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Postal Saving Stamp (First Issue) These stamps were used as Post Office Saving Stamps, they could not be used for postal purposes. Postal saving is still very popular in rural areas where the population do not have easy access to a bank, and also for encouraging children to save. The characters read, top "壹角: One chiao (10f)", bottom "郵政儲金票 - Postal Savings Stamp". The savings stamp with the red background was issued on 1st May 1933. The stamp is litho printed on un-watermarked paper in sheets of 100, the reverse has an even coating of whitish gum. The 12 character imprint reads "Manufactured by Japanese Imperial Printing Bureau" designer unknown. See a full sheet scan here. Design 19.3mm x 22mm Perf 13 x 13. The design represents two carp in a bowl with a pearl at the centre - a symbol for good luck. The Chinese word for fish is "Yu" and the Chinese word for abundance is "Yu" so a play on words links the two; the carp is also known as the "messenger" fish, which ties in nicely with the Post Office.
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1 Chiao (10fen) |
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The above stamp overprinted 樣本 meaning "sample" has been taken from a savings book. The sample stamps were added to show people the stamps they were supposed to use. The savings booklets were provided free by Post Offices and had spaces for 10 savings stamps. When a customer had collected 10 stamps, the book was taken to a Post Office and 100f (1 Yuan) was added to the customers savings account. First or second issue stamps overprinted with the word SPECIMEN in English are fakes. |
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Postal Saving Stamp (Second Issue) This is the Postal Saving Stamp second issue on sale from 1st March 1941. This represents the reverse of the design used for the 1933 issue. This is one of the few stamps issued in Manchukuo without gum. Printed on white watermarked paper (see below). Due to the similarity or the design the printers are likely to be as above, designers unknown.
Design 19.3mm x 22mm. Perf 13 x 13.
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| 1 Chiao (10fen) | ||||||
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Postal Saving was obviously very popular in Manchukuo, as you will see if you read about the cancels shown below. When the war ended and the state reverted to China there must have been millions of these stamps which would then have been worthless. They are the most common Chinese "Cinderella" as they do not appear in any mainstream catalogue. |
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Unissued Postal Saving Stamps |
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Below are four stamps which are believed
to be unissued Manchukuo postal savings stamps. This may not be a
full set as logic dictates that there would be a 1 Yuan (although
this may not be the case). The characters read "collect money" (集金),
"save money" (貯金). The values shown are 2 yuan, 3 yuan, 5 yuan and
10 yuan, the design date is unknown. The stamps are issued with gum. Printed on white un-watermarked paper. Printers and designers unknown. Design 19.3mm x 22mm. Perf 12 x 12. |
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| To find out more about Savings and Investments in Manchukuo click here | ||||||
