Supporting Philatelists Since 1952
This article, published in the October 2025 issue of Woopyo Magazine, continues the long-running series on Korean Charity Surtax Stamps (1953–1977) by Kim Heon-sik (김헌식). In part 15, the author examines the 3rd Disaster Relief Donation Surtax Stamp of 1972, exploring its historical background, printing characteristics, and postal usages. As with previous installments in this […]
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In an era where digital communication reigns supreme, KoreaPost, the national postal operator of South Korea, continues to innovate and appeal to traditional mail enthusiasts and collectors alike with the introduction of “forever stamps.” These stamps, unlike their predecessors, are sold at a current postage price and are valid for mailing a standard-sized letter regardless […]
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Late last year when I was looking for some information on the internet about the South Korea Relief seals issued by Germany, I discovered that I did not know that the Soviet Bloc countries also began to raise funds for North Korea Relief during the Korean War. I wrote an article for the Korea Stamp […]
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We have previously posted articles on the Korea Stamp Society’s (KSS) website about charity seals that were issued by Soviet Bloc countries which supported North Korea during the Korean War. And a follow up article on these charity seals was published in the Korean Philately magazine Vol. 58, No. 2 (2022).
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The special registration envelope and stamp illustrated here are used to mail currency and valuables within Korea only. The white envelope, 5″ x 9″ has an inner envelope made of paper of the same type used to cover doors and windows. Money, bonds, jewelry, and other valuables can be mailed in this. Money is not […]
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Another Korean issue that confuses collectors and dealer alike is the 1948 issue that pictures the Cheomseongdae Observatory, (Hangul: 첨성대) in Gyeongju, South Korea. The tower is said to be the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia, and maybe in the world, according to Wikipedia. It was built during the reign of Queen Seondeock of Silla, […]
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First of all, I believe, I should shortly introduce myself and describe my way here. I am Victor E. Afanasiev, a freelance translator from Minsk, Belarus. I started collecting stamps as a boy, in a small Belarusian town, and to my late 50s I have come through the stages of collecting Sports in general and […]
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In an earlier article on finding certain issues of Korea, it was mentioned that this author has been searching for a Korea 1956 Scott 212E on horizontal laid paper for many years. See Figure 1 for an example of 212E on vertical paper. The Scott catalogue makes a note under 212D-F, that all three exist […]
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Although the title of this article might suggest that these postal envelopes could be used to mail anything of value, they essentially are almost exclusively used to mail money. Up to 1987, I have found 13 different types of these envelopes, and I welcome any possible additions to my list. Some differences are major, and […]
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That was an exciting year! We went from a proposal to shut down the KSS for good in January/February to creating a completely new website and having new members (welcome!) plus a new KSS Board. In the meantime we have created an online library of all the issues of Korean Philately magazine, filled the website […]
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Previously, in the forum, I had posted the comment/question highlighted below, about whether some of the Korean stamps I have been looking for to add to my collection, really exist. My research began in earnest when I began to help the KSS find the old missing Korean Philatelic (KP) magazines so that they can be […]
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Following Part-1 of this article in the issue No. 169 of Kiku Shimbun, I have acquired a new and important item for my Showa period collection during my recent visit to Tokyo and the JAPEX’2016 exhibition, this being a Postal Charges Receipt form illustrating the usage of overprinted stamps issued for use in South Korea by […]
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Ever wondered whether all these commemoratives issued by postal services are really used postally? Of course you have, as a collector you simply can’t have missed all these (expensive!) series of commemoratives being offered from all over the world. Do places like Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Tuvalu or Vanuatu really need so many stamps? […]
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The front cover of Kiku Shimbun 170 (December 2016) The front cover features a rare item of Japanese postal history from South Korea. Following the end of WWII and the Japanese Surrender, USA Forces moved into Seoul, Korea, whilst Soviet Forces move from Manchuria in the northern parts of Korea.
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The front cover of Kiku Shimbun 169 (August 2016) features a rare item of Japanese postal history from North Korea. Following the end of WWII and the Japanese Surrender, USA Forces moved into Seoul, Korea, whilst Soviet Forces move from Manchuria in the northern parts of Korea, both of these subjects and the eventual division […]
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In attending a human relations program some time in the past one of the instructors taught us that to assume (ass-u-me) is to make an “ass of you and me.” Unfortunately, there is much too much assuming in the world of philately, where the facts are not known and an assumption is made.
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Joel Henderson (see Letters to the Editors in 50(2), p. 4) stimulated me to investigate my stock of Sc#479 or KPC #C255. Joel’s question on Scott #479 moved me to look over my stock of this stamp. I was in Korea when that stamp was issued and for years afterwards, and I did not run […]
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