Postcard Archives — Korea Stamp Society

An Excellent Example of a Postally Used South Korean Postcard — Just Before the start of the Korean War

January 25, 2023February 1, 2023 James H. Grayson31Leave a Comment

One of our Korea Stamp Society members has the fortune to have in his collection a genuinely postally used postcard that was mailed just before the start of the Korean War in 1950. At the time of the purchase, our member did not realize the significance of the postcard; he was just interested in obtaining […]

A Postcard used in 1945, the last year of Japanese occupation of Korea

October 26, 2022June 11, 2022 Dr. Joel Lee117Leave a Comment

Forward Note by Bob Finder: The following article by one of our members of the Korea Stamp Society (KSS) shows one of the key values of being a member of the KSS; that value is the gaining of new information about Korean philately from other members. With the collaboration of six different members of the […]

A Post Card from Korea: A Poignant Relic from Colonial Korea

October 12, 2022October 29, 2022 James H. Grayson154Leave a Comment

(A recent listing of a postcard on Ebay led to a series of emails amongst active KSS members. James Grayson, who lived for several decades in Korea and knows a lot about the history of churches in Korea, created this text, together with Florian Eichhorn, in answer to the questions raised.) This post card forms […]

Readers Question: Chōsen Sotokufu Teishin Kyoku Card?

October 9, 2021October 3, 2021 Richard Arent3381 Comment

My question concerns a card that was issued by Chōsen Sotokufu Teishin Kyoku and features a picture of chickens with an inscription in Korean. It appears that the design could have been issued as a New Year greeting. The Teishin Kyoku issued a set of post cards on October 1, 1910 commemorating the opening of […]

When the war drums stop, so does the KSC

July 7, 2021July 1, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg5811 Comment

The Korea Stamp Corporation, the stamp issuing organization of the DPRK (North Korea), generally creates stamp along several lines of themes. One of those common themes is something along the lines of “the eternal fight for the motherland against our enemies”. The thing is: the official feelings towards these enemies, whomever they may be (usually […]

Too early use of KPSC R2 (Scott 56) on card?

February 24, 2021May 17, 2021 KSS Korea Philately Editor7453 Comments

Sometimes something comes up by accident which may be too good to be true. Or not, of course. One such item is this quite attractive card. It is a Japanese produced postal card of 5 sen which was used in South Korea as a card worth 5 jeon, uprated with another stamp for 5 jeon, […]

1913 SPG Postcard showing missionary residence

June 20, 2020June 12, 2020 James H. Grayson9692 Comments

On Kobay, the Korean version of Ebay, mission history-related philatelic items are often available. Here is one of many of these items – a postcard sent within Great Britain from Grimsby to Skidbrooke on 19 February 1913. Both of these places are coastal towns in north east Lincolnshire. Grimsby is a major fishing port, whereas […]

Why Was the Seller of an Used 1953 Korean Postal Card Asking $2250?

June 10, 2020June 14, 2020 Robert (Bob) Finder12846 Comments

On Ebay I noticed a seller was asking $2250 for a 1953 South Korean postal card (see Figures 1-2). I did not understand why it was so rare and want to put the question to the readers of the Korea Stamp Society website if anyone knows why it is so rare?

Korea’s economic development through postal history (Saemaul Undong Card, 1978)

June 3, 2020February 9, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg873Leave a Comment

Part of a series of 5 cards issued at 10 won each in 1978 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the (South) Korean state, this card (CPC4) shows an important development in South Korean society. During the 1960s and 1970s South Korea tried to develop its economy. No efforts were spared to create a stronger […]

Australian missionary postal history shows early links with Korea

December 22, 2019November 30, 2019 James H. Grayson9991 Comment

Abacus Auctions of Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia in its auctions for 30 November to 1 December, 2019 displayed three Korean postcards for sale, two of which are pictoral cards. The pictoral postcards are of a ‘yŏt’ (Korean confection) seller and a view of a city gate in Sŏul, possibly the Great North Gate. The text […]

Korean New Year Greeting Cards

November 24, 2019November 20, 2019 James H. Grayson26454 Comments

Every year since 1957, the Republic of Korea Post Office has issued New Year greeting cards, and since 1975 New Year envelopes, although these special envelopes have not been issued every year. In 1974, as a ‘one-off’, Korea Post issued a special New Year letter sheet. These New Year greetings stationery are issued for the […]

Frank Allard’s Legacy

March 25, 2018November 30, 2018 Gary McLean1508Leave a Comment

Before his death, Frank Allard was an ongoing source of interesting postcards reflecting Korean history. Here are the remaining items provided by Frank. I hope you enjoy them. Frank was not always clear about what fronts and backs go together; we hope we have them matched correctly!

Post Office Postcards 2012

February 6, 2018November 30, 2018 Ivo Spanjersberg1154Leave a Comment

In 2012 a series of postcards was sold in post offices all over Korea showing a Korean postman through the ages. The cards show five different periods, starting with Joseon Dynasty times. The next four cards show the last 100 years, up to 2012. Notice all the small details included in the cards.