HI From California!

Hi everyone - I wanted to introduce myself as a new member of the stamp community. My specialty is classic Japan and Manchukuo (Manchuria) stamps. Anyone who has questions or needs help identifying stamps from these countries I will be happy to try to help, although my "expertise" in Japan starts to fade around 1970. I'm primarily a dealer, satisfying my collecting needs by the stock that flows through my business. Some stock tends to linger a while, not always by design. My interest in stamps began as a youngster, growing up beside my grandfather Constantine, who was a well respected dealer in Japanese stamps. My earliest memories are of the two of us soaking, drying, & sorting stamps to sell, attending local stamp meetings and setting up tables at exhibitions. One year I won 2nd place for my "Birds on Stamps" display, I think I was around 12. Unfortunately, when I reached my late teens I became too cool to work with stamps, until a few years ago when the remnants of his stock were discovered in my grandmother's closet. I hope to be around for a while & I look forward to mingling with all of the collectors here!

Welcome to the forum

Hello tokyostampco, welcome!

Fascinating story, thanks for sharing.

I have avoided older Japan mostly because they seemed to be complicated or hard to learn. Probably all in my mind though.

I googled Tokyo Stamp Co and there is a web site of the same name , is that you?

Hi Puzzler - thanks for the welcome!

Yes that would be me. It's still in its infancy, but growing steadily as I work through stock new and old.

You're right, there is a lot to learn about the pre-1900 Japan stamps - lots of different papers, rife with forgeries and high price tags to deal with. I'm saving those for a rainy day myself. Even some of the later definitives in the 1900's and 30's and 40's can be a little complicated, but the process of discovery is part of the fun, at least for me. You know, I tried to catalog some early US issues I have and that made my head spin.

Hope to see you again soon!

Welcome tokyostampco

Glad you could join us.

Dianne