The Koban Study Group 小判: January 2021

2021-01-29

2021-01-25

JSCA 1876-1908

Superb edition ... colour actual size kobans - paper types and colour keyed.

2020 ended with discovery of several NK87 LITHO fakes ... since D11 TS revealed underprints, I have surveyed many kobans.
the NK87 mihon errors are remarkable also.
NK87 yellow not remarked

2021-01-21

MAEDA new kobans

1894 album

the matrix reminds me of spiro 5x5 plate

note value and sen ...

2021-01-11

SPIRO kobans and Francois Fournier

Since genuine Japanese stamps were printed on a wide variety of native and foreign papers, and recognition and classification of the various types is best reserved for the specialist, a description of the paper types of the forgeries is not a particularly useful criterion of recognition.

The koban issues are quite well perforated 12.5 These creations were recognized as rather poor imitations even at the turn of the century, and it is believed that these Spiro forgeries of Japan are the "Second Choice" facsimiles listed by Francois Fournier in his 1914 price list. This assumption is based upon the fact that Fournier, although frequently blamed, did not himself produce any of the Japanese items in his facsimile lists. His "First Choice" listings included a total of 59 imitations of both hand-engraved and koban issues. These were apparently of Japanese origin since this many varieties were not produced by forgers in other countries.

Spiro Japanese forgeries may be recognized readily and easily by the cancellations which were almost always applied by the manufacturer. An extremely limited number of types of cancellations, only a few of which are found on genuine Japanese stamps, exist on these forgeries. Since the cancels were applied in black ink, more or less at random to entire sheets prior to separation of the stamps, parts of two or more cancels of the same or different types frequently appear on a single stamp. Perusal of the following illustrated descriptive list of the basic types of cancels on the Spiro forgeries of Japan will enable the interested collector to detect these items with a minimum of effort.

1. 2.

Spiro Cancellations A single circle, 22mm in diameter, containing the word "JOKOHAMA". A single circle, 22mm in diameter, containing the word "Nagasaki".