The 2025 December Auction - Sale 346 (December 13 - December 16, 2025)
Sale 346
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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.
comprising 30c blue, 50c red, and 100c violet, tied by double-ring “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN” English datestamp dated 1895 SEP 10. Printed in Tainan, this second issue shows finer engraving and whiter, stronger paper than the first issue, produced barely a month before the fall of the Republic. An outstanding and representative issue from the final phase of the short-lived Formosan Republic postal administration, all struck with matching same-date cancellations and exceptionally preserved. An important reference for the study of plate varieties and postal operations of the Republic. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
comprising 30c blue (3), 50c red (14), and 100c violet (1), together with five contemporary forgeries included for comparison. Several genuine examples bear the “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN” double-ring English datestamp, while others remain unused. All belong to the second issue printed in Tainan, showing finer engraving and whiter, firmer paper than the first issue, produced barely a month before the fall of the Republic, an important emission from the final stage of its postal administration. The five forgeries illustrate period and later imitations, differing notably in line quality and paper texture, offering valuable reference for the study of authenticity and printing techniques of Formosan Republic issues. A well-preserved and comprehensive assemblage of significant philatelic and scholarly importance. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.
comprising single examples of 30c blue, 50c red, and 100c violet, together with two cut pieces bearing complete sets of the third issue, each cancelled by double-ring “FORMOSAN REPUBLIC / TAINAN” English datestamp. Printed in Tainan during the final days of the Republic on thinner native paper with coarser impressions, this third issue represents the last printing before the fall of the regime. The group illustrates the final stage of design, paper, and usage development of the Formosan Republic stamps, an extremely rare and historically important assembly. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.