Lot no. 20852

JAPAN – Japanese Post Office: Dai Nihon Teikoku Yubin Kitte Enkakushi (History of the postage stamps of the Japanese Empire), issued by the Department of Communications in 1896 and illustrated with 107 original stamps, envelopes, wrappers and post cards or specially made facsimile/reprints of stamps, etc., not available any more. One of 300 issued, for official presentation (and never sold to the public). This copy is dedicated to Mr. Homberger. Preserved in a special bibliophile box including much research material about the book, Good condition. 

PLUS: The Pirated edition, issued by Wada of Tokio, varying from the official publication by the addition of a page giving “Errors of engraving” with four illustrations, by the omission of tables of postal rates and other information, and by the addition of particulars of the issue of August 1896, illustrated by forgeries of the stamps, etc., some with and some without the mozo sanko (imitation) characters, and with ordinary illustrations pasted down. Preserved in a special bibliophile slipcase, the book with a small tear on one page.

Wada was a well-known disseminator of forgeries of Japanese stamps of all issues. His present venture was immediately surpressed by the Government and the stock seized and destroyed. It is exceedingly rare, even in Japan, and as far as it is known only six copies survived! 

The William brothers wrote about these books (Philatelic Magazine, Oct. 14th, 1938): “Rarest stamp book in the world …” – Estimate: 17,500 Euro

@Corinphila # 291, 28.11.-2.12.2022, lot No. 1536 (the Original): 10,000 CHF + 22% and lot 1537 (the WADA forgery, which is much rarer): 5.500 CHF + 22%