Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Imperial Japan Tazawa Stamp and Tayū of Shimabara

IMPERIAL JAPAN postage stamp from the Tazawa series, issued between 1913 and 1925. This one has a denomination of 1½ sen. The Tazawa series was known for its intricate designs and was printed on granite paper. 

This is a postcard from 21 March 1917, addressed to The China Strawbraid Export Company, Mr. Fernand Leconte in Tianjin, China, was posted by  Kursu Yanagimoto in Nagasaki, Japan.

The message reads, according:

"Dear Mr. Leconte:

"This is to tell you that I arrived quite safely.

"I am sending you the promised postcards under separate cover.

"My best compliments to Mrs. Leconte. Thanking you for the past courtesies.

Kursu Yanagimoto"

Tayū (太夫) of Shimabara was a highly respected courtesan and entertainer, the highest-ranking woman in Kyoto's Shimabara district, a licensed pleasure quarter during Japan's Edo period.

They underwent rigorous training in numerous traditional Japanese arts, including the tea ceremony, kōdō (incense ceremony), ikebana (flower arrangement), calligraphy, poetry, dance, singing, and playing instruments like the koto. 

This extensive training and cultural knowledge allowed them to command high prices and, notably, to refuse clients. 

Today, the "Tayū" title is sometimes associated with the highest rank of geisha, and Shimabara remains a historic hanamachi (geisha district), though with a very small number of practitioners today.

Nippon Post

NIPPON POST cover with four stamps, of which three depicted artwork by Japanese artists. 

- "Woman in a Blue Kimono" by Okada Saburōsuke was issued in 1983 as part of a series showcasing famous Japanese art. The stamp has a denomination of 60 yen. 

 - "Rafu" by Kagaku Murakami (1888-1939) carried a 50 yen denomination.

- "Black Fan" by  Fujishima Takeji (1867–1943) was created between 1908 and 1909. This oil on canvas was considered a masterpiece in Fujishima's time when exhibited in Rome. The stamp carried a denomination of 50 yen. 

- The Amur adonis flower, known as Adonis amurensis, is a perennial plant native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East. In Japan, it is called "Fukujusō," which means "fortune-longevity-plant" and is considered a symbol of happiness and good luck. It carried a face value of 10 yen. 

The postmark features Kochi Castle, a woman in traditional attire, and a mountain, which are all symbols of Kochi Prefecture. It was dated "58. 4. 9" during the Japanese Showa era, corresponding to 9 April 1983.

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Saar Protectorate "Souvenir du Maréchal Ney, Saarlouis et environs"

SAAR PROTECTORATE, a region that was under French control after World War II (1947–1956), issued a stamp depicting a monument to Marshal Ney. 

This stamp, with 84 Pfenning (later issues valued at 20 France) was affixed to a postcard dated 24 August 1947 commemorating an event in Saarlouis, Germany, related to Marshal Ney who was from this city. 

The postcard was issued by the "Souvenir du Maréchal Ney, Saarlouis et environs" organisation for the handover of a flag by Governor Grandval on 24 August 1947, during the St. Louis festival. The proceeds from the sale of the postcard were slated to cover the costs of the festival.


Thursday, October 2, 2025

Commemorative Postcard "First Meeting of German Shortwave Amateurs after the War in Stuttgart"

COMMEMORATIVE POSTCARD for the "First Meeting of German Shortwave Amateurs after the War in Stuttgart" held on 7-8 June 1947.

The postcard featured an illustration of presumabl Stuttgart, with radio equipment and antennas.

The text "Hams always come back" and "Der alte Ham-Spirit lebt noch!" (The old Ham-Spirit still lives!) reflected the resilience and passion of German amateur radio enthusiasts after World War II.

The locked cage with vacuum tubes and the question "Wer hat den Schlüssel?" (Who has the key?) likely alluded to the challenges and restrictions faced by German amateur radio operators in the immediate post-war period.

The reverse side of the card is identified as a "Tagungs-Festpostkarte," which translates to "Conference-Festival Postcard," suggesting it was issued for this specific amateur radio gathering.

The card was "Herausgegeben vom Veranstalter" (issued by the organizer) WBRC, located at Stuttgart, Neue Weinsteige 5.


Affixed to the postcard is a 24 Pfennig stamp depicting Heinrich von Stephan, a key figure in German postal history.

The circular postmark indicates "Stuttgart",  7-8.6.1947. It also mentions "deutscher Kurzweil Amateure Württ-Bad. Radia-P," suggesting this particular amateur radio event was held in the Württemberg-Baden region.

Background 

In July 1947, this shortwave conference was held in Stuttgart, attended by around 500 radio amateurs from all over Germany, giving amateur radio a significant boost there. 

Clubs were gradually authorised in other parts of Germany as well. First, the Hessian Radio Club (HRC), modeled on the Stuttgart model (even American officials considered this a precedent), then the Bavarian Amateur Radio Club (BARC), and finally the German Amateur Radio Club/British Zone (DARC/BZ). The radio operators in the French Zone had to wait until 1949, those in the Saar region until 1951, and those in the Soviet Zone until 1952 (this is a reminder for GDR nostalgics). 

An important culmination of this development was the founding of the DARC (without any additions) in the fall of 1950, into which the aforementioned clubs and their members were integrated over time.

Royal Mail Cover Stamps

ROYAL MAIL cover stamps received from a fellow stamp collector. Stamps on the envelope include:

- A  First Class Christmas stamp featuring a stained-glass the nativity.

- Alice in Wonderland stamp showing a scene with the Red Queen and Alice, with a value of "63".

- A stamp of "No. 92220, Evening Star" and "BR-Class F" steam locomotive, likely a British Railways Class.

- A stamp commemorating Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday, with the text "44", featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

- A stamp showing British TV cartoon "Dangermouse", with a value of "43".