(Part 2 of 4) The 1951 provisional Korean stamps were issued with overprinted inflationary denominations of 100, 200, and 300 won on the basic stamps whose values range from 4 to 100 won. These overprinted stamps afford not only an exciting challenge to the casual collector, but also an excellent opportunity for specialization by the most exacting connoisseur. Recent interest in this provisional issue, reflected by fluctuating catalogue prices of individual stamps becoming more or less available, has resulted in the gradual realization by many Korean stamps collectors during the past ten years that differences in these overprints were not minor flyspeck varieties, but were separate printings.
Unknown Printing – probably June or July 1951
Named for the first time as a separate reprinting, are two stamps that previous writers included with the first printing. These are the 200 won with sans serif “2” surcharged on the 15 won vermilion (No. 194b) and the 300 won with 10 line Tae Guk surcharged on the 50 won violet blue (No. 193b). The inks of both blue and brown surcharges are grayer than the corresponding ink of the first issue.
The number of lines of shading in the Tae Guks and the shape of the numerals were changed. Both surcharges were lithographed, however, and this printing process relates their origin to the Pusan Sangmidang Offset Printing Co. Their date of issue, therefore, must have been in June or July, before the printing process was changed to typography. Used copies of both stamps are known, but those of No 193b are less common. Bob Jones in recent correspondence has reported that he possesses both stamps used on a single cover. Following is a detailed description of these two stamps:
