George C. Baxley
PO Box 807
Alamogordo, NM 88311
http://www.BaxleyStamps.com
Ryukyu Islands 16 (Second Printing)
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Scott 16 (2nd Printing) -
Bars - Wide Bars -
Kai Tei 8 point & 9 point
Measurements -
Sheet Layout -
Varieties -
General Comments
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[Ryukyu 16 Series]
[Discounts]
Scott 16 (2nd Printing)
10 Sen & Bars
Wide Spaced Bars - Narrow Spaced "10"
Kai Tei
8 Point Type Font
 
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).
B - The long curved diagonal stroke passes under the base of the backward
five and extends approximately 80% the length the base of the 
C - 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 Type Font
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 before
entering the bottom gap in the backward five (Kai).
B - The long curved diagonal stroke passes under the base of the backward
five and extends approximately 90% the length the base of the (Kai)
C - 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.
Table of Measurements for the Overprint
Genuine Scott 16, 16A & 16B and Forgeries (a~h)
| Scott |
A1 |
A2 |
B |
C |
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| 16 |
4.2~4.6 |
2.5~2.7 |
0.5~0.7 |
7.5~7.8 |
Wide Bars |
| 16A |
3.5~3.6 |
2.4~2.5 |
0.9~1.0 |
7.8~8.0 |
Narrow Bars |
| 16B |
4.4~4.6 |
2.6-2.8 |
1.5~1.6 |
8.8~9.0 |
Wide "10" |
| Forgeries 16 (c ~ f) |
4.7 |
3.0 |
1.5 |
7.0 |
Wide Bars |
| Forgeries 16A (a & b) |
4.0 |
2.5 |
1.3 |
7.0 |
Narrow Bars |
| Forgeries 16B (g & h) |
4.5 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
8.8 |
Wide "10" |
Distance Between:
A1 - Outside of the Top and Bottom Thin Bars.
A2 - Inside of the Inner Thick Bars.
B - "1" and "0" using the Vertical Stroke of the 1.
C - Bottom of the "Tei" and highest point on the Yen character.
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Click below to see a complete sheet of scott 16
Scott 16 - Second Printing - Plate Positions in Sheet of 100 The same "Kai" - "Tei" settings found in Scott 16 (2nd printing) were used in Scott 17. That makes a sheet of Scott 16 a relatively affordable aid for plating Scott 17, the 100 yen overprint.
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9 point |
|
8 point |
|
9/8 point |
Variety Stamps Underlined
Click on the Number for More Information
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| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
| 21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
| 31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
| 41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
46 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
50 |
| 51 |
52 |
53 |
54 |
55 |
56 |
57 |
58 |
59 |
60 |
| 61 |
62 |
63 |
64 |
65 |
66 |
67 |
68 |
69 |
70 |
| 71 |
72 |
73 |
74 |
75 |
76 |
77 |
78 |
79 |
80 |
| 81 |
82 |
83 |
84 |
85 |
86 |
87 |
88 |
89 |
90 |
| 91 |
92 |
93 |
94 |
95 |
96 |
97 |
98 |
99 |
100 |
Varieties
Various Surcharge Variations in Scott 16 (2nd Printing).
8/8 Type
RPSS 16A - Type IIA
JSCA 16Bb
9/8 Type
RPSS 16b - Type IIB
JSCA 16Bc
9/9 Type
RPSS 16 - Type IIC
JSCA 16Ba
Pairs
9/9 & 8/8
RPSS 16c
8/8 & 9/9
RPSS 16d
Strip/3
9/9 & 9/8 & 8/8
RPSS 16e
Plate Specific Variations in Scott 16 (2nd Printing).
Position Variation
3-4 Pair, left stamp 9 point, right stamp 8 point
43-4 This type pair occures only twice in a sheet
7-8 row Pair, left stamp 8 point, right stamp 9 point
This type of pair occures ten times in a sheet
all pairs in 7-8 row (ie 7-8: 17-18; 27-28 etc)
8-9 Margin Above Higa Han (Chop) in top margin, generally
found between postions 8-9
10 Break in top of "0" - Not constant, sometimes "0" is thin
11,12,13 Bottom bars close to thick heavy bar as in 16A, as you
progress to the right the spacing from the thick bar
increases, perhaps not a constant variety
20 Break in horizontal stroke of "Tei"
26,85 Diagonal stroke at top left in right
character in "Kai" mostly missing
28 Bottom line on "Yen" character broken or partially
missing (at right), perhaps not constant variety
44 Bars (vertical top thin bar to bottom thin
bar) measure 4.5mm versus normal 4.2mm
51,91 Thick middle bar is rounded at the left rather
than pointed
58 Bottom thin bar ca .5mm shorter at
right than the upper thicker bar
59 Dropped thin "0"
59 & 69 Pos 59 & 69 in margin block/4
69 Wrong font (small 8 font) "Yen" character
75 Top horizontal stroke in left
character of "Kai" broken.
See 95 also
76 White Sky in basic stamp
White Sky (stamp in middle of block)
76 White Sky in basic stamp, large bottom
bar breaking up
85 Diagonal stroke at top left in right
character in "Kai" mostly missing.
Also see Pos 26.
94 Left 1/4th of top thin bar broken
or missing
95 Top horizontal stroke in left
character of "Kai" broken weak/thin
or broken. Joining vertical stroke
often broken also. See 75 also.
Kai Tei Variations
8p/9p Pair with left stamp 8p and right stamp 9p -
ten (10) horizontal pairs per sheet
9p/8p Pair with left stamp 9p and right stamp 8p -
only two (2) horizontal pairs per sheet
9p/9-8p/8p Strip of three with left stamp 9p, middle stamp
mixed font with 9p left and 8p right, right stamp
8p - eight (8) horizontal strips of three per sheet
Miscellaneous
Inscription Block 6 Lower right block of six with inscription
Higa Block Upper right block of six with Higa seal (pos 8-10, 18-20)
vermillion or red ink
Various downward shifts of the overprint that move the bars off
the stamp and place them at the top of the next one.
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.
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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 & Latest: 53.2.18 (only use I have confirmed)
Type b. Earliest: 53.2.16 - Latest: 53.7.2?
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.
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(Gushikawa)
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Type a.
Gushikawa Forgery
Another Type a.
Gushikawa Forgery
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Type b.
Gushikawa Forgery
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Gushikawa Forgery - Types a & b
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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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George C. Baxley, PO Box 807, Alamogordo, NM 88311
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