Sparks International - Stamps & Postal History of Asia

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All lots Aftersale lots Sold at auction

Japan

Lot 303

50.00 CAD

Sold

1896 (August 21), 10s Akihito Issue cover to New Jersey, native-paper decorative cover to Orange, New Jersey, with c.d.s. arrival

1896 (August 21), 10s Akihito Issue cover to New Jersey, native-paper decorative cover to Orange, New Jersey, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, Tokio circular foreign mail cancel on front, Yokohama (22 Aug) foreign mail circular datestamps and Tacoma “Paid All” transit (11 Sep) markings on reverse, some creasing and minor tone spots, else fine and attractive

Lot 304

60.00 CAD

Sold

1898 (October), Oita-Bungo, Japan, to Rennes, France, via Yokohama, 2s olive-green Imperial Japanese postal stationery envelope

1898 (October), Oita-Bungo, Japan, to Rennes, France, via Yokohama, 2s olive-green Imperial Japanese postal stationery envelope uprated with single 8s blue Koban, both tied by black cork and native double-circle town cancellations, struck on front with three red handstruck characters 佛國行 (bound for France) and black octagonal French maritime transit datestamp LIGNE N / PAQ. FR. N° 6 (15 Oct), endorsed in purple manuscript along left margin "Faire suivre en cas d'absence ou de changement de domicile," reverse with black circular Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, arrival datestamp (22 Nov), light wrinkles, else very fine

Lot 305

150.00 CAD

Live

1899-1902 (circa), Yokohama, Japan, to Paris, France, international parcel post slat, a ¼-inch cedar (hinoki) parcel box lid addressed in

1899-1902 (circa), Yokohama, Japan, to Paris, France, international parcel post slat, a ¼-inch cedar (hinoki) parcel box lid addressed in black manuscript to "10 Boulevard Poissonnière / Paris / France," franked with six-stamp multi-denomination combination totalling 2y 84s, comprising two 1y carmine, one 10s blue, one 50s brown, one 20s orange, and one 4s rose definitives, all perforated with commercial perfin "W & C / Y" of Winckler and Co. Ltd., Yokohama, a merchant firm specialising in the export of Japanese marquetry, ceramics, and fine jewellery to European markets, showing traces of black circular grid cancellations, two fastening holes bored symmetrically through left and right sides, very fine and most unusual. Under the French parcel post tariff in effect between 1 October 1896 and 30 November 1902, the 2y 84s franking corresponds to a heavyweight package exceeding 1,320 momme, or roughly 4.95 kilograms

Lot 306

60.00 CAD

Sold

1900 (November), Oita-Bungo, Japan, to Rennes, France, 3s grey Imperial Japanese postal stationery envelope uprated with 3s maroon and 4s

1900 (November), Oita-Bungo, Japan, to Rennes, France, 3s grey Imperial Japanese postal stationery envelope uprated with 3s maroon and 4s rose Chrysanthemum definitives, all tied by black native dual-circle town cancellations of Oita-Bungo, struck on front with red handstruck characters 佛國行 (bound for France) split across left and right margins, reverse with crisp blue circular Yokohama c.d.s. (1 Dec) and clear black circular Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine receiver (8 Jan 01), light wear, fine-very fine, an attractive three-colour franking

Lot 307

150.00 CAD

Sold

1904 (April 22), Ise to Thio, New Caledonia, 4s violet postal stationery card, struck by crisp black circular Japanese datestamp, address

1904 (April 22), Ise to Thio, New Caledonia, 4s violet postal stationery card, struck by crisp black circular Japanese datestamp, address typewritten on white paper label pasted over a large-scale hand-brushed Japanese text dedicated to the glory of Japanese soldiers during the Russo-Japanese War, addressed to "L'Inspecteur Japonais" care of La Société Anonyme Le Nickel, Thio, Nouvelle Calédonie, printed "VIA SYDNEY" on address label, with corresponding faint black circular Sydney (5 Jun) transit datestamp on front, printed Japanese kanji message on reverse under the header of the Grand Shrine of Ise dated 2 April 1905, a rare destination, very fine; an unusual example. The card was sent to the Japanese inspector at the Le Nickel mining company, a firm that imported thousands of Japanese labourers to work the mines at Thi. The text visible beneath the address label includes a dedication to the glory of Japanese soldiers, a reference to the ongoing Russo-Japanese War

Lot 308

50.00 CAD

Live

1904 (October 20), Russo-Japanese War, three-page typed English transcription of a Japanese soldier's letter from Yan-Shutan, Manchuria,

1904 (October 20), Russo-Japanese War, three-page typed English transcription of a Japanese soldier's letter from Yan-Shutan, Manchuria, with manuscript edits, recording the soldier's experiences during the war, the writer declaring his readiness to die for the Emperor and invoking the "Samurai spirit," citing casualty estimates from the Battle of Shaho of 50,000 Russian and 10,000 Japanese losses, describing frozen corpses in the Manchurian wilderness, boiling well water to endure nights thirteen degrees below zero, and the local Manchurian people's clothing as "ugly" but "fashionable," very fine, no faults. The Battle of Shaho (October 5-17, 1904) was fought along the Sha River north of Liaoyang, Manchuria, and was the second major land engagement of the Russo-Japanese War; though tactically inconclusive, both sides suffered heavy casualties

Lot 309

325.00 CAD

Sold

1907 (May 31), Yokohama, Japan, to Le Havre, France, uprated stationery via Siberia, 3s violet Imperial Japanese postal stationery letter

1907 (May 31), Yokohama, Japan, to Le Havre, France, uprated stationery via Siberia, 3s violet Imperial Japanese postal stationery letter card uprated with 3s red and 4s rose Chrysanthemum definitives, all tied by black native comb circular Yokohama datestamps, endorsed in double-underlined manuscript at upper centre "via Siberia," struck with faint black circular Le Havre arrival datestamp (5 Jul), reverse with crisp blue circular Yokohama exchange datestamp (1 Jun) and faint black transit circle, very fine. The contents, datelined "Yokohama 31 mai 1907" and addressed from a traveler to his mother, describes disruption to an overland itinerary through East Asia caused by severe weather: "My program was accomplished almost in its entirety. I went to Nagasaki... but recently I have had bad weather and had a terrible excursion due to rain in the mountains, forced to come back down to Yokohama without having seen anything." He records his intention to board the vessel Oceanien the following morning, hoping that letters awaited him at Shanghai

Lot 310

90.00 CAD

Live

1908 (May 17), French Vice-Consulate at Kobe and Osaka, Japan, to Paris, France, re-routed to Dangé, with printed corner

1908 (May 17), French Vice-Consulate at Kobe and Osaka, Japan, to Paris, France, re-routed to Dangé, with printed corner card "VICE-CONSULAT DE FRANCE, / KOBE et OSAKA" and two-line blue diplomatic handstamp "Ministre des / Affaires Étrangères," struck with black circular Paris-81, R. de Bourgogne, datestamp (24 Jun), original "Paris" address lines struck out in red crayon and amended to "Dangé (Vienne)," black inverted triangle "T" tax mark applied, French 10c brown postage due affixed at upper left, reverse with large purple circular official seal "VICE CONSULAT DE FRANCE / * / A KOBE ET OSAKA" around the French coat of arms, black circular transit c.d.s. of Saint-Maure-des-Fossés, and black circular Dangé, Vienne receiver (27 Jun), with multi-page letter on official diplomatic letterhead enclosed, fine-very fine. The letter, datelined "Kobe, le 17 mai 1908" from the Vice-Consulate of France, responds to a dairy industry inquiry from Monsieur Jupin, Conseiller Général de la Vienne and President-Founder of the grand dairies of Poitou, regarding the introduction of a new condensed milk brand to the Japanese market: "...it would be difficult to introduce a new brand of condensed milk here, when predecessors have built up their position through extensive advertising and heavy sacrifices, a reputation against which it would be nearly impossible to fight..." The consul identifies the market as dominated by the American brand Borden's and the Swiss brand Nestlé, advising that should the exporter still wish to attempt a trial, the trading house of Itaro Saibara might be willing to manage their business

Lot 311

50.00 CAD

Sold

1916 (June 26), Marugame Camp, prisoner of war postcard to Theuma, Vogtland, Germany, "Lake Scene" stippled surface

1916 (June 26), Marugame Camp, prisoner of war postcard to Theuma, Vogtland, Germany, "Lake Scene" stippled surface multi-coloured postcard, endorsed with red stamped "Sce DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE", dated June 22 at Marugame, with black June 26 double-circle despatch c.d.s., next-day Kobe foreign-mail transit cancel, multiple Japanese censor strikes, scarce and fine-very fine

Lot 312

50.00 CAD

Live

1916 (November 19), Matsuyama Camp, prisoner of war postcard to Hamburg, Germany, ‘Maiko-no-hama Banshin’ hand-tinted

1916 (November 19), Matsuyama Camp, prisoner of war postcard to Hamburg, Germany, ‘Maiko-no-hama Banshin’ hand-tinted multi-colour Christmas greetings postcard endorsed with manuscript ‘Kriegsgefangenen Sendung’, black Matsuyama c.d.s. and violet Kobe transit (20 Nov), red boxed censor handstamp and three-line violet oval POW marking, scarce and fine

Lot 313

40.00 CAD

Sold

1923 (November 17), incoming inflation-era postcard from Germany, picture postcard from Schmolln to Osaka, franked on front and back with

1923 (November 17), incoming inflation-era postcard from Germany, picture postcard from Schmolln to Osaka, franked on front and back with combined 24 billion mark rate, the correct rate for the period of November 12-19, 1923, some light edge wear, a scarce destination for inflation-period mail

Lot 314

400.00 CAD

Sold

1924 (October 13), mixed franking cover posted from Japan to connect with the Dirigible "Shenandoah" on its return flight from Seattle to

1924 (October 13), mixed franking cover posted from Japan to connect with the Dirigible "Shenandoah" on its return flight from Seattle to Lakehurst, New Jersey, posted from Japan and addressed to Major Joseph Steinmetz, President of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania, adhesives tied by Japanese c.d.s., two violet "CONNECTING WITH / PACIFIC & ORIENTAL / VIA SAN FRANCISCO" handstamped cachets on front, straight-line VIA AIR MAIL in blue and dual BY U.S. AIR MAIL / TRANSCONTINENTAL handstamps, privately-produced Hammersmith-Kortmeyer Co. "Via Air Mail" label on reverse, attractive and very fine

Lot 315

100.00 CAD

Live

1931 (February), Japanese franking on postcard from Takow, 1914 4sen on Formosa Buffalo postcard, tied by TAKOW / 20.2.13 / TAIWAN / JAPAN

1931 (February), Japanese franking on postcard from Takow, 1914 4sen on Formosa Buffalo postcard, tied by TAKOW / 20.2.13 / TAIWAN / JAPAN c.d.s., to Columbus, Ohio, a choice strike of this cancellation and scarce franking, very fine

Lot 316

100.00 CAD

Live

1933 (January 30), Mukden, Manchuria, to Fukuoka Prefecture, military grouping comprising a cover and illustrated stationery card written

1933 (January 30), Mukden, Manchuria, to Fukuoka Prefecture, military grouping comprising a cover and illustrated stationery card written by Yoshikichi Fukuda, with the 1st Tank Battalion, Provisional Expeditionary Force, both struck with matching circular Military Post date stamps (30 Jan) and red rectangular Military Mail instructional markings, the correspondence comprising a New Year's Greeting doubling as a field report detailing the unit's "punitive expedition" through the Tangyuan region in October 1932, the pursuit of insurgents toward the Soviet border at Suifenhe, and the unit's entry into Harbin before its return to Mukden on 21 January 1933, some light toning, fine-very fine and scarce

Lot 317

120.00 CAD

Live

1935 (February 1), registered cover from Yokohoma Kanazawa, to Helsingfors, Sweden, Ford Motor Co. advertising cover, franked with two 3s

1935 (February 1), registered cover from Yokohoma Kanazawa, to Helsingfors, Sweden, Ford Motor Co. advertising cover, franked with two 3s and two 10s definitives, tied by c.d.s., with registration handstamp of Kanazawa crossed-out, affixed with registration etiquette of Yokohama, without backstamps, an elusive destination and extremely fresh, very fine

Lot 318

Scott 253-254

300.00 CAD

Sold

1937, 5y gray green & 10y dull violet Empress Jingo, a lightly hinged set of two, fresh and well-centred, scarce and fine-very fine

Lot 319

90.00 CAD

Sold

1940 (April 23), Japan to Paris, France, via Hong Kong, airmail cover franked with three-stamp combination totalling 1y 80s, comprising 1y

1940 (April 23), Japan to Paris, France, via Hong Kong, airmail cover franked with three-stamp combination totalling 1y 80s, comprising 1y green, 50s olive-bister, and 30s slate-blue definitives, all tied by black native circular datestamps (Showa 15.4.23), struck on face with blue printed "PAR AVION / 飛行郵便" air mail label, magenta two-character 航空 (air mail) handstamp, and red manuscript routing instruction "via HONGKONG," purple triangular British military censor handstamp "PASSED / CENSOR / 4 / HONG KONG" struck over rightmost adhesive, reverse with black circular Victoria, Hong Kong, transit c.d.s. (2 May), with contents, trivial light wrinkles, very fine

Lot 320

110.00 CAD

Sold

1940 (August 8), Tokyo, Japan, to Nouméa, New Caledonia, via Brisbane, commercial censored cover franked with three-stamp combination

1940 (August 8), Tokyo, Japan, to Nouméa, New Caledonia, via Brisbane, commercial censored cover franked with three-stamp combination totalling 20s (4s green, 10s carmine-rose, 6s orange), all tied by single black native circular Tokyo datestamp (Showa 15.8.8), struck at upper left with red printed instructional stamp "VIA" followed by manuscript route designation "Brisbane," secondary manuscript shipping line "Per 24/5 'Yamashiro Maru,'" left margin sealed with tan British military censor tape overprinted in red OPENED BY CENSOR, matching purple circular censor handstamp "S. 120," reverse with black native corporate backstamp for a Nagoya branch office and faint black circular Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, arrival datestamp (25 Sep), very fine; posted from Tokyo while New Caledonia's political allegiance remained contested between the Vichy government and the Free French movement, the cover arrived at Nouméa shortly after the territory's rally to Free France on 19 September 1940