Recognizing DPRK Reprints Part I: 1955 to 1957

North Korea

Internet is where most people buy and sell stamps today. In the months leading up to the February 2019 US – DPRK summit in Hanoi, there were massive unloads of North Korean stamps on the internet. This presented a good entry point for beginning collectors like myself to acquire some early North Korean stamps. However, like many other beginners, it was very hard to distinguish the reprints from the originals. So, I started to collect data on this subject which I then compiled for other collectors to help make stamp purchases easier.

From 1955 to 1957, North Korea produced legal imitation “reprints” of stamps issued originally between 1946 and 1956 to serve both postal needs and overseas sales. There are 55 reprints and these are postally valid stamps. Scott’s #100 “Ryongwang Pavilion and Taedong Gate” is the last known reprint. Scott’s catalogue lists many different ways to identify reprints and originals. The catalogue notes that differences in size, color, gum, paper and specific details can be used to determine whether a stamp is a reprint or an original.

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9 thoughts on “Recognizing DPRK Reprints Part I: 1955 to 1957

  1. Correction.
    Scott’s 78 National Congress of Young Activists
    Reprint: worker’s hand is right side of the tassel of the flag.
    Original: worker’s hand is beneath the tassel of the flag.

  2. Fascinating to see official reprints being done. Is it possible for one of the members to scan the relevant pages in from the Scott catalogue mentioned for me as I don’t have any catalogues and reference books on Korean stamps. I see this as a nice project to make a exhibition display out.

  3. Hi Alex,
    Scott’s Catalog, Korean Stamp Catalog, or this article may not be 100% correct. The article was put together with available information from the catalogs and internet. I’ve found many flaws on Scott’s and Korean Stamp Catalog.

  4. Hi Yong and Ivo,
    Thank you for the heads up for accuracy of information and the relevant pages. I’m sure this will be an interesting study for years to come. I will be happily use these pages in a few weeks time as I will be spending 4 days at a stampshow in Sydney :). Hopefully in the future we can make a special section for reprints and forgeries.

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