China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 7

In this last post on the first set of Dr. Sun Yat-sen stamps, there are also 15, 20 and 25 cents, and 1, 2 and 5 dollar.
Here there are no subtypes, but still there are some differences between the 'narrow' stamps and the 'wide' stamps.

The 15 and 25 cent for example comes in two versions (narrow and wide).
The 20 cents is only in the wide version.

wide and narrow version of 25 cents

For the dollar values, the differences are easier to find, as the 'narrow' stamps come with perf. 13 - where the 'wide' stamps have a 11 1/2 by 12 1/2 perforation.

1 $ - wide version

to be continued ...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 6

5 cents

for the 5 cents stamp in the 1st Sun Yat-sen series, there are not less then 5 different types.
In the 'narrow' version, we can find subtype A, C and D - and in the 'wide' version, subtypes A, B, C, D and E.

4 spots, to spot the differences

To find the different subtypes, we have to look at 4 different places, the two square frames on the top, and the square frame on the left bottom.

Picture 1 : subtype A, B and E depends on the bottom frame line of the top square.
In A (also in C and D) it is intact. In B and E it is partly or complete broken.
In the picture above, the line appears thinner towards the end.
The second 'check' will show it is a subtype E.

Picture 2 shows the 'FUN' sign 分 (fun = cent). Subtype C has an intact 'fun' sign, subtype D a broken 'fun' sign.
The catalog mentions a 'broken hook' for this type.
I did not find any copy with this difference, but I found a stamp where the other stroke is open at the bottom and not closed like all other ones.
Maybe it's  just an accidental error or a plate flaw?

intact 'hook' but open left stroke ?

The differences mentioned above, are in combination with specific variations at the bottom of the stamp, as shown below:

Picture 3 is in combination with picture 1 and 2:
For subtype A, not only the frame line top has to be intact, also the vertical lines at the bottom of the pillar need to be regular.
For subtype B and E the top line is thin or partly missing, but B has a regular set of vertical lines below the pillar, while subtype E misses one vertical line in the row (see picture above).

For both subtypes C and D, the 'fun' sign is potentially intact of broken, but the series of vertical lines below the pillar are short and thick on the left, and regular from the middle to the right.
Best is to check this part first, before looking to the (less) 'fun' part.

Once determinated the subtypes, look if the stamp belongs to the 'narrow' or the 'wide' group.
The narrow group knows subtypes A, C and D - the wide group has all 5 subtypes.
Narrow subtype D is the rarest.

to be continued ...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 5

4 cents

I have to admit that the different types of this issue are not easy to find.
No wonder, only the chinese catalog mentions them.

For the 4 cents, luckily there are only 2 subtypes
Subtypes A and B are found in the 'narrow' issues - the 'wide' issue, has only type B.
Now the problem with this issue is, that the 'wide' version nearly is wider than the 'narrow' version...
But no panic...

In the 'wide' version, there is a tiny upright line from the right value tablet into the right column.
This is a small line, not always visibile if the stamp is cancelled.

tiny upright line in the right frame

The narrow version does not show this extra line.

For the difference between type A (early prints) and type B (later prints), we need to look at the left ornament.

type A or B ?

Again, it is not easy to see on cancelled stamps, as the differences are small.
In type A (only narrow version)
- the two horizontal lines on top of each other, are short and long (see 1)
- above the right end of the horizontal line there are no extra dots (see 2)

In type B (later narrow versions and wide version)
- the two horizontal lines on top of each other have the same length (see 1)
- above the right end of the horizontal line there are 2 extra dots (see 2)

Good luck in finding the different types.

Finally I found a copy with a scratch in the right frame.
The catalog does not mention it, so I wonder if it is a plate flaw that occurs on other stamps too, or if it is just an 'accidental' error.

plate flaw or accidental error?

To be continued ...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 4

The second London printing of the Sun Yat-sen stamps that were issued between 1931 and 1937 have a special peculiarity.
Prior to 1933 a wet-paper printing proces was used. This resulted in shrinkage of the paper and therefore the image is 1 to 1.5 mm narrower than the later dry-printing issues.

above : dry-printing process : broad image
below : wet-paper printing : narrow image

In general, the average width of the image is 19 mm. Smaller images are to be considered as 'narrow', wider as 'broad'. In most cases, the narrow image is higher valuated than the broad one.

2 cents

For most collectors, this difference is the deepest level to sort out their stamps.
But why stop, if you can go deeper...
According the chinese catalog, there are 3 subtypes of the 2 cent stamp.

subtype A

has a retouched outer circle
 

 
the shoulder has an incomplete line
underneath the collar

subtype B

the outer circle is also retouched

the shoulder has no incomplete line
underneath the collar no more

subtype C

the outer circle is now complete

there is no broken line
underneath thecollar

Other differences can be found in the YU-chararcter (5th character from the right).
郵 (yóu or yu)

郵 The 'waffel' shape is in the A-type more like squares - in type B and C the right border looks like two hooks. The first image is a type A - as it is the 'narrow' version, which only has the A type.

In the 'narrow' version, only types A are known (early printings).
In the 'broad' version (later printings) all 3 types occur (type A is more rare)

to be continued ...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 3

Other values in the Dr. Sun Yat-sen series of 1931-37 can be confused with other issues.  Here, a simple example of the different issues :

A and B : 1931-37 issue. A with double circle in the sun (1st London printing) and B with dark circle in the sun (2nd London printing).  Both types belong to this series.
C : 2 $ issue - 1931-37 issue is blue / yellow-brown - but the series were extended in 1945-46 with this olive-green 2$ stamp. The stamp shown is part of the 1st series, but were added later.
D : different design (2nd design) - not with Corithinan columns but flower ornaments.
These stamps belong to another series.

2 ct to 2 $

If we consider the 'double circle' issue as the first issue and the 'full or dark circle' as the second issue, than we can already devide the following stamps into two groups.

2 ct double circle and full circle

The 'double circle' issue is the easiest to recognise.
This issue has 7 stamps: 1 - 2 - 4 and 20 cents; 1 - 2 and 5 $.
Only the one cent (see previous post) has two different types.

double circle stamps

All other values and/or colours come with a full circle - or with another design in the frame.

to be continued ...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 2

In my previous post I started a topic on the first series of dr. Sun Yat-sen stamps that were issued to honour the new chinese gouvernment.

There was a  set of stamp in 1912, depicting Sun Yat-sen to commemorate the chinese revolution.
Although Sun Yat-sen died in 1925, it lasted till 1931 before the first new set of stamps of Sun Yat-sen were issued. 

The stamps were printed in London, and as soon as they were arrived, an error in the flag was noticed.
A new order was made, and the first print was kept in stock. In the end of 1931 the stamps were sold to the public.

The stamps were issued, but a new set of 'corrected' stamps were ordered in London (2nd. printing).

above 1st London printing (double circle)
below 2nd London printing (dark circle)

Since both issues were distributed at the same time, most catalogs mention them together.
But there are more things to discover in this set of 11 stamps!

All stamps were issued in sheets of 400 stamps - a left pane of 10 x 20 stamps and a right pane of 10 x 20 stamps.
Distriubuted per 200 for the cent values (one pane) and per 50 for the dollar values (1/8 pane).

In this 1931-1937 issue, all values come without decimals for the cent values.
The dollar values were extended with 5 stamps in 1945-46.

1 cent - orange

The one cent orange, comes with a double circle - not with the full circle.

Sun Yat-sen 1 cent 1931

Here there are two different types (probably left and right pane).
The difference is difficult to see, but a magnifier will do the work for you.

Type A and Type B

In one printing, the horizontal lines under the chinese characters is intact, all lines touch the left frame, and the squares forming this line are all complete.
In the other printing, one of the lines do not reach until the left frame, or, one of the squares is incomplete.

type A : closed frame
type B : open frame

Both stamps have the same value, but it is nice to search for two different types of course.

to be continued...

China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 1

Dr. Sun Yat-sen is without any doubt, one of the most important persons in the history of both China (PR) as for the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Dr Sun Yat-sen at younger age

At a young age, after fisishing elementary school, he moved to Hawai, where he soon lived together with his brother in Honolulu. Here he came in contact with western ideas on medicine and even with christianity, he also learned to speak English.
Because of his 'elaborated' interest in christianity, his brother sent him back to mainland China.
At the age of 17, Sun and his youth friend witnessed local villagers worshipping a local god 'Beiji' and the use of ancient and insufficient healing methods. After destroying the temple, they wer forced to flee to the more 'liberal' Hong Kong.
Whilst studying in Hong Kong, he soon enrolled at the newly opened Hong Kong School of Medicine for Chinese, now known as the Hong Kong University.

Hong Kong School of Medicine for Chinese 1912

Also here he had difficulties adapting to the old-fashioned and stubborn way of thinking, that was common for the whole Chinese society under the Imperial system of the Qing dynasty.
Soon he started to develop his political and filosophical ideas, which forced him many times to move aboad to avoid being arrested.
He led, or had a hand in many uprisings between 1895 and 1911. Although he was in the United States in 1911, the Qing dynasty came to and end and soon, Sun returned to China.
He became the first provisional president of the newly formed republic, but soon gave power to Yuan Shikai.

The emission of 1931-37 (plus some additional dollar values in 1945-46 have the same design: Corinthian columns left and right of the central image of Sun Yat-sen.

1931-37 dr. Sun Yat-sen design

to be continued ...