Cherry Blossoms – Wild Goose: 12 Sen Rose with Syllabics
Genuine
Issued 1 January 1875 with Syllabics 
(1 – i ) , 
(2 – ro) and 
(3 – ha)
Scott #46 and Sakura #36 on foreign paper
Size 19 1/2 mm x 22 1/2 mm
The 12 sen rose with syllabics has four original plates. Ichida says, two plates for syllabics (1-i) and one each for syllabic (2-ro) and (3-ha). There are no known forgeries with syllabic (2-ro) or (3-ha) . Therefore, stamps with syllabic or may be presumed genuine.
Reminder: Only 16 petals or florets in the genuine Kiku Crest (Chrysanthemum Crest).
Syllabic (1-i)
Syllabic (2-ro)
Syllabic (3-ha)
12 Sen Secret Mark
West character: Horizontal with one elongated dot.
East character: Vertical and with two distinct elongated dots.
Other Differences Between Genuine and Forged
- Genuine: The outer circular frame is two fine lines very close together. This feature doesn’t show well in scans, but it is clear under magnification. Forgeries: Forgeries have a single heavier line.
- Genuine: There isn’t any shading here. Forgeries: The shading line(s) are here.
- Genuine: The corner scrolls end in sold balls and never touch the outer frame. Forgeries: These scrolls usually end in open curls and are close to or touch the outer frame.
- Genuine: The bottom stroke of both upper and lower 2’s ends in a sharp upward stroke. Forgeries: This upward stroke is often missing or much shorter.
- Genuine: The ‘S’ in each ‘SEN’ is noticeable smaller then the ‘E’ or ‘N’. Forgeries: All the letters are close to or about the same size.
“Signed” Forgeries
Wada: Plate 31, State 1, with mozō
Wada: Plate 31, State 2 & 3, with sankō
There is a difference between the position and shape of the sankō in these two states, but the difference is too small to be noticable when looking at a single stamp.
Wada: Plate 31, state 4, with sankō
Sankō is noticably lower and closer to the neck of the bird than in states 2 & 3.
Maeda: 12 sen, type 1, with large sankō
Maeda: 12 sen, type 2, with sankō
Mihon: Type 1, syllabic (1-i)
Chrysanthemum Crest has 15 petals
Mihon: Type 2, syllabic (1-i)
Chrysanthemum Crest has 12 petals
Mihon: Type 3, syllabic (1-i)
Chrysanthemum Crest has 12 petals.
“Unsigned” Forgeries
All “unsigned” forgeries are syllabic (1-i)
Wada: Plate 32, Position 4
Maeda: Type 3
Spiro: syllabic 
(1 -i)
Chrysanthemum Crest has 13 petals
Unkown Forger: syllabic イ (1 -i)
Bogus blue paper and printed perforations cut out. Too many petals in Chrysanthemum Crest.
Unkown Forger: syllabic イ (1 -i)
Same as unknown forger at left, but this time on white paper with printed perforations.
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, 12 sen rose wild goose – Design 115
States 1, 2, 3, & 5 (No. 31)
Characteristics of Design 115:
-
-
- “E” at North is slanted.
- North “E” touches bottom serif of “N”
-
Reproductions
Tayama 1908
This 12 sen wild goose, syllabic イ (i-1) is found in sheet 2 included with the 1908 issue of the Communications Law Monthly Report. It has the type 2 cancel.
Inscriptions translate:
12 sen pale red;
Issued: Meiji 8.1 (January 1875);
Off Sale: Meiji 10.6 (June 1877);
Invalidated: Meiji 22. 11 (November 1889)
Click here to see more information about Tayama reproductions.
Japan Stamp Publicity Association
JSPA Sheet No. 1, Issued 20 April 1961, Syllabic イ (i-1)
The stamp in this sheet reproduces the genuine issue of 1 January 1875 on wove paper with syllabic イ (i-1). The sheet is on wove paper. For more information click here.