The Commemorative Cancellations and Postmarks of Manchukuo



Introduction Manchukuo Search 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Airmail Revenues Imprinted Postcards Seals & Labels Savings Postmarks Postage Due Forgeries Reply Coupons Manchurian Local Overprints Contact	Commemorative Cancellations The state of Manchukuo, issued a number of authorised commemorative cancellations. Details and translations of 85 of these can be found in an excellent book "The Postage Stamps and Commemorative Cancellations of Manchoukuo" by Helen K Zirkle (published in 1964 now out of print). When referring to the Commemorative Cancellations of Manchukuo it is now usual for philatelists to quote the Zirkle number as a reference. Zirkle shows illustrations of each cancel and numbers them 1 to 85. The postal workers of Manchukuo would generally only supply these cancels on a postcard, letter or on paper providing it had a stamp showing the current rate of postage. It is rare to find cancels that have been mis-used. It is clear that postal workers recognised that collectors wanted a good copy and some trouble seems to have been taken to apply the cancels carefully. The government would have been aware that these cancels would travel around the world and designed them as a means of publicity at home and propaganda abroad. In this section I am showing scans of these cancellations, reviewing the work of Helen Zirkle and trying, where possible, to add more information. The descriptions below are based upon the work of Helen Zirkle, she in turn relied upon Mr Robert M Spaulding Jr., Dr. Y. Mishima and others for help in finding the meaning of each cancel. If you buy the book you will be able to read more about these in more depth. I aim, over a period of time, to add to Helen's work by; Providing a direct translation for each cancel. Identifying those cancels with a changeable date. Stating which of the cancels were used in a single town or province. Checking and adding to the list of colours found. Measuring the exact sizes of each cancel. If anyone would like to assist me in this I would appreciate scans showing, colours, dates or cancels that I so far lack. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me with this so far, the internet is a great medium for exchanging information so keep coming back to this page if you are interested in this subject.

	Zirkle 1 - Issued 18th to 19th September 1932. This example was issued in 奉天 Mukden. Commemorates the first anniversary of the notorious 奉天 Mukden Incident. The central shield and star is based upon the design of the medal issued to soldiers involved in the attack. Size 36mm dia. Known colours - deep violet. only.	Zirkle 2 - Issued 3rd to 9th November 1932 This example was issued in 吉林 Kirin. Issued to commemorate the start of the Manchukuo air mail service, which began operation on 3rd November 1932 with airmail delivered by the Manchukuo Air Transport Company. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Chinese day date figure can read 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, 3 being the most common. Size 36mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, rose red, black and blue.


	Zirkle 3 - Issued 1st to 3rd March 1933 This example was issued in 奉天 Mukden. This cancellation celebrates the first anniversary of the founding of the State of Manchukuo with the central characters reading "Perpetuity of Nationhood". The characters are "seal script", an ancient Qin dynasty calligraphy often used for formal documents. Size 34mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, blue, black and reddish brown.	Zirkle 4 - Issued 1st to 3rd March 1934 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. 登極紀念 (Ascending the Throne Commemoration) This cancel is known to have been supplied to 167 post offices. This cancellation marks the enthronement of Pu Yi as the Emperor Kang-Teh. The central characters means long life and this is flanked by Feng Haung the mythical lords of all birds and auspicious clouds. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Roman figure can read 1 (above), 2 or 3, 1 being the most common. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, blue, black, reddish brown and vermillion.


	Zirkle 5 - Issued 10th May 1934 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. This cancel celebrates a review of the army by the Emperor that took place Hsinking airfield. The design features the army star and flag, two artillery shells and the phoenix. This cancel is limited to Hsinking. Diameter 35mm. Known colours - deep violet only.	. Zirkle 6 - Issued 19th to 21st September 1934 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. Issued to welcome the Japanese combined fleet which anchored off Dairen. The design features a Japanese flag, a ships anchor plus ships at sea with aircraft overhead. This cancel has a changeable date, the left hand Roman figure can read 19, 20 or 21 (above), 19 being the most common. Height 48mm x Width 42mm. Known colours - deep violet, blue and black.


	Zirkle 7 - Issued 13th to 15th October 1934 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. This cancellation is to publicise a series of special army manoeuvres that took place near the capital 新京 Hsinking. It features a border of stars, the foreground shows a barbed wire entanglement with clouds, a flag and aircraft above. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and blue.	Zirkle 8 - Issued 19th to 20th October 1934 This example was issued in 奉天 Mukden. The reason for this cancel is an Imperial visit to the 奉天 Mukden area by the Emperor Kang-teh. The picture shows the 奉天 Mukden North Mausoleum which is surrounded by stone elephants and an elephant appears in the foreground. The phoenix is an Imperial symbol. Roman figures can read 19 or 20 (above). Size 38mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and blue.


	Zirkle 9 - Issued 12th October 1934 This example was issued in 吉林 Kirin. Issued to commemorate an Imperial visit to 吉林 Kirin. The central image features the Kuan ti Mausoleum. Kuan ti was a Han dynasty general, a great soldier and a just ruler. Zirkle shows the first date for the use of this chop as the 24th, I have brought this forward by twelve days as the above example is clearly dated the 12th. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and red.	Zirkle 10 - Issued 1st to 3rd December 1934 This example was issued in 吉林 Kirin. This cancel shows an emblem designed to publicise a reorganisation of the provinces of Manchukuo for administrative purposes. The cancel features doves to signify peace and the rays of the sun to signify the dawn of a new prosperity. The eleven characters represent the first character in the names of each administrative region. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Roman figure can read 1, 2 or 3, 1 being the most common. The design made it hard to use and perfect impressions are very rare. Height 38mm x Width 39mm. Known colours - deep violet and blue.


	Zirkle 11 - Issued 1st to 3rd March 1935 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. Issued in recognition of the third anniversary of the founding of the state and the first anniversary of the enthronement of Kang-teh as Emperor. The design shows a map of Manchukuo with an inscription. The date is changeable and can read 1 (above), 2, or 3. Size 36mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, black, reddish brown and blue.	Zirkle 12 - Issued 2nd, 6th, and 24th April 1935 This example was issued in 營口 Yingkow (Newchwang). 皇帝(Emperor) 陛下(His Majesty )访 (Visit) 日(Japan) 纪念 (Commemorate) Issued in recognition of the Emperors first visit to Japan. This depicts Phoenix over the sea, with the rising sun as a clear reference to Japan. The three dates of issue represent dates of the Emperor's departure, arrival in Japan and return to Manchukuo. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Chinese day date figure can read 2, 6 (above), or 24th. This cancel was also available on 25th, 26th and 27th but the for these days the date "24th" was used. Size 36mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and blue.


	Zirkle 13 - Issued 1 - 10 May 1935 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. Issued to celebrate the First Air Mail Flight between 新京 Hsinking and Tokyo. This allowed a 24 hour postal service between the two cities. The date is changeable and can read 1 (above), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Size 38.5mm dia (excluding wing). Known colours - deep violet only.	Zirkle 14 - Issued 9th - 11th September 1935 This example was issued in 哈爾濱 Harbin. To celebrate the Naval Review of the River Defence Fleet, the cancel shows a warship, the Sungari River bridge at 哈爾濱 Harbin and a decorative border of anchors and ropes. The date is changeable and can read 9, 10 (above) or 11. Size 36mm dia (anchor tip to anchor tip). Known colours - deep violet only.


	Zirkle 15 - Issued 15th - 20th September 1935 This example was issued in 琿春 Hun-chun. To celebrate and publicise the adoption of the Postal Service Insignia, this was used on uniforms, vehicles and the postal flag. The date is changeable and can read 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 (above). Size 36.5mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, red vermillion, blue and black.	Zirkle 16 - Issued 6th - 11th October 1935 This example was issued in 南綏中 Nan-Sui-Chung. Issued to commemorate the opening of a new post office building Nan-Sui-Chung (now Nan sui zhong) in Chin-Chou. There is a sign on the building in the foreground 南綏中 giving the name in Chinese. In the background is the great wall and a gatehouse. Size 36mm dia. Known colours - deep violet only.


	Zirkle 17 - Issued 1st to 3rd December 1935 This example was issued in 赤峰 Ch'ih feng (now Chifeng) Jehol Province. This cancel marks the opening of a short railway line built to link Chi'ih-feng with Yeh-ou-shou in Jehol. Prior to the opening of the railway the camel was the main mode of transport in this remote region. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Western day date figure can read 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and red.	Zirkle 18 - Issued 26th to 28th January 1936 This example was issued in 儱井忖 Lung-ching-tsun. This is to celebrate the new postal treaty with Japan which came into effect on 26th January 1936. The central image is of a pigeon with a letter in its beak, flanked by the flags of Japan and Manchukuo. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Chinese day date figure can read 26th (above), 27th or 28th. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, red vermillion, blue and black.


	Zirkle 19 - Issued 2nd May 1936 This example was issued in 洮南 Tao-nan. This concerns an Imperial Rescript and the central characters mean "One Virtue, One Country". A rescript is a type of proclamation, in this instance prompted by the visit of the Emperor Kang-teh to Japan. A pledge of harmony between the two countries to be celebrated annually. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet (as above), red, reddish purple, blue and black.	Zirkle 20 - Issued 16th to 21st June 1936 This example was issued in.凌源 Ling-yuan. The above cancel celebrates the completion of a railway line between Chin-hsien and Cheng-teh in Jehol province. The design features a train running across the centre of the cancel. Above this a picture of the old pagoda at Chin-hsien and below a picture of Cheng-teh with a milestone in the foreground reading Jehol. This cancel has a changeable date, the right hand Western day date figure can read 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th or 21st. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet.


	Zirkle 21 - Issued 27th June 1936 Issued in 奉天 Mukden only. This cancel is in celebration of the completion of the waterworks at 奉天 Mukden. The cancel shows the city gate and above this the city emblem. The waterworks project was completed on 27th June 1936 and the cancel marks the date of its opening. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet and blue only.	Zirkle 22 - Issued 26th July 1936 This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking. This celebrates the fourth anniversary of the Postal Services of Manchukuo. It shows the Postal Service flag and the National Flag crossing with a symbolic dove of peace. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - deep violet, blue, dark red and reddish brown.
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