I could make the better collection in my childhood. So I think the philatelic situation in Tokyo is especially fantastic for the younger philatelists now, however, there were no child philatelists in the fleamarket yesterday as usual...  

Making of Stampedia

 

We prepared this movie for the last PHILANIPPON2012. I'd like to show it again here. Click the triangle!

 

JAPAN, FDC of bilingual machine cancellation

As I've been to the west-Japan, it's been a time since I write a last blog. I'm happy I  wrote 21 blog spots last month! Well by the end of July, I've finished writing articles for some philatelic magazines and decided to apply some intenational exhibitions. I'm going to exhibit my Swiss collection for the upcoming exhibition and I think it'll be accepted as it is a first time I exhibit that work at an international show, so I have to study more and more from now on. I have fun with studying plate position, classification of papers and stampless covers.

By the way, the shown is what I get recently as my sub collection of bilingual machine cancellation.I'd like to make an exhibit work on this cancellation some day. TOKYO Dec. 1, 1968. The first day cancellation.

How to classify Strubel (1) 2 Rappen, 1 Franc

The classification of Strubel has changed since Mr. Urs Hermann's study was published in 2005 and I think this will be the new standard. I'm trying to classify my Strubels once again with this information.
2Rappen
As this stamp was issued 3months before the new series come, there are no variety in manufacturing point. When I see my stocks together, however, it seems there are some difference in shade. I think this is because of Glue burns, so I should confirm it. Unfortunately I have no used 2rappen.

You  can classify 1Franc  into three. One is with silk thread black, the othe with silk thread yellow and the last one with thin paper.The last one is very rare and the catalogue price is 10,000CHF, but I found one at some accumlated collection.(See the second line below.) It has little margin and cut in unfortunately, so the valuation is not so high as 10,000CHF, I'm happy to have one and I like getting acumlation as I can get such a rarity with cheap cost and knowledge.
By the way, all the stamps  I see have  black silk thread and no yellow one. There are two stamps at the third line below and they have no silk thread and cna't classify, but the shade of the first stamp in the first line and the first stamp in the last line is different and I think this is also because of the glue burns. How do you think about it?