Id'ing Japan SC 127-145 Old Die From SC 127A-145A

The Scott catalog identifies the Japan 1914-1925 series Sc 127-145 as "old die" on granite paper with watermark 141 and 19x22 1/2 mm image size.

Immediate below in the catalog is the 1924-1933 series Sc 127a-145a which is identified as "new die" with the different, smaller image sizes, but no reference to paper type or watermark.

My question: Is the 1924-1933 series also printed on granite paper and watermarked 141 like the 1914-1925 series with the only difference between the two series image size?

Thanks.

Don

Dear Don,

Sc 127a-145a are printed on granite paper, wmk. 141.
They correspond to JSCA 158-165 (new die, rotary press printing) and JSCA 166-173 (new die, flat plate printing).

FYI, the reason for the smaller image sizes are due to lateral size modification (from 19mm to 18 1/2mm) so as to make the new die fit into the newly introduced rotary press printing machine imported from Germany on 1924. This modified die, however, was also used in flat plate printing machine, which produced (due to printing process difference) a slightly shorter vertical size (22mm instead of 22 1/2 mm).

(The later 1937 series (Sc 239-) are on white paper, wmk. 257 )

Regards, Unechan

Unechan:

Thank you for your response. I greatly appreciate your help. An attractive stamp series, but one requiring attention to variables for correct identification.

Don