Manchukuo Stamps 1938 Fourth Presentation Booklet



Introduction Manchukuo Search 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Airmail Revenues Imprinted Postcards Seals & Labels Savings Commemorative Cancellations Postmarks Postage Due Forgeries Reply Coupons Manchurian Local Overprints Contact	1938 Fourth Special Presentation Album This is the fourth in a series of small high quality albums of stamps distributed to foreign postmasters, diplomats and other dignitaries. Distribution of these albums would be some time after June 1938 but the exact date is unknown, but likely to be later that year. The covers are bound in silk and the stamps inside are glued onto thick cream covered card. The booklets are tied with purple ribbon and the all round presentation is excellent. It is believed to contain a sample of all stamps and imprinted postcards available and in use at the time of issue. Almost as interesting as the stamps it contains are the stamps that are missing, this may indicate that stocks were exhausted by the date of issue and these were no longer available for sale.


		Contents of all pages below.



	The large seal script characters are repeated from the label on the cover and read 滿洲帝國郵票 Manchukuo Empire Postage Stamps. The smaller characters are harder to translate but may be 郵政總局 Main Post Office, making these booklets a government issued presentation item.	This page contains one each of the following - 1936 Fourth Regular Issue stamps ½f, 1f, 2f and 3f. 1937 also Fourth China Mail 2½f. The absence of the 1½f. Fourth Regular Issue stamp may mean that stocks of this stamp were exhausted when the booklet was issued.	This page contains one each of the following - 1936 Fourth Regular Issue stamps 4f, 6f, and 7f and 1936 Third China Mail 8f also 1937 Fourth China Mail 5f. The absence of the 5f. Fourth Regular Issue stamp may mean that stocks of this stamp were exhausted when the booklet was issued.



	This page contains one each of the following - 1936 Fourth Regular Issue stamps 9f, 10f, 2f, 12f, 15f and 19f (airmail April 1937) and 1937 Fourth China Mail 13f. The absence of the 13f. Fourth Regular Issue stamp may mean that stocks of this stamp were exhausted when the booklet was issued.	This page contains one each of the following - 1936 Fourth Regular Issue stamps 20f, 30f, 50f, 1Y and 39f (airmail April 1937). The 39f Airmail is interesting because this would make it one of the 10,000 copies of the first issue. These are hard to find and are identical to stamps from the larger later issue (July 39) making identification problematic for collectors.	This page contains a 1f postcard on cream stock. The card shows the original "sky of lines/legend low" design (it was later re-drawn). This dates it to 1 April 1937.



	This page contains a 1f + 1f reply paid postcard on buff stock. Both parts are present. The colour of the card dates it to June 1938.	This page contains a 2f postcard on buff stock. The card shows the re-drawn "sky of clouds" design. This dates it to April 1938.	This page contains a 2f + 2f reply paid postcard on buff stock. The card shows the re-drawn "sky of clouds" design. This dates it to May 1938.



	This page contains a 2½f postcard on buff stock. This shows the fourth China Mail design. The colour of the card dates it to 1938.	This page contains a 4f letter sheet on cream stock. This shows the Fourth Regular Issue, 4f yellow green with a legend high design. The colour of the paper dates it to 1937/8.	This page contains a 10f postcard on cream stock. This shows the 1936 Fourth Regular Issue design with the stamp shown in red instead of blue. The colour of the card dates it to April/May 1938.



		This page contains a 10f +10f reply paid postcard on cream stock. This shows the 1936 Fourth Fourth Regular Issue design with the stamp shown in red instead of blue. The colour of the card dates it to 1st April 1937.


	The identification of the postcards is based upon "The Catalogue of Postal Stationary of the Japanese Occupation of China, Part One, Manchuria" by Dr. Robert M. Spaulding Jr., with additional information from a number of other sources.