zen and the art of the koban ... or, zeitgeist and the gestalt view.

  

posts here reflect research into art history, the history of print and my personal studies of imitations and foreign mail kobans.

From 1871 until 1876 all Japanese stamps were engraved,

whereas many of the forgeries are traditional woodblock , waxed-copper plate etched or lithographed. Wadas are well done, but usually the paper, perforations weak , engraved design is slightly elevated on the face, while in the typographed stamps it is recessed.. Lithographed stamps are perfectly smooth.   

Japanese kobans 1876-92   -  the first bilingual  issues of the "Imperial Japanese Post" .

Edoardo Chiossone of Italy designed most, but not all the issues... 

Chiossone taught at Technical Art School in Tokio - 1876-1881.  closed 1883. ... I have often pondered if some of the students produced the facsimiles ... 130 woodblock artists were active - 1860-1875 ; however,  modern artviews were developing in japan and elsewhere ... as well, competition for newer printing technologies :  relief printing was infringing on traditional woodblock and serigraphy.. the camera allowed for photo-lithography.   this boosted postcard trade shops ...  the 1923 earthquake destroyed chiossone's workshop and records ...

philately and postal history advanced with illustrative artists, publishers and catalog makers.   governments claimed the artists were forgers, misinterpreting their contribution to philately.