The 2025 December Auction - Sale 346 (December 13 - December 16, 2025)
Sale 346
- (-) Remove Mizuhara’s Collection of Classic Taiwan Stamps and Postal History filter Mizuhara’s Collection of Classic Taiwan Stamps and Postal History
the right column inscribed “信重○兩○錢”, and bearing a small red “北總” handstamp at lower left, representing the Taipeh General Station office code (Station Classification Mark). This indicates that the item was dispatched from the Taipeh General Station to the Huwei (modern Tamsui) branch station. Issued under the Liu Ming-chuan postal system, this slip is part of the Postal Commercial Receipt series produced by the Taiwan Local Postal Administration. After the postal clerk received a letter and collected the required postage, this receipt slip was handed to the sender as proof of postage payment, serving simultaneously as both a postal receipt and certification of delivery for commercial correspondence. This system marked the first instance in Taiwan’s postal history of a dual structure combining postage receipt and accounting recordkeeping. This example was used on the 15th day of the 2nd month of Kuanghsu 20 (March 21, 1894), when mail was dispatched from the Taipeh General Station to the Huwei sub-office, during a period of active trade and postal communication in northern Taiwan’s treaty-port era. According to the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue, p.198, only about six used examples are recorded. An extremely rare and historically significant postal artifact from the Ching-era Taiwan Local Post system. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.261.
printed in red ink on imported European wove paper, depicting a crouching tiger, the emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing strength, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. Perforated 11½, with slightly irregular edges typical of this hand-printed issue. This block originates from the corner of the sheet, and the upper-left stamp shows a distinct double impression, clearly visible in the inscriptions and frame lines, caused by a slight movement of the plate during hand-press printing. Printed at Tainan in September 1895, this is part of the Third Issue (Die III) of the Taiwan Republic, the final postal issue before the fall of the regime. Combining both positional and printing-variety rarity and stands as one of the most representative and academically significant surviving examples of the “Formosan Tiger” issue. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.275.
printed in violet ink on imported European wove paper, depicting a crouching tiger, the emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing the spirit of self-reliance and resistance in defense of the homeland. Perforated 11½, with slightly irregular edges typical of this hand-printed issue. This block originates from the corner of the sheet, and the lower-right stamp shows a distinct double impression, visible in the characters and frame lines, caused by slight movement of the plate during hand pressing, an extremely rare printing anomaly among the issues of the Taiwan Republic. Printed at Tainan in September 1895, it represents the Third Issue (Die III) of the 100 Cash value, the final postal issue before the fall of the Republic. Combining both a corner sheet position and a double-impression printing variety, this piece stands as one of the most representative and academically important rarities among the “Formosan Tiger” stamps. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.276.
Kuanghsu 16th year, 5th month, 1st day (June 17, 1890) Taipei to Huwei; Kuanghsu 18th year, 11th month, 1st day (December 19, 1892) Huwei to Taipei; and Kuanghsu 18th year, 11th month, 3rd day (December 21, 1892) Huwei to Taipei. After receiving the mail, the station clerk was required to record the weight and postage on the slip, while the red station code mark indicated the dispatching office, such as Taipeh General Station or Huwei Substation. This system represented Taiwan’s earliest modernized postal accounting and receipt mechanism, establishing both financial and documentary control within the local post. The group clearly demonstrates the operational process of the Taiwan Local Government Post during the late Ching period, with precise manuscript dates and distinct red chops. A key postal record from Taiwan’s pre-Formosan Republic era, highly important for the study of Liu Ming-chuan’s postal reforms and the emergence of Taiwan’s modern postal system. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.261.
printed in blue ink on imported European wove paper, perforated 11½. The design features a crouching tiger, emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing the spirit of courage, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. The stamp clearly shows a double impression, visible in the overlapping frame lines and inscriptions, caused by slight movement of the plate during hand-press printing, making it a rare printing anomaly among Taiwan Republic issues. This 30 Cash value represents the lowest denomination of the Third Issue (Die III), printed at Tainan in September 1895, hand-inked and impression-pressed on European wove paper, intended for local correspondence during the Republic’s short-lived postal operation. Combining both a printing variety and genuine postal usage, this is a highly significant and rare example from the closing phase of the Taiwan Republic postal system, of great historical and philatelic importance. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.273.
comprising two blocks of 50 Cash in red, one block of 30 Cash in blue, and one block of 100 Cash in violet, all printed at Tainan in September 1895. Each stamp is printed in hand-applied ink on imported European wove paper, perforated 11½, featuring the symbolic crouching tiger design, emblem of the Formosan Republic, representing the spirit of courage, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. This group forms a complete representation of the Third Issue (Die III) of the “Tiger” series, illustrating the final phase of Taiwan’s independent postal system before the Japanese occupation. Exceptionally well preserved, with clear impressions and full original gum, it is one of the most significant and display-worthy issues in the philately of the Formosan Republic. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
comprising one unused and one used single, two unused blocks of four, and one unused block of six, all printed in blue ink on imported European wove paper. The design features a crouching tiger, emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing the spirit of courage, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. This 30 Cash value, the lowest denomination of the Third Issue (Die III), was printed at Tainan in September 1895, using hand-applied ink and hand-press methods. Variations in inking and slightly irregular perforations are characteristic of this hand-produced issue. The group, comprising both unused and used examples as well as multiples, fully illustrates the range of shades, settings, and printing characteristics of the Third Issue 30 Cash stamps. An important and scarce assemblage for the study of the late postal operations of the Taiwan Republic, exceptionally well preserved. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
comprising one unused (faulty) and one used single, together with three unused blocks of four, all printed in red ink on imported European wove paper. The design depicts a crouching tiger, emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing the spirit of courage, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. This 50 Cash value, printed at Tainan in September 1895, represents the middle denomination of the Third Issue (Die III). Each stamp was hand-inked and impression-pressed, showing slight variations in shade and minor irregularities in perforation, characteristic of this hand-produced issue. The group provides a comprehensive representation of the printing and typographic varieties of the 50 Cash denomination, serving as an important reference for the study of the late postal operations of the Taiwan Republic. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
comprising three unused singles and three unused blocks of four, all printed on imported European wove paper. The design features a crouching tiger, emblem of the Formosan Republic, symbolizing the spirit of courage, self-reliance, and resistance in defense of the homeland. This 100 Cash value, printed at Tainan in September 1895, was the highest denomination of the Third Issue (Die III), intended primarily for external correspondence or heavier domestic postage. The stamps show noticeable variation in color intensity, reflecting natural differences resulting from the hand-inking and manual press process, with slightly irregular perforations typical of this issue. The group as a whole fully illustrates the range of printing and typographic variations of the Third Issue 100 Cash, making it an important and rare assemblage for the study of the Taiwan Republic’s final postal emissions. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
tied by a strike of double-circle English datestamp “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN”, dated October 15, 1895. Posted barely ten days before the fall of Formosan Republic, this cover was sent during a time of great political turmoil, when Japanese forces were about to occupy Tainan. Despite the imminent collapse of the regime, the local postal authority continued to maintain external communications, a remarkable testament to the Republic’s determination to preserve administrative order and autonomy even in its final days. This cover stands as a rare surviving example of Tainan Local Post’s external correspondence, evidencing the brief but genuine operation of Taiwan’s independent postal system following the cession from the Qing Empire. It further illustrates the continuation of foreign trade and private correspondence during the last phase of the Republic. An item of outstanding historical and philatelic importance for the study of Taiwan’s postal evolution and the operation of Formosan Republic’s postal administration. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
tied by a struck of double-circle English datestamp “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN”, dated October 15, 1895. Posted barely ten days before the collapse of Formosan Republic, at a time when Japanese forces were already approaching Tainan, this cover demonstrates that the local postal administration continued to function and maintain overseas communications amid severe political turmoil. A key surviving example from the final phase of the Republic’s postal service, it symbolizes the government’s efforts to preserve postal autonomy and international correspondence during its brief existence. Of exceptional historical and philatelic importance, it ranks among the most representative surviving covers of Formosan Republic postal history. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
tied by a struck of double-circle English datestamp “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN”, dated October 15, 1895. Posted barely ten days before the fall of Formosan Republic, when Japanese forces were already advancing toward Tainan, this cover evidences that the local official postal system was still functioning and capable of maintaining external mail dispatches to Hong Kong. It vividly illustrates the Republic’s determination to uphold its postal service and international communications despite imminent collapse. A rare and highly significant example of outgoing mail from the final days of the Formosan Republic, of great historical and philatelic importance. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.