Early Classic Japan Stamps

Japan is located at North Pacific Ocean, east of China. The first Japanese stamp was shown a Pair of Dragons Facing Characters of Value. It was issued on 20 April, 1871 comprised of Plate I and Plate II. There were four face values unwatermarked consists of 48mon brown, 100mon blue, 200mon vermilion and 500mon blue green.

For 48mon, Plate I was consists of solid dots in inner border whereas Plate II was consists tiny circles replace dots; 100mon, Plate I – lowest dragon claw at upper right and at lower left point upward whereas Plate II – same two claws point downward, 200mon, Plate I - Dot in upper left conner whereas Plate II – No dot; 500mon, Plate I - Lower right corner of Greek-type border incomplete whereas Plate II – Short horizontal line completes corner border pattern.

1871 Japan 48mon, Scott #1c Brown on fragment, Plate II - tinny circle replace dots in inner border, unwmk., engrave, imperforate, native laid paper, sound genunie, curious cancellation, Ten Greek-type border with shapes, do not have “sanko’ at left and right of the centre-bottom character, VFU, gorgeous & elusive stamp, SCV $290(M) & $285(U)

The second type was issued in 1872 shows Imperial Crest and Branches of Kiri Tree comprised of ½ sen, 1 sen, 2 sen and 4 sen. Paper native wove or laid paper of varying thickness.

1872 Japan ½ Sen, Scott #9b Brown, native laid paper, Perf. Com. 13, unwmk., MLH, elusive stamp, SCV $67.5(M)

1872 Japan ½ Sen, Scott #9 Brown wove paper, Perf. Com. 9, unwmk., Secret dot at bottom of centre Character, thin paper, VFU, elusive stamp, SCV $21(M&U)

Classic Stamp and Design Classic Stamp

Classic stamp or Design Classic Stamp is purely co-relationship with TIME rather than something has a high quality or standard against which other things are judged.  The Beginner and Advanced Collectors should realise clearly this kind of terminology. Indeed, it’s earned over a period of time that the stamp had been produced as the ideal case as one of the judged point to classify the things. 

The philatelists studies are also involved a study of the classic stamps for many decades. For instance,  1840 GB Penny Black stamp was classified as a Classic stamp.  A classic stamp is a postage stamp of a type considered distinctive by philatelists. However, the term has never been satisfactorily defined, according to L.N. Williams (Fundamentals of Philately 1990).

Basically, there are three meant of classic stamps would be characterised:-

• The Early Classic – early period of stamps production before 1870.
• The Classic Period Extends – stamps issued before 1900 and grace period of usage in the first few years after 1900.
• The Routinely Classic or Design Classic – regards to their design and production quality against particular countries or specialities that have same ability to let us travel backwards through time to a certain era or the classical invokes the past.

In principle, the classic stamp values are worth more than Design Classic stamp. It’s may also subject to a rarity of the stamp. Some of classic stamps have actually gone down in value due to centring and faulty condition.  

On the other hand, the Design Classic stamps are having their owned values and it evoke emotions and makes the heart flutter, but also represents an idea and rouse us. The main reason is a Design Classic stamps are something of timeless values in and of themselves.

There are few samples herewith to be presented how the Classic and Design Classic stamps are uniquely applied in the same envelope:

Combination of Modern Design Classic and Classic One Penny Black (added) on fragment will make entirely different ball game. The Classic Penny Black is worth more than 1000 times from the present value.

Combination nine difference values of Modern and Design Classic Italian stamps from 1953 until 1995, whereas cancellation in 2015 are uniquely applied and allowed by the states of Italian post office in Torino. Gorgeous and Rare.

1960 Pony Express Centennial Issue, envelope white outside and blue inside, 4c Brown, Scott #U543 very uniquely cancelled in 2015, combination with 4 Modern stamps similar face value. A rarity cancellation.

2001 US Pan-American Exposition Invert Stamps, Centennial a design classic stamp, Scott #3505 was applied together with semi-postal stamps.

2015 US Inverted Jenny $2, a Design Classic and elusive stamp.

US 1930  Massachusetts Bay Colony Issue combined with 2000 & 2002 Modern Stamps, unfranked, cancellation 2015.

US 1958 James Monroe a design classic stamp combined with Modern Stamps, Scott #1105, 4 of 2 set stamps have their owned serial numbers. Cancelled 2015.

1923 France surcharge issue, a Design Classic stamp combined with Modern stamp, cancelled 2015.