First Stamp of Japan

The first stamp of Japan was issued on 20th April, 1871; the same day when their postal services from their government began. The design was etched on copper plates and printed with mon values of 48, 100, 200 and 500.

Each stamp has a pair of dragons facing each other, with the stamp value printed in the center in kanji. These stamps are known as Ryu stamps (Ryu means dragons in Japanese).

The Japanese dragons - Ryu’s - are wingless, long-bodied with four legs and three toes on each leg. Female Ryu’s have feathered tail.

There are six variants of Japanese dragons: 

• Sui (king of all dragons)
• Han (biggest of all, has stripes)
• Ri (known for extraordinary vision)
• Fuku (known for good luck)
• Ka (smaller, red colour dragon)
• Hai (most advanced).

48 mon stamp from Plate I: Earliest specimen

48 mon stamp from Plate I: Later specimen

48 mon stamp from Plate II. This has a light engraving on the chest of the right dragon.

The mon values were printed by a value plate.

100 mon stamp from Plate I

100 mon stamp from Plate II. Light engraving in the left raimon 

200 mon stamp from Plate I. Earlier specimen.

200 mon stamp from Plate I. Later specimen, missing hair on right dragon head.

200 mon stamp from Plate II

500 mon stamp from Plate I. Earlier specimen.

500 mon stamp from Plate I. Later specimen.

500 mon stamp from Plate II

The dragon series continued to be printed in the later years (1/2, 1, 2, and 5 Sen) using the same plates (48, 100, 200, 500 mon respectively), but in different denominations by using different value plates.

Images credited to: The etched stamps of Japan (Website is now retired)