Alexander Schumann

Alexander Schumann was a stamp dealer (The Mercury Stamp Co) based in Shanghai, specialising in the stamps of China and in particular Manchukuo. In 1940 he brought out what was probably the first specialist catalogue of stamps solely from Manchukuo, Special Catalogue of the Stamps of Manchoukuo, this was re-written and a 2nd edition was published in 1941. This catalogue was simply produced with a soft cover and copies can be found today.

Special Catalogue of the Stamps of Manchoukuo is a useful work to have because many of the varieties shown are referred to by other authors and used by modern dealers in their descriptions. The catalogue is well written and covers all stamps issued up to 1941 including the "officially sealed" labels which are seldom mentioned elsewhere.

Like many other authors on this subject his catalogue did not continue beyond 1941 due to the start of the second world war. It is easy to see why any stamps connected to Japan would have lost their appeal after the attack on Pearl Harbour.