Genuine

Issued 1 January 1875 with Syllabics (1 – i ) , (2 – ro) and (3 – ha)

Scott #47 and Sakura #37 on foreign paper

Size 19 1/2 mm x 22 1/2 mm

The 15 sen lilac with syllabics has five original plates.  Ichida says, two plates each with syllabics (1-i) and syllabic (2-ro) and one plate  (3-ha).  There are no known classic forgeries with syllabic or .  However, there is a 1961 Japan Stamp Publicity Association Reproduction,  a 1954 ABC Kurabu (Club) forgery, and a 1912 Tayama reproduction with syllabic (2-ro). Therefore, only stamps (3-ha) may be presumed genuine.

Reminder:  Only 16 petals or florets in the genuine Kiku Crest (Chrysanthemum Crest).

Syllabic (3-ha)

15 Sen Secret Marks

There are five secret marks hidden in the corner designs.  Two in the top corner designs and three in the bottom corner designs.  These secret marks are shown here, but they are somewhat difficult to see and other features may identify the forgeries easier.  Most of the forgeries do not reproduce any of the secret marks correctly.

South Corner Scrolls

Top:  West side doesn’t have a line.  East side has a line.

Middle:  West side doesn’t have a line.  East side has a line.

Bottom:   West side has a line.  East side line is missing.

Other Differences Between Genuine and Forged

Milton  T. Montgomery in A Guide to the Cherry Blossom Series describes the forgery characteristics below in this 15 sen stamp. However Wada’s plate 34, with no  sankō or mozō, reproduces the genuine characteristics better than the other forgers and needs different criteria for determining the forgeries.  Wada’s plate 34 forgeries will be described in detail below.

Montgomery’s characteristics are described here and will identify most of the forgeries.

1. Genuine:  The bird’s tail ends in a V-shaped notch.  Forgeries:  The tail end is either square or rounded.
2. Genuine:  The top of the small east-wing crosses under the large wing-tip and shows to the west of it.  Forgeries:  The small wing tip is missing.
3. Genuine:  Tips of the leaves on the east are cut off by the inner circle.  Forgeries:   Tips are pointed and complete.
4. Genuine:  There is space between the bottom frame line and the inner circle.  Forgeries:  In most forgeries, the bottom line touches the circle.

Wada: 15 Sen Forgeries, Plate 34 “Unsigned”

Wada, Plate 34, Position 1 “Unsigned“

Syllabic (1-i)

Incorrect Secret Mark

“Signed” Forgeries

WADA: Plate 33: Wada changed this plate in different ways.  He changed from mozō to sankō, and then changed the position and size of the  sankō.  The earliest examples (state 1) of plate 33 have sankō high close to the circle in the color of the stamps. State 2 the sankō is lower above the bird.    State 3 large mozō close to the inner circle.  State 4 has small sanko on either side of the bird’s body.

Positions 1 (all states) has 12 petals in Chrysanthemum Crest; position 2 has 13 petals; position 3 has 14 petals;  and positions 4-6, have 15 petals.

All  are syllabic (1-i).

Note: 33-3 means Plate 33, position 3 etc..

Maeda: 15 sen, type 1, with sankō

Mihon: Type 3, syllabic (1-i)

Chrysanthemum Crest has 14 petals. 

“Unsigned” Forgeries

Wada “unsigned’ forgeries (plate 34) are deceptive, see special section above.

Mihon Type 1: syllabic (1-i), with no mihon

15 Petals in Chrysanthemum Crest

 ABC Kurabu (ABC Club) - 1950's-1960's

For more information about the ABC Kurabu Forgeries click here.

Note: Numbers in parenthesis and bold are the catalog numbers found on reverse of the forgeries.  State 4 forgeries did not have any numbers on the reverse. It is believed that State 4 forgeries exist for all different values.  But only a few State 4 examples were available for examination.  When State 4 was available for examination, the design type is recorded.

ABC (Kurabu) Club Forgery syllabic ロ (ro-2) – Design 116

States 1, 2. 3 & 5  (No. 32).

Characteristics of Design 116:

1. 1. 1. Breaks.
      2. South “s” misshapen at bottom.

Reproductions