China Republic stamps : 01 Junk series b - general overprints

There are 3 'general' overprints on the Junk series, although a fourth overprint exists only on 15 cents and 16 cents (rice field worker) and therfore not on the 'boat' stamps.

1st overprint: 1920

Of course, this overprint applies on the stamps of the first issue (only Bejing types!).
This overprint is special, as normally overprints give the 'new' value of a certain stamp, for example if a certain value is sold out, or missing.
In this case, the stamp was sold for it's original value (2, 4 or 6 cents) but could only be used for the 'overprinted' value of 1, 3 or 5 cents.
The 'profit' was used to help the victims of the famine coursed by the floodings in 1920.

1920 flooding overprint

The 3 stamps in my collection have on top of the 'flooding' overprint, also a cancel 'TAIYUAN' or Taiwan.

2, 4 and 6 cents overprint + Taiwan cancel

2nd overprint: 1923

The second overprint is also on one of the Bejing type Junk stamps of 1913.

1923 overprint

1923 overprint 2 cts. over 3 cts.

This stamps with overprint is quite common, unless the overprint is upside down!
Seeing an expert will be necessary.

3rd overprint: 1925-1935

6 stamps exist with this third overprint.
One is from the first (Bejing) series, the others from the second (Bejing 1923) printing.

1925/1930 overprint

The one cent (Ct.) overprint exists on 2, 3 and 4 cents - of which the 3 cents on both of 1st and 2nd printing. On the second printing there is a red and a black overprint and the red one exists also without 'dot' after Ct.
The 3 cents overprint is in plural (Cts.) and dates back to 1925 - inverted overprints exists and are rare!

overprints multiples

to be continued ...

Odd stamps : 06 i Stamps on cotton / silk

For my next item, we go to Taiwan.
Officially, Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China.
Many Taiwanese people consider themselves however as being citizens of the 'independent' island of Taiwan, or the so called Republic of China.

Map of PR China, Taiwan (R.O.C. in red)

For any political interpretation, you'll have to search elsewhere, here I'm only talking about the beauty of the stamps, issued by this country.

And this truly is a beautiful stamp/sheet!

Most stamps/sheets printed on silk are already an example of exquisit printing.
Here, the stamp is superb.

silk sheet / stamp of Taiwan

If we look in detail, we see a beautiful bird, printed in embossed silk, with gold overprint.
To see the embossed printing, a picture of the back side shows us more :

back side of the sheet, bird and chinese characters are embossed

On the border of the sheet, we see some fibers hanging loosly.

loose fibers

If we zoom in into the stamp, we'll discover the fine design and embossed printing, together with the gold print on the back ofhte bird.

stamp out of the sheet

detail of the stamp

This sheet is truly a piece of art and as far as I'm concerned, to be nominated for the most beautiful stamp of the year.

If any Taiwanese reader of my blog, is willing to send me a postally used copy of this sheet, I'd be very happy.

Odd stamps : 07 b Stamps (sheets) with special cuts

A step higher on the stairways of 'oddness' are the sheets who are cut into any possible shape.

A shape that is easy to recognise, is a butterfly.
It's also a very thankful topic for theme collectors. And as butterflies are attractive themselves, it doubles the pleasure of collecting butterfly-shaped souvenir sheets.

First in line is Malaysia. They emitted a wonderful souvenir sheet in the shape of a butterfly, with one 'normal' stamp on the sheet.
The sheet is also cut inside, so that one can see through the wings of the butterfly.

It makes the sheet extra fragile, but double as attractive.

In the same style as the Malaysian souvenir sheet, also Taiwan has issued a 'butterfly-sheet'.
The sheet is cut like a butterfly, and also here, there are cut inside the sheet.
Those cuts however are not in the sheet self, but in each of the 4 stamps on the sheet.
Here, the cuts are made in the shape of a smaller butterfly.

The sheet isn't maybe as colourful as the Malaysian one, but nevertheless a very tasteful stamp and a beauty for all theme collectors.

Finally, let's move to Thailand.
This issue is not about butterflies, but depicts traditional thai fans.
On the sheet, 4 amazing royal fans are depicted. The sheet itself, and that's why it's in this topic, again is cut into a fan shape.
Not easy to put in your pre-printed album, or even in a classic album.
But who cares, if (s)he sees such a wonderful souvenir sheet.
Thai stamps are always good quality and very tasteful, this issue is not only royal by it's theme, it's truly an amazing item to put in a collection.