drjoe
**Member** 
Posts: 23
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Post by drjoe on Mar 25, 2022 16:16:50 GMT
 Have these 2 Japan 30sen stamps of the Scott type A5 design. Mystery is that they both have 5 vertical Japanese characters below the chrysanthemum. The originals only have 4 characters. Also there are differences between the 2 including size of characters and shape of the denomination (30) numerals. Does anyone that out there feel comfortable enough with the early Japanese imperial crest issues to help identify the nature of these stamps? Odds are that they are forgeries of an unlisted stamp (fantasy/bogus). Also are there any members "well versed" and knowledgeable in identifying genuine Japan stamps from #1-54A? |
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hdm1950
Member 
Posts: 1,598 
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Mar 25, 2022 16:53:43 GMT
I did no research but my quick guess is that they are a revenue stamp of some sort.
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,456
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Post by khj on Mar 25, 2022 19:16:08 GMT
Mystery is that they both have 5 vertical Japanese characters below the chrysanthemum. The originals only have 4 characters. I know it's hard to tell, but there's actually 6 vertical characters. You correctly noted there should only be 4. The top character indicates it is postal. Revenue stamps will have a different character, and although I don't collect revenue stamps, I believe that none of the Japanese revenue stamps have the "postal" character. I leave that to others to confirm/correct. The extra 2 lower characters appear to be sanko (reference), indicating both your stamps are legal reproductions (at the time they were made). Typically the person reproducing the stamp will try to use the fake cancel to obscure the added inscriptions, as in the stamp on right. I say appear, because the "san" character is slightly different on your stamp from the formal character. I don't know if it is some writing variation/shorthand. Hopefully someone who knows can chime in. |
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drjoe
**Member**
Posts: 23
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Post by drjoe on Mar 25, 2022 19:39:43 GMT
At first I thought 6 characters but then thought 5. Your reply definitely verifies 6. Read yesterday on ISJP isjp.org/introduction/ that the sanko (reference) appears on most of the imitations have 1 of 3 inscriptions with these 2 having the sanko style inscription. Also w. difficulty I see your point re: subtle san difference. Thanks |
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drjoe
**Member**
Posts: 23
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Post by drjoe on Mar 25, 2022 19:50:39 GMT
Shimomura's Japanese Revenue catalog doesn't list these as revenues but member khj pointed out their usage as noted in thread. Thanks hdm50 for the insight. It was worth a look.
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