Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Have you ever looked at a stamp with an unusual cancel and began to wonder if it could be an overprint and NOT a cancel? Well in the case of the stamps issued during the turbulent postal history of the Ryukyu Islands immediately following World War II, an overprint might indeed be what you have.
Following the Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, the Ryukyu Islands administration was shuttled between various offices of the military until the formation of USCAR (United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands) - in order to keep this brief, suffice it to say that this was a period of rapid change on the islands. In the interim before the printing of the first postage stamps printed by the US Government using US currency, the local postmasters had to make do with what they had on hand. Thus, under US military command, the postmasters of the four Ryukyu Gunto governments covering the islands groups of Amani, Miyako, Okinawa and Yaeyama created overprints. The US government authorized these postmasters to issue these stamps and postal stationary using post-war Japan issues. The postmasters made these existing stamps valid for use in the Ryukyus by adding their personal overprint or seal which is known as a “chopâ€. There were numerous different rates and usages in the different regions. This is a rich, complex and fascinating area of specialisation, especially if you like a challenge.
Here are examples of the postmaster's "chops"
Amani
Miyako
Okinawa
Yaeyama;
These were replaced by the regular issues listed in Scotts that we are all familiar with. But if you’d like to add a new level to your Ryukyus collection, consider adding a few of these to your album. You never know - you might have a few already in your Japanese duplicates stockbook. So the next time you’re sifting through those very common Japanese postwar issues, take another look. You may have found a much more valuable provisional overprint. If you find one on cover, you've really hit the jackpot. Good luck, happy stamp sleuthing (stumping or 'specking perhaps?) and I hope you find one! If you do - please share!
Sources;
Scott’s USA Specialized
Wikipedia
John Apfelbaum
Jack Searles
George C. Baxley
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The Ryukyu Islands postmaster's name was Pork.
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Very interesting, Theresa! As a fellow Japanese collector, I had no idea that these existed. I don't think I have ever seen these stamps in my duplicates, but I will be on the lookout for them now!
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I never new that these exsisted. I may have pass up on some of these will never know.
I will check what I have and see if I have any.
Thanks for sharing.
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These postmaster provisionals are listed in the Scott US Specialized Catalog.
Provisional postal stationary exists as do provisional revenues.
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I'd never heard of them. Thanks, Philatelia. I wouldn't mind having a few of those in my collection. I spent several months in Okinawa/Ryukyu Islands training with the Marines before going to South Vietnam. I was pretty much a dumb kid then and didn't know a thing about the Battle of Okinawa, which was the most costly battle in the Pacific in terms of casualties, ships sunk by kamikazes, etc. There was probably a lot of history right in front of me that I didn't recognize. Anyway, about those stamps…
eBay doesn't have any at this time. I found two on the Decampe web site, priced way out of my league at CAN $942.25 and CAN $2261.41 respectively:
A similar situation occurred in Algeria at the end of the Algerian War, in 1962. One difference in the military/political situation in Algeria was that there was no occupying force, because Algerian insurgents won. Following the war, French stamps which had been in use in Algeria after it became a department of France (rather than a French colony) were overprinted "EA" for Estate Algerien. Individual postoffice were permitted to make their own overprint devices, with the result that there are scores, maybe hundreds, of varieties. Here's a sample from my collection:
There a lot of locals printed in postwar Germany, and most likely in many other countries since the Penny Black was invented. But I don't know of any as pricey as those Ryukyu overprints.
Bob
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There is also a handful of revenues on the same Japanese stamps with an overprint like this. They are also quite pricey.
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What a great article!
Thanks for writing this, Theresa!!
-- Dave
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Theresa,
With your permission, I would like to print this out and keep it for personal reference AND keep a copy with my RyuKyu Islands Album!
Wonderful info! Thank you!!
(I LOVE learning this stuff!)
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Why sure you have my permission! I did the same thing - photocopied and put in Japan pages and Ryukyu.
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Hidden gems - A very brief look at the Postmaster Provisional Overprints of Okinawa
Have you ever looked at a stamp with an unusual cancel and began to wonder if it could be an overprint and NOT a cancel? Well in the case of the stamps issued during the turbulent postal history of the Ryukyu Islands immediately following World War II, an overprint might indeed be what you have.
Following the Surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, the Ryukyu Islands administration was shuttled between various offices of the military until the formation of USCAR (United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands) - in order to keep this brief, suffice it to say that this was a period of rapid change on the islands. In the interim before the printing of the first postage stamps printed by the US Government using US currency, the local postmasters had to make do with what they had on hand. Thus, under US military command, the postmasters of the four Ryukyu Gunto governments covering the islands groups of Amani, Miyako, Okinawa and Yaeyama created overprints. The US government authorized these postmasters to issue these stamps and postal stationary using post-war Japan issues. The postmasters made these existing stamps valid for use in the Ryukyus by adding their personal overprint or seal which is known as a “chopâ€. There were numerous different rates and usages in the different regions. This is a rich, complex and fascinating area of specialisation, especially if you like a challenge.
Here are examples of the postmaster's "chops"
Amani
Miyako
Okinawa
Yaeyama;
These were replaced by the regular issues listed in Scotts that we are all familiar with. But if you’d like to add a new level to your Ryukyus collection, consider adding a few of these to your album. You never know - you might have a few already in your Japanese duplicates stockbook. So the next time you’re sifting through those very common Japanese postwar issues, take another look. You may have found a much more valuable provisional overprint. If you find one on cover, you've really hit the jackpot. Good luck, happy stamp sleuthing (stumping or 'specking perhaps?) and I hope you find one! If you do - please share!
Sources;
Scott’s USA Specialized
Wikipedia
John Apfelbaum
Jack Searles
George C. Baxley
14 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
10:57:01am
re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
The Ryukyu Islands postmaster's name was Pork.
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12:07:19pm
re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
Very interesting, Theresa! As a fellow Japanese collector, I had no idea that these existed. I don't think I have ever seen these stamps in my duplicates, but I will be on the lookout for them now!
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01:00:52pm
re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
These postmaster provisionals are listed in the Scott US Specialized Catalog.
Provisional postal stationary exists as do provisional revenues.
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this post
re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
I'd never heard of them. Thanks, Philatelia. I wouldn't mind having a few of those in my collection. I spent several months in Okinawa/Ryukyu Islands training with the Marines before going to South Vietnam. I was pretty much a dumb kid then and didn't know a thing about the Battle of Okinawa, which was the most costly battle in the Pacific in terms of casualties, ships sunk by kamikazes, etc. There was probably a lot of history right in front of me that I didn't recognize. Anyway, about those stamps…
eBay doesn't have any at this time. I found two on the Decampe web site, priced way out of my league at CAN $942.25 and CAN $2261.41 respectively:
A similar situation occurred in Algeria at the end of the Algerian War, in 1962. One difference in the military/political situation in Algeria was that there was no occupying force, because Algerian insurgents won. Following the war, French stamps which had been in use in Algeria after it became a department of France (rather than a French colony) were overprinted "EA" for Estate Algerien. Individual postoffice were permitted to make their own overprint devices, with the result that there are scores, maybe hundreds, of varieties. Here's a sample from my collection:
There a lot of locals printed in postwar Germany, and most likely in many other countries since the Penny Black was invented. But I don't know of any as pricey as those Ryukyu overprints.
Bob
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re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
There is also a handful of revenues on the same Japanese stamps with an overprint like this. They are also quite pricey.
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re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
What a great article!
Thanks for writing this, Theresa!!
-- Dave
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re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
Theresa,
With your permission, I would like to print this out and keep it for personal reference AND keep a copy with my RyuKyu Islands Album!
Wonderful info! Thank you!!
(I LOVE learning this stuff!)
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like this post.
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re: Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
Why sure you have my permission! I did the same thing - photocopied and put in Japan pages and Ryukyu.
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