(Article comes with price increases and possible errors.) The KPC (Korean Postage Stamp Catalogue) has been published since nineteen aught (I-don’t-know-when), by the Korean Philatelic Co., Ltd. In Hangul/Korean, they go by the name of Oo-moon kwon. I first became familiar with their catalogue in 1991.
Korean stamps are listed chronologically in six different sections depending on the “class” of stamp. From front-to-rear, the sections are:
1. Old-Korea/Chosan
a. The KPC# begins at “1” and ends with “43”; disregarding “Major-suffix numbers”. Then KPC#’s of “R1-R5”, are assigned to the five re-prints issued by the Japanese, in 1905.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the SCOTT catalogue number.
2. Definitive Stamps/Boe-tong Oop-yoe
a. The KPC# continues with “45-50”, for the six Japanese overprints issued by the US Military Government Office, on 02.01.1946; then continues through KPC# “418”, the last Definitive Stamp listed by the 2002-KPC.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the “Korean Government Stamp Serial Number”; a sequential number that has been assigned by the “Stamp Issuing Authority” to every stamp issued to the public; beginning at “1” for the “Over-printed Japanese Stamps” issued on 02.01.1946, and ending with “2178”; the last Definitive Stamp catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
3. New Year’s Greeting Stamps/Yon-ha Oop-yoe
a. The KPC# in this section, begins with “N-1” for the first “Christmas & New Years Stamp”, issued on 12.11.1957; and ends with “N-78” for the “New Years Greeting Stamp” issued 12.03.2001.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the “Korean Government Stamp Serial Number”; a sequential number that has been assigned by the “Stamp Issuing Authority” to every stamp issued to the public; beginning at “1” for the “Over-printed Japanese Stamps” issued on 02.01.1946, and ending with “2187”; for the last “New Years Greeting Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
4. Commemorative & Special Stamps/Kee-nyom & Took-byol Oop-yoe
a. The KPC# in this section, begins with “C-2” for the first “Commemorative Stamp” issued on 05.01.1946 (“C-1” was assigned to the “40th Anniv. of Emperor’s Reign Stamp, issued 10.18.1902, in the Old-Korea/Chosan Section), and ending with “C-1681”; for the last “Commemorative Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the “Korean Government Stamp Serial Number”; a sequential number that has been assigned by the “Stamp Issuing Authority” to every stamp issued to the public; beginning at “7” for the “Commemorative Stamp” issued on 05.01.1946, and ending with “2189”; for the last “Commemorative Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
5. Semi-Postal Stamps/Ja-son Oop-yoe
a. The KPC# in this section, begins with “S-1” for the first “Semi-postal/Funding Stamp” issued on 08.01.1953, and ending with “S-18”; for the last “Semi-postal/Funding Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC; the stamp issued 07.25.1977.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the “Korean Government Stamp Serial Number”; a sequential number that has been assigned by the “Stamp Issuing Authority” to every stamp issued to the public; beginning at “149” for the “Semi-postal/Funding Stamp” issued on 08.01.1953, and ending with “1061”; for the last “Semi-postal/Funding Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
6. Air Mail Stamps/Hang-kong Oop-yoe
a. The KPC# in this section, begins with “A-1” for the first “Air Mail/Air Post Stamp” issued on 10.01.1947, and ending with “A-40”; for the last “Air Mail/Air Post Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC; the stamp issued 12.20.1973.
b. The number shown in “( )”, following the KPC#, is the “Korean Government Stamp Serial Number”; a sequential number that has been assigned by the “Stamp Issuing Authority” to every stamp issued to the public; beginning at “24” for the “Air Mail/Air Post Stamp” issued on 10.01.1947, and ending with “879”; for the last “Air Mail/Air Post Stamp” catalogued by the 2002-KPC.
The rear-of-the-book area is filled with Proof & Presentation Sheets, Postal Cards, and Christmas Seals.
During the Asian economic crisis 1997-1999 (KPC publications: 1998-2000), stamp price increases were seldom and insignificant. Last year’s 2001-KPC contained the first major stamp price increases in three years. The 2002-KPC continues the increase trend.
I shall leave the Old-Korea/Chosan section, alone; it is best commented on by the archeologists.
Definitive Stamps/Boe-tong Oop-yoe
38 Definitive stamps with issue-dates ranging from 1946 through 1970, increased in value 761,000 Won. The biggest increase was 400,000 Won for the Surcharged 300won on the 14won light-blue variety; KPC# 105a; Scott# 176a.
New Year’s Greeting Stamps/Yon-ha Oop-yoe
8 New Year’s stamps and 2 New Year’s S/S with issue-dates ranging from 1957 through 1968, increased in value 15,000 Won.
Commemorative & Special Stamps/Kee-nyom & Took-byol Oop-yoe
134 Commemorative stamps and 44 S/S with issue-dates ranging from 1946 through 2000, increased in value 416,200 Won. The big increase of 50,000 Won was for the 1948; 1st Presidential Inauguration (Syngman Rhee); KPC# C22; Scott# 90.
Semi-Postal Stamps/Ja-son Oop-yoe
The first 13 of total 18 Semi-Postal stamps increased in value 27,000 Won. The big increase of 5,000 Won was for the Nov. 1969, 7won+3won, Fund for Search-Light stamp; KPC# S13; Scott# B13..
Air Mail Stamps/Hang-kong Oop-yoe
21 Air Mail stamps increased in value 114, 000 Won. The big increase of 50,000 was for the 1963, 20 won stamp; KPC# A28; Scott# C29. 1 stamp decreased in value 40,000 won; KPC# A29; Scott# C30.
By far, the biggest pricing operation that took place before the publication of 2002-KPC. was the re-ajustment of stamp and souvenir sheet(S/S) prices from 1979 through 1998, in the New Year’s Stamp and Commemorative/Special Stamp sections.
In the New Year’s Stamp section, there were 21 stamps and S/S which decreased in value 12,000 won.
In the Commemorative /Special Stamp section, there were 289 stamps and S/S which decreased in value 163,600 won.
Possible/Probable Errors:
The previously listed (since at least 1995KPC), R1(24) 6 chon stamp, is missing from the 1905 Reprinted by the Japanese section, page 14 of the 2002KPC. Although I’m a very slow-speed Han-gul reader, I can not detect an explanation.
Extracted from Korean Kingdom and Empire Philatelic Catalog and Handbook; second edition 1990; by Dr. James W. Kerr:
Kerr & associates say that the 6 chon stamp was printed in 1905 (or later) by the Japanese to fill Souvenir Book# 2 (released in January 1906), when this stamp value ran short. The stamp’s paper was thicker and more porous; and the color was “Chalky blue”; when compared to KPC’s# 20(24).
KPC: Why did you do this?
Other errors:
Picture, 75A: “75A(73A)”; should be : 75A(72A).
Picture, 76A: “76A(72A)’; should be : 76A(73A).
Bal-hang-il/Date of Issue for KPC#’s 234-236, should be “65.9.1”; not 64.9.1.
