Scott 16	Scott 16A	Scott 16B	Scott 16,16A,16B
Second Printing	First Printing	Third Printing	All Three Printings
Go to 16 Page	This is 16A	Go to 16B Page	Go to Main 16 Page
Forgeries Discovered in 1973

8 Point Setting -  Smaller Type Font
A1 - The bottom gap in the backward five is relatively closed (Kai).
A2 - The diagonal downstroke in the adjoining character enters
      the bottom gap in the backward five ()(Kai).
A3 - The top (horizontal) stroke of the backward five has a level to slighlty downward bias.
B -  The "J" type stroke is smaller and has a very small bump (almost flat)
      at the end of the upper horizontal stroke (Tei).

9 Point - Larger Type Font
A1 - The bottom gap in the backward five is relatively open (Kai).
A2 - The diagonal downstroke in the adjoining character stops short of
      entering the bottom gap in the backward five ()(Kai).
A3 - The top (horizontal) stroke of the backward five has a level to slighlty upward bias (Kai).
B -  The "J" type stroke is larger and has a large bump at the end of
      the upper horizontal stroke (Tei).

Measurements of Genuine and Forged Overprints.

 
RPSS earliest (1952.1.17) recorded use of 16A, see here.

Varieties
 

Plate Specific Variations in Scott 16A (1st Printing).

Position                Variation

3                       White spot (ca 1/3 in from right) on the large heavy bar,
                         sometimes referred to as "worm eaten bar" - probably not 
                         a constant variety


10                      Slight doubling (blurring) of Kai Tei
                         - probably not a constant variety



17                      Inverted (reversed) bars at bottom with thick bar on bottom



33                      Break in vertical stroke of "Tei"



33 ??                   Partial break in vertical stroke of "Tei"
                        Bottom thin bar dropped and overall surcharge
                        measures 4+mm vrs normal 3.5mm, 9 pt

(left stamp possibly position 33)


43,44                   Top right of diagonal stroke of "Kai" missing




72                      Wide spaced bars -top & bottom- similar to 2nd printing



73                      Wrong font (small) "0" - dropped thin "0"



76                      White Sky in basic stamp


 
82                      Broken Yen character (break at upper right)
                         minor and perhaps not constant variety

 
83                      Lumpy "0" - right side of"0" has bump not listed
                         in Scott or JSCA - not a contant variety


 
86                      Wide spaced bottom bar, spaced wider than pos 95


 
95                      Wide spaced bottom bar, not spaced as wide as pos 86


99                      9 point with inscription in margin


Click here to see a block of 20 with postions:
61-5, 71-5, 81-5, 91-5


Kai Tei                 Variations/Combinations
9p/8p/9p                Strip of three 9p/8p/9p - only one per sheet,
                        positons 22-23-24

9p/8p (Horizontal Pair) Pair 9p on left and 8p on right - eight (8) in a sheet


8p/9p (Vertical Pair)   Pair 8p on top and 9p on bottom - ten (10) in a sheet


9p/8p (Vertical Pair)   Pair 9p on top and 8p on bottom - nine (9) in a sheet

Inscription Block       Lower right block of 6 or 10 with inscription

For an excellent detailed discussion of the Ryukyu Islands 10 yen Kai Tei
overprint series you can consult, From the Dragon's Den, Volume 14:2,
(Whole No. 45) April, 1982. FTDD is the official publication of the Ryukyu
Philatelic Specialists Society, LTD.

General Comments Quantity Printed: 16 200,000 16A 200,000 16B 40,000 440,000 Total Gum on 16 Series Stamps. Don't expect to find 16 series stamps with nice clean shinny gum. While they certainly can be found in that condition, it is not the norm. The norm for this series is a dry flat appearing gum. In some cases the gum has browned slightly. Pencil Plate Position Annotations on the gum side of 16 series stamps. A common practice of dealers who broke up sheets of the 16 series was to make light pencil annotations of the sheet positions on the stamps. In my opinion, this adds to the value of the item rather than detracts. It ensures that you can quickly and accurately plate the stamp(s). Below is an illustration of the back of a 16 series stamp which shows the dry flat gum and dealer's pencil annotation of position.   Forgeries. By the term forgery, I am referring to a stamp that was made with the intent to defraud the postal service of revenue. They are manufactured and used without paying the postal service. There are well documented forgeries of the 10 yen Kai Tei overprint. Two such forgeries are called the Gushikawa forgeries. These are discussed in From the Dragon's Den, Volume 15:2, (Whole No. 49) April, 1983. The overprints appear different than the genuine 16, 16A, 16b and they can easily be confirmed as forgeries if they have part of Gushikawa cancel (1953) as show below. Forgeries are in demand. Most collectors do not have them. Consider yourself fortunate if you have a 16 series forgery in your collection. Two types of the Gushikawa forgery have been recorded (See FTDD 15:2). Type a. The first type has the large middle bar (pointed on both ends) with a pair of bars (thick and thin) above and below the center bar. In this respect the stamp is similar to the genuine 16s with a total of 5 bars at the bottom of the overprint. The balance of the overprint appears to have been applied separately and at times the "10" rests on the upper thin bar. The "0" in "10" is usually shorter than the "1". Type b. This overprint has only one thick bar above and below the large middle bar for a total of 3 bars at the bottom of the overprint. As in the type a forgery, the "0" in "10" is usually shorter than the "1". Dates of Use. Below are the earliest and latest date uses I have personally confirmed of both types of forged stamps. Type a. Earliest: 52.11.26 - Latest: 53.2.18 Type b. Earliest: 53.2.16 - Latest: 53.11.3 The forgeries (to defraud the Postal Agency) are listed and valued in a footnote in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers at the conclusion of the listing of stamps in the 16 series. The footnote advises of the two types of forgeries. Perhaps because it is so obvious, the type b forgery is the one that I see the most.

(Gushikawa) Type a. Gushikawa Forgery Another Type a. Gushikawa Forgery Type b. Gushikawa Forgery Gushikawa Forgery - Types a & b Counterfeits. By the term counterfeit, I am referring to a stamp that was made to defraud stamp collectors. Unfortunately, counterfeits of the 16 series also exist. This is a very specialized area. The counterfeits are also discussed in the previously cited article (FTDD 15:2). My advice would be to acquire copies of all three printing that you are confident are genuine. Carefully, compare these with others and if they don't match - be cautious. Sun Philatelic Auctions Number Ninety Four, which closed July 26, 1998, offered a very extensive collection of 16 series stamps. There was one lot of 81 counterfeits. It had an estimated cash value of $2,500.00. Covers. Any of the 16 series stamps on cover is an excellent item. I have a steady demand for this series on cover. If you have them to sell, please contact me.

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