Sakura

I find Sakura very useful even if it is mainly in Japanese. I rely on the illustration which Scott's don't always have. Overall, a nice reference book for Japanese stamp collectors.

Agreed! The specialized/local Asian country catalogs are very useful because they are fully illustrated. Scott often only provides a picture of one stamp from the set, and on stamps of the latter half of the 20th century, it's hard to figure them out purely by color. I mean seriously, how am I supposed to know what Blah-Blah costume looks like compared to Dis-Dat costume?

Unfortunately, I haven't found an inexpensive source for Sakura catalogs in the US. Some sell fairly cheap, but their shipping rates are higher, so it comes out the same in the end. I'd settle for an older version, but they don't come up for sale in US very often.

If anyone needs any shortish Japanese text from Sakura or other Japanese sources translated, I'll be happy to help. I don't have Sakura myself (don't collect Japan, but I do translate Japanese for a living), so you'll need to post good big, clear scans.

Kim, try this ebay listing. With your knowledge of Chinese stamps, I'm sure you've heard of Michael Rogers, the seller of this 2008 edition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SAKURA-CATALOGU...350396751511

I have a 2010 copy - the cover of that one features some cats, and there are a number of cat stamp articles at the front of the catalogue. Evidently they were anticipating the rise of Japanese cat star Maru, the KING OF ALL INTERNET CATS (as decided by the readers of urlesque.com).

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/08/12/...winner-maru/

Ryan

Thanks for the tip Ryan! Yes, I'm familiar with Michael Rogers. Oddly enough, their price for the 2008 catalog actually went UP $2 from last year when I was searching for a Sakura! I didn't buy it then (I'm a real cheapskate; besides I don't have enough room for too many additional catalogs).

I saw the 2010 cover last year while searching -- thought I was looking at a toy store catalog cover at first! Now I know the background behind the cats -- thanks! I recall the cover price was something like ¥800, which is an amazingly low price for such a catalog -- it would cost basically that much to mail one overseas!

Also hoping to get the more expensive JSCA one day.

That's one I don't see showing up used too often. I found a 2005 edition a while back, that's the best I've been able to do. Unfortunately (for me), it has extremely limited English usage - the index is in English and so are some colour descriptions, but that's pretty much it.

Ryan

Does Sakura cover all issues up to the date of the catalog?

It will cover only up to the start of the previous year. My 2009 edition covers up the March of 2008.

Thanks Rb,
Just grabbed a 08 copy of this from ebay as Japan
has become a fascination of mine lately......

Brian, after you've had a little time with it, would you share a few thoughts?

Absolutely!

Received the catalog today and it's a nice addition to my library!
90% of the text is Japanese, but the images are nice.
Well worth the $16.
Tonymacg, might hit you up for a translation next post....

Brian, as long as it's only the odd paragraph, I'll be happy to oblige. (It would make a nice change from my current job, a Japanese patent for 'Novel Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives' ...)

Tony,

As I just purchased this stamp MNH, I'm curious as to what is being said here.
Hopefully the scan is ok....



Thanks,

Brian

Brian, the text at right says:
"Unused and used copies of the "Wild Geese on Moon" stamps issued in 1948. For the young collectors of the time, used copies were rare things (literally 'high country flowers' - rather nice way of putting, I think), let alone unused copies. These stamps, and the 'Woman Looking Back', 'Woman Playing the Glass Flute' and 'Ebizo' were the four 'divine treasures' for young collectors."

The two characters at the bottom in the middle read "Original dimensions".

The text at left reads " 'Wild Geese on Moon' unused" and "Used"

I assume the characters on the stamp are Nippon?
Thanks for doing this for me, now I need to get the rest of
the four "divine treasures"!