KOREA

Corée

Return To Catalogue

1 won = 100 cheun = 100 moun = 1000 rin = 500 poon

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

Website on Korean stamps: http://www.pennfamily.org/KSS-USA/fast-index.html

1884 Ying and Yang sign

10 m blue 25 m orange 

  5 m red
  10 m blue
  25 m orange
  50 m green
  100 m blue and red

Because of political problems, used stamps are quite rare. The stamps have perforation 8 1/2.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 m ** -  
10 m * -  
25 m * -  
50 m * -  
100 m * -  

Forgeries, examples:

Forgery! Produced by Kamigata in Tokyo I've been told. Forgery! Produced by Kamigata in Tokyo I've been told.

These forgeries can be distinguished right away, this circular cancel with rings was never used in Korea! According to 'Focus on forgeries' by V.E.Tyler, these forgeries were probably created by the forger Kamigata from Tokyo (Japan). He apparently made several forgery sets in order to make his forgeries more deceptive.

Other forgeries:

'2' too narrow. '1' too small. Design primitive. '50' too small '50' and 'Mn' in white color instead of green.


Bogus 2 Mn yellow value.

 

 

1895 Ying and Yang symbol, with inscription 'KOREA'

5 p green 

  5 p green
  10 p blue
  25 p red
  50 p violet

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 p ** **  
10 p * *  
25 p ** **  
50 p ** **   
Surcharged (1900) with value and korean (left) and chinese (right) signs

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  '1' on 5 p green
  '1' on 25 p red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 on 5 p R R  
1 on 25 p R R  

 

1900 Overprinted with chinese sign (Empire of Korea) in red or black


Black overprint; sorry, for the small size of the image

  5 p green
  10 p blue
  25 p red
  50 p violet

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 p *** ***  
10 p *** *  
25 p *** ***  
50 p *** ***   
1900 Overprinted with chinese sign (Empire of Korea) in red and with additional surcharge
(as above)

Sorry, no image available yet

  1 s on 5 p green
  1 s on 25 p red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 on 5 p R R  
1 on 25 p *** ***   
Surcharged with value (in Korean characters, 1902)

'1' (in corean) on 25 p red, type 1 '1' (in corean) on 25 p red, type 2, upper bar higher '2' on 25 p red 

  1 c on 25 p red (2 types)
  2 c on 25 p red (2 types)
  3 c on 25 p red (error)
  3 c on 50 p violet (2 types)

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 c on 25 p * * Type 2: ***
2 c on 25 p ** ** Type 2: ***
3 c on 25 p R R Only one type
3 c on 50 p * ** Type 2: **

Forgeries, note the bad quality of the letters and the flower patterns in the corners:

I have seen this same forgery (50 p) with the black 3 c overprint and also the 5 p with no overprint. The inscription on the 5 p value is '.C POON' instead of '5 POON'.

Other forgeries:


Three forgeries of the 10 p value. The second stamp has 'KORKA' as inscription, in the third forgery, this has been corrected, but traces of the second 'K' can still be found.

I've been told that the next stamp is also a forgery, I have no further information:

 

1900 Inscription 'IMPERIAL KOREAN POST'

2 r grey Type 1, symbol at bottom Type 2, symbol at center 4 c red 

  2 r grey
  1 c green
  2 c blue
  2 c blue (other design)
  3 c red
  4 c red
  5 c red
  6 c blue
  10 c violet
  15 c grey
  20 c brown
  50 c olive and red
  1 W grey red and blue
  2 W violet and green

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
2 r * *  
1 c * *  
2 c ** ** Type 1, symbol at the bottom
2 c *** *** Type 2, symbol in center
3 c ** **  
4 c ** **  
5 c ** **  
6 c ** **  
10 c ** **  
15 c *** ***  
20 c *** ***  
50 c R R  
1 W R R  
2 W RR RR  

 

1902 40 years reign of the emperor

3 c orange

  3 c orange

This stamp has perforation 11.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
3 c *** **  

A forgery of this stamp is described in 'Focus on Forgeries' by Varro E. Tyler. This forgery has the inscription 'XI. ANN' instead of 'XL. ANN' (the 'L' is replaced by a 'I').


Forgery with inscription 'XI. ANN' instead of 'XL. ANN'; also note that the '3's are totally different

According to the book 'Focus on Forgeries' both forgeries with 'XI.' instead of 'XL.' were made by the forger Kamigata of Tokyo (Japan).

 

1903 Falcon, inscription 'POSTES IMPERIALES DE COREE'


(Reduced size)

  2 r grey
  1 c brown
  3 c green
  3 c orange
  4 c red
  5 c brown
  6 c violet
  10 c blue
  15 c brown on yellow
  20 c brown on yellow
  50 c red on green
  1 W violet on grey
  2 W violet on orange

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
2 r * *  
1 c ** **  
2 c * *  
3 c ** **  
4 c *** ***  
5 c *** ***  
6 c *** ***  
10 c *** ***  
15 c *** ***  
20 c *** ***  
50 c R R  
1 W R R  
2 W R R  

These stamps were no longer valid after the 1st July 1905. After that date, stamps of Japan were used in Kora

 

In 1910 Korea was annexed to Japan.

Japanese Offices in Korea

1900 Stamps of Japan surcharged with the word 'KOREA' in chinese characters


(Reduced size)

  5 r grey (overprint in red)
  1 s brown (overprint in red)
  1 1/2 s blue
  2 s green (overprint in red)
  3 s red
  3 s red (marriage)
  4 s red
  5 s orange (overprint in red)
  8 s olive (overprint in red)
  10 s blue
  15 s violet
  20 s red
  25 s green (overprint in red)
  50 s brown
  1 y red

Don't confuse these stamps with the stamps of the Japanese offices in China.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 r * *  
1 s * *  
1 1/2 s R R  
2 s ** **  
3 s * *  
3 s *** *** Marriage
4 s *** ***  
5 s *** **  
8 s *** ***  
10 s ** *  
15 s *** *  
20 s *** *  
25 s *** ***  
50 s R ***  
1 Y R ***  

 

From 1901 on the stamps of Japan were used without any overprint, until 1945.

stamp used in Korea
(Stamp of Japan, used in Korea)

Japanese Offices in China

1900 Stamps of Japan of 1899 overprinted with chinese characters in red or black

20 s red

  5 r grey 
  1/2 s grey
  1 s brown
  1 1/2 s blue
  1 1/2 s violet
  2 s green 
  3 s red
  3 s red (marriage)
  4 s red
  5 s orange
  6 s brown
  8 s olive 
  10 s blue
  15 s violet
  20 s red
  25 s green 
  50 s brown
  1 Y red
  5 Y green (man)
  10 Y black (man)

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 r * *  
1/2 s * *  
1 s * *  
1 1/2 s blue ** **  
1 1/2 s violet * * 1907?
2 s * *  
3 s red * c Two shades of red were issued
3 s *** *** Marriage
4 s ** **  
5 s ** *  
6 s *** * 1907?
8 s *** ***  
10 s ** c  
15 s ** *  
20 s *** *  
25 s *** ***  
50 s *** *  
1 Y *** *  
5 Y RR *** Also issued with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914?)
10 Y RRR RR Also issued with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914?)

 

1913 Stamps of Japan of 1913 overprinted with chinese characters

1 s orange 8 s grey 20 s lilac

  1/2 s brown
  1 s orange
  1 1/2 s blue
  2 s green
  3 s red
  4 s red
  5 s violet
  6 s brown (1920)
  8 s grey (1920)
  10 s blue
  20 s lilac
  25 s green
  30 s brown (1920)
  50 s brown (1920)
  1 Y green and lilac

These stamps exist on paper without or with watermark 'Wavy Lines' (1914).

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Cheapest types
1/2 s * c  
1 s * *  
1 1/2 s * *  
2 s * c  
3 s * c  
4 s * *  
5 s ** * Only with watermark
6 s *** *** Only with watermark
8 s *** *** Only with watermark
10 s ** c  
20 s *** *  
25 s *** *  
30 s *** *** Only with watermark
50 s *** *** Only with watermark
1 Y R *  

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer