The Scenic Cancellations of the South Manchurian Railway Zone (SMRZ) and the Kwantung Leased Territory (KLT)



Introduction Manchukuo Search 1932 - 1935 1936 - 1939 1940 - Jul 1942 Jul 1942 - 1944 Scenic Cancels of Manchukuo Special Cancels Tourist Cachets Shaped Railway Cachets KLT Cancels Scenic Cancels of KLT/SMRZ Contact	The Scenic Cancellations of the SMRZ and the KLT Scenic cancels could be requested from certain Post Offices and Postal Agencies as a souvenir. They were valid for postal use. Typically they were 35mm in diameter and appeared in either brownish red or red ink, unlike the cancels of Manchukuo generally, other colours are very unusual. All dating shown on the stamps uses the Japanese 昭和 Shōwa era dating system. It seems that these cancels are harder to find than the Manchukoan counter-parts. On 1st April 1931 scenic cancellations were introduced as a result of Kwantung Bureau (関東庁, Kantōcho) Bulletin #39 and were available from 10 post offices in both the Kwantung Leased Territory (KLT) and South Manchurian Railway Zone (SMRZ). This meant that they were the first postal "Scenic" cancels to be used throughout the Japanese empire. On the 25th May 1935 Kantō Kyoku Bulletin #65 ordered the names of a number of key post offices to make name changes: The former 沙河口 Shahekou, 大連山縣道埠頭 Dairen Yamagatadōri Futō and 大連 Dairen Post Offices merged to become 大連中央 Dairen Central. 奉天 Fengtien Post Office was renamed 奉天中央 Fengtien Central. 安東縣 Antung hsien Post Office became Antung 安東 dropping the "縣 hsien" which meant county, an inaccurate description. On 1st October 1935 a new bulletin replacing #39 was issued, Kantō Kyoku Bulletin #117 and a new re-designed range of scenic cancels came into use, this included many more post offices. Scenic cancels were abandoned during the middle of 1938, although in Japan the tradition is continues to this day. If anyone wishes to send me further scans I will be pleased to include them here. Please note that I list these cancels in alphabetical order by Chinese place name, the numbering used on the website is for reference purposes only, it has no other significance.

	SMRZ Scenic 1 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 鞍山 Anshan Design features - Anshan steel mill and a hot springs symbol . Size 35mm dia. Known colours - red, reddish brown or brown	SMRZ Scenic 2 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 鞍山 Anshan replacing the earlier cancel. This is Design features - another image the steel mills. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 3 - First Issued 1st July 1932. This example was issued in 鞍山湯崗子 Anshan T'ang-k'ang-tzu. This is Design features - a park, lake and large official building. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 4 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 鞍山湯崗子 Anshan T'ang-k'ang-tzu. This is Design features - an image of the town. This replaced the previous cancel. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 5 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 安東縣 Antung Hsien Design features - the iron bridge over the Yalu river in the open position, with a raft of logs passing underneath. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - red and reddish brown.	SMRZ Scenic 6 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 安東 Antung. This is Design features - The Yalu river bridge and a pavillion. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.


	SMRZ Scenic 7 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 長春 Changchun, (from 1932 cancels changed to read Hsinking). Design features - a steam train and steering wheel. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - red and reddish brown.	SMRZ Scenic 8 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 橋頭 Ch'iao-t'ou. This is Design features - steep cliffs. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.


	SMRZ Scenic 9 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 錦州 Chin-chou. This is Design features - a hill, city wall and seashells. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.	KLT Scenic 10 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 大連 Dairen (KLT) Design features - Dairen port with the passenger terminal in the foreground. This design was also available from a second Post Office 沙河口 Shahekou, in the South West of the city. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.


	KLT Scenic 11 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 大連中央 Dairen Central Post Office. Design features - a statue and the outline of a building. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.	KLT Scenic 12 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 大連星ヶ浦 Dairen Hoshigaura. Design features - a picture of the town framed within a lifesaver. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - red and reddish brown.


	KLT Scenic 13 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 大連星ヶ浦 Dairen Hoshigaura KLT This is Design features - a statue. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	KLT Scenic 14 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 大連山縣道埠頭 Dairen Yamagata Street Docks KLT This is Design features - breakwater and lighthouse.. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 15 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 鳳凰城 Feng-huang-ch'eng. Design features - Hills with lines to represent agriculture. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 16 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 奉天 Fengtien SMRZ (Mukden) Design features - a stone elephant and the North Mausoleum at Mukden. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.


	SMRZ Scenic 17 - 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 奉天中央 Fengtien (Mukden Cetral P.O.) Design features - Mukden city wall and gate. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.	KLT Scenic 18 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun (SMRZ). Design features - The Togo coal mine at Fushun. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 19 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun. This is Design features - a steam shovel. This replaces the earlier design Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	KLT Scenic 20 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 新京中央 Hsinking Central P.O. (SMRZ). Design features - a war memorial usually known as, the memorial to the loyal dead. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	KLT Scenic 21 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 新旅順 Hsin-lü-shun (New Port Arthur). Design features - An Anglican Church. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 22 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 新旅順 Hsiung-yüeh-ch'eng. Design features - A large rock and fruit. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 23 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 開原 Kai-yüan. Design features - a dragon pillar and city gate. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown.	KLT Scenic 24 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 甘井子 Kan-ching-tzu (KLT). Design features - Heavy machinery. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown



	KLT Scenic 25 - First Issued 10th October 1935 This example was issued in 公主嶺 Kung-chu-ling (SMRZ). The Japanese railway guards and police had a garrison here. Design features - three pigs, ploughed fields and a wind-pump. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - red and reddish brown	KLT Scenic 26 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 遼陽 Liao yang (SMRZ). Design features - a pagoda. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 27 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 遼陽 Liao yang. Design features - The lama tower. This replaces the earlier design. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 28 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 連山関 Lien-shan-kuan. Design features - A rural scene with trees and mountains. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	KLT Scenic 29 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 旅順 Lüshun (Port Arthur). Design features - an anchor memorial. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	KLT Scenic 30 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 旅順 Lüshun (Port Arthur). Design features - a war memorial and coastal scenery. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 31 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 本溪湖 Pen-hsi-hu. Design features - A bridge with a willow in the foreground.. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	KLT Scenic 32 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 沙河口 Sha-ho-k'uo Design features - railway workshops and yards. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 31 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 四平街 Szu-p'ing-chieh. Design features - Yurts and bean plants. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 31 - First Issued 1st April 1931. This example was issued in 鐵嶺 T'ieh-ling. Design features - The lama tower and pavilion on a hill. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	SMRZ Scenic 31 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 鐵嶺 T'ieh-ling. Design features - The lama tower and pavilion on a hill. This replaces the earlier design. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown	SMRZ Scenic 31 - First Issued 1st October 1935. This example was issued in 營口 Ying-k'ou. Design features - a large junk at sea. Size 35mm dia. Known colours - reddish brown


	Reference works used to compile this page; *Check List of Japanese Scenic Cancellations, Published by the Japan Philatelic Publications, Shibuya-ku, Yoyogi 2-2, Tokyo. "Philatelic Gazetteer of Manchoukuo and Kwantung Leased Territory, South Manchurian Railway Zone*" by George A Fisher. The published by the International Society for Japanese Philately Inc. (ISBN 0-934282-09-9) Thanks to Richard Arent for his help in creating this page.