Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

KOREA

Corée

1 won = 100 cheun = 100 moun = 1000 rin = 500 poon

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Website on Korean stamps: http://www.pennfamily.org/KSS-USA/fast-index.html

1884 Ying and Yang sign

10 m blue

  5 m red
  10 m blue
  25 m orange
  50 m green
  100 m blue and red

Because of political problems, used stamps are quite rare (forged cancels do exist though!). The stamps have perforation 8 1/2.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 m	**	-
10 m	*	-
25 m	*	-
50 m	*	-
100 m	*	-

Forgeries, examples:

These forgeries can be distinguished right away, this circular cancel with rings was never used in Korea! According to 'Focus on forgeries' by V.E.Tyler, these forgeries were probably created by the forger Kamigata from Tokyo (Japan). He apparently made several forgery sets in order to make his forgeries more deceptive.

A Kamigata forgery of the 5 Mn value of Korea, with circular cancel with "MITATION" which was cancelled once more with some black blotches (undoubtedly to hide the "MITATION" cancel).

Other forgeries:

'2' too narrow. '1' too small. Design primitive. '50' too small '50' and 'Mn' in white color instead of green.

Bogus 2 Mn yellow value.

1895 Ying and Yang symbol, with inscription "KOREA"

5 p green

  5 p green
  10 p blue
  25 p red
  50 p violet

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 p	**	**
10 p	*	*
25 p	**	**
50 p	**	**

Surcharged (1900) with value and korean (left) and chinese (right) signs

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  '1' on 5 p green
  '1' on 25 p red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 on 5 p	R	R
1 on 25 p	R	R

1900 Overprinted with chinese sign (Empire of Korea) in red or black

Black overprint; sorry, for the small size of the image

  5 p green
  10 p blue
  25 p red
  50 p violet

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 p	***	***
10 p	***	*
25 p	***	***
50 p	***	***

1900 Overprinted with chinese sign (Empire of Korea) in red and with additional surcharge
(as above)

Sorry, no image available yet

  1 s on 5 p green
  1 s on 25 p red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 on 5 p	R	R
1 on 25 p	***	***

Surcharged with value (in Korean characters, 1902)

'1' (in corean) on 25 p red, type 1 '2' on 25 p red

  1 c on 25 p red (2 types)
  2 c on 25 p red (2 types)
  3 c on 25 p red (error)
  3 c on 50 p violet (2 types)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c on 25 p	*	*	Type 2: ***
2 c on 25 p	**	**	Type 2: ***
3 c on 25 p	R	R	Only one type
3 c on 50 p	*	**	Type 2: **

Forgeries, note the bad quality of the letters and the flower patterns in the corners:

I have seen this same forgery (50 p) with the black 3 c overprint and also the 5 p with no overprint. The inscription on the 5 p value is '.C POON' instead of '5 POON'.

Other forgeries:

Three forgeries of the 10 p value. The second stamp has 'KORKA' as inscription, in the third forgery, this has been corrected, but traces of the second 'K' can still be found.

I've been told that the next stamp is also a forgery, I have no further information:

1900 Inscription "IMPERIAL KOREAN POST"

Type 1, symbol at bottom Type 2, symbol at center 4 c red

  2 r grey
  1 c green
  2 c blue
  2 c blue (other design)
  3 c red
  4 c red
  5 c red
  6 c blue
  10 c violet
  15 c grey
  20 c brown
  50 c olive and red
  1 W grey red and blue
  2 W violet and green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
2 r	*	*
1 c	*	*
2 c	**	**	Type 1, symbol at the bottom
2 c	***	***	Type 2, symbol in center
3 c	**	**
4 c	**	**
5 c	**	**
6 c	**	**
10 c	**	**
15 c	***	***
20 c	***	***
50 c	R	R
1 W	R	R
2 W	RR	RR

1902 40 years reign of the emperor

The stamp with "SEOUL 8 OCT 02 COREE" might be cancelled to order (I've seen other stamps with exactly the same cancel).

  3 c orange

This stamp has perforation 11.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
3 c	***	**

A forgery of this stamp is described in 'Focus on Forgeries' by Varro E. Tyler. This forgery has the inscription "XI. ANN" instead of "XL. ANN" (the "L" is replaced by a "I").

Primitive forgery with inscription "XI. ANN" instead of "XL. ANN"; also note that the "3"s are totally different. The accent on the "E" of "JUBILÉ" is missing.

According to the book 'Focus on Forgeries' two different forgeries with "XI." instead of "XL." were made by the forger Kamigata of Tokyo (Japan).

Another, more sophisticated forgery also with inscription "XI. ANN" instead of "XL. ANN", the accent on the "E" of "JUBILÉ" is missing. On the most left hand side of the hat, there are only 6 pearls (genuine stamps have 7 pearls there). Also note that the shading to the right of the upper text ornament is different from a genuine stamp (just left to the large "3" in the upper right corner).

1903 Falcon, inscription "POSTES IMPERIALES DE COREE"

(Reduced size)

  2 r grey
  1 c brown
  3 c green
  3 c orange
  4 c red
  5 c brown
  6 c violet
  10 c blue
  15 c brown on yellow
  20 c brown on yellow
  50 c red on green
  1 W violet on grey
  2 W violet on orange

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
2 r	*	*
1 c	**	**
2 c	*	*
3 c	**	**
4 c	***	***
5 c	***	***
6 c	***	***
10 c	***	***
15 c	***	***
20 c	***	***
50 c	R	R
1 W	R	R
2 W	R	R

These stamps were no longer valid after the 1st July 1905. After that date, stamps of Japan were used in Kora

In 1910 Korea was annexed to Japan.

Japanese Offices in Korea

1900 Stamps of Japan surcharged with the word "KOREA" in chinese characters

(Reduced size)

  5 r grey (overprint in red)
  1 s brown (overprint in red)
  1 1/2 s blue
  2 s green (overprint in red)
  3 s red
  3 s red (marriage)
  4 s red
  5 s orange (overprint in red)
  8 s olive (overprint in red)
  10 s blue
  15 s violet
  20 s red
  25 s green (overprint in red)
  50 s brown
  1 y red

Don't confuse these stamps with the stamps of the Japanese offices in China.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 r	*	*
1 s	*	*
1 1/2 s	R	R
2 s	**	**
3 s	*	*
3 s	***	***	Marriage
4 s	***	***
5 s	***	**
8 s	***	***
10 s	**	*
15 s	***	*
20 s	***	*
25 s	***	***
50 s	R	***
1 Y	R	***

From 1901 on the stamps of Japan were used without any overprint, until 1945.

(Stamp of Japan, used in Korea)

Japanese Offices in China

1900 Stamps of Japan of 1899 overprinted with chinese characters in red or black

  5 r grey 
  1/2 s grey
  1 s brown
  1 1/2 s blue
  1 1/2 s violet
  2 s green 
  3 s red
  3 s red (marriage)
  4 s red
  5 s orange
  6 s brown
  8 s olive 
  10 s blue
  15 s violet
  20 s red
  25 s green 
  50 s brown
  1 Y red
  5 Y green (man)
  10 Y black (man)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 r	*	*
1/2 s	*	*
1 s	*	*
1 1/2 s blue	**	**
1 1/2 s violet	*	*	1907?
2 s	*	*
3 s red	*	c	Two shades of red were issued
3 s	***	***	Marriage
4 s	**	**
5 s	**	*
6 s	***	*	1907?
8 s	***	***
10 s	**	c
15 s	**	*
20 s	***	*
25 s	***	***
50 s	***	*
1 Y	***	*
5 Y	RR	***	Also issued with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914?)
10 Y	RRR	RR	Also issued with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914?)

1913 Stamps of Japan of 1913 overprinted with chinese characters

  1/2 s brown
  1 s orange
  1 1/2 s blue
  2 s green
  3 s red
  4 s red
  5 s violet
  6 s brown (1920)
  8 s grey (1920)
  10 s blue
  20 s lilac
  25 s green
  30 s brown (1920)
  50 s brown (1920)
  1 Y green and lilac

These stamps exist on paper without or with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Cheapest types
1/2 s	*	c
1 s	*	*
1 1/2 s	*	*
2 s	*	c
3 s	*	c
4 s	*	*
5 s	**	*	Only with watermark
6 s	***	***	Only with watermark
8 s	***	***	Only with watermark
10 s	**	c
20 s	***	*
25 s	***	*
30 s	***	***	Only with watermark
50 s	***	***	Only with watermark
1 Y	R	*