Reading Dates On Old Japanese Cancels

Hello everyone......

This information came to me from my Japanese penpal. He does not have a computer but does have occasional access to one for his own research. Needless to say the flow of information is slow, but quite reliable.









For the examples below.....all from the Showa era

Scott #194 issued from 1926-1937 with watermark (wm) #141 (zigzag lines)

#1....1928-oct-22
#2....1933-dec-5
#3....1934-dec-12



I have found that it's easier to date these by starting with a date of issue from the Scott cat........and always check the watermark to make sure you have the right issue.

Thanks Tom for the practical information.

Super; I was just looking for this type of chart the other day. Thanks much.

That's useful information.
As an addition, please note that on older mail (approx. before 1900) to foreign countries the Japanese used special cancels (there were special postoffices for foreign mail), and these cancels have the common western years as well as the name of the city in Roman script.

Now I'll go back and look at some of my covers to Japan. Thanks for posting this Tom!

Great information, I'll be passing it on to all my colleagues next stamp meeting. Thanks

Thanks Tom that's great information and something I need,I do have the Kanji (Japanese glyphs) dates but there in old Japanese Kanji and only for the Meiji period and the periods before it.

just an example to the right of this coin you'll see the kanji though this is very early and not related to there postal history it does extend into the Meiji period





Oh P.S. sorry about the coin.

Harry....

Could you show the whole card so I can see the Kanji dates ?......and any others you might have like this.

Glad to know you all like this.......wish I could find something similar for Arabic & Korean and a few others.

Not a problem mate I'll put it together tomorrow.
regards

Tom I have the dates up to the Meiji period,could you please wait for the other half (Meiji period to date),a good friend has the other half and he's in Japan now so If you can wait until he returns sorry I forgot that he was going it was a surprise when I rang his wife and found out that he had already left and that I missed him by a week so I'll post the lot together when he returns.
hope you don't mind waiting.
regards

Not a problem Harry.....

I'd really like to see what you have for both periods......I've been trying to find a list like that for several years...a few days is nothing.

Thanks mate will post them as soon as he's back.

regards