The Sakura catalog is an illustrated full-color Japanese stamp catalog.

The cover top of the Sakura stamp catalog 2019 (2018.4.20)
The cover top of the Sakura stamp catalog 1983 (1982.9.5)

The Japanese Stamp Catalog Illustrated in Colors (Japanese: 原色日本切手図鑑, romanizedgenshoku-Nippon-kitte-zukan) (now Sakura Catalogue of Japanese Stamps (Japanese: さくら日本切手カタログ, romanizedsakura-Nippon-kitte-katarogu)) was first published in October 1967 with full-color illustrations, which surprised the philatelic world since a colored stamp catalog had never been thought of. Regarded as the most reliable and popular publication in Japan, it goes through fifteen editions in 1979, and more than 4,500,000 copies have been released in all. This is the companion volume to the Japanese Stamp Specialized Catalog. The catalog, nicknamed Sakura Catalog, has been in pocket-size (118 x 148 mm) for several years, but now it is printed in B6 (128 × 182 mm) size so that it can be printed using a multicolor rotary press to meet the increased circulation and to make the use of thinner paper possible. As all pages have to be composed anew for the enlarged size, English version of stamp names is added for the convenience of foreign collectors, and many symbols are used to facilitate their understanding how the stamps are classified here.[1]

Please see the contents of the SAKURA Catalogue of Japanese Stamps 2019 and other editions.[2][3][4][1]

Most recently published catalog structure edit

The structure of the most recently published catalog is as follows:[2]

Catalogue information and contents edit

Catalogue Information & Contents (Japanese: さくら日本切手カタログの使い方・目次)

  • Catalogue Contents in Japan (Japanese: 目次)
  • Catalogue Information in Japan (Japanese: さくら日本切手カタログの使い方)
  • Catalogue Information for Users in English
  • [Brief] Contents in English

Commemorative stamps (Japanese: 記念・特殊切手) edit

Pre-War Issues (Japanese: 戦前の記念・特殊切手) edit

Post-War Issues (Japanese: 戦後(1946年以降発行)の記念・特殊切手) edit

[Published by Japan Post] (Japanese: 日本郵政公社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Service] (Japanese: 郵便事業株式会社 発行)

Greetings Stamps (Japanese: グリーティング 切手) edit

[Published by Japan Post] (Japanese: 日本郵政公社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Service] (Japanese: 郵便事業株式会社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Co., Ltd.] (Japanese: 日本郵便株式会社 発行)

Furusato Stamps (Prefectural Issues) (Japanese: ふるさと切手) edit

[Published by Japan Post] (Japanese: 日本郵政公社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Service] (Japanese: 郵便事業株式会社 発行)

National Park Stamps (Japanese: 公園切手) edit

New Year's Greeting Stamps (Japanese: 年賀切手) edit

[Published by Japan Post] (Japanese: 日本郵政公社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Service] (Japanese: 郵便事業株式会社 発行)
[Published by Japan Post Co., Ltd.] (Japanese: 日本郵便株式会社 発行)

Definitives (Japanese: 普通切手) edit

The outdated sections edit

Non-renewable issues. Till 2013[4][1] edit

Okinawa, under US Administration (Japanese: 沖縄切手). Till 2014[4][1] edit

Postal stationery (Japanese: ステーショナリー). Till 2015[3][4][1] edit

[Some "Comb" Type Cancellations] (Japanese: 日付印の見わけ方) (1983)[1] edit

Pre-Paid Card for Postage (Japanese: ふみ力ード(郵便用プリペイド・力ード)) (Sakura 1990–Sakura 1992)[5] edit

JPS Original Philatelic Materials (Japanese: JPS郵便活動マテリアル) (1999)[4] edit

Small additions edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 原色日本切手図鑑1983年版1982年9月5日 第18版発行(c)編集・発行 財団法人日本郵趣協会(JPS)B6判240ページ (SAKURA Catalog of Japanese Stamps, Illustrated in Colours 1983. 18th Edition. Edited and Published by the Japan Philatelic Society, Inc. 1982.09.05. The size of B6 (128 x 182 mm). 240 p.).
  2. ^ a b さくら日本切手カタログ2019年版2018年4月20日発行(第54版)(c)公益財団法人 日本郵趣協会(JPS)A5判352ページ (SAKURA Catalogue of Japanese Stamps 2019. 54th Edition. Edited & Published by Japan Philatelic Foundation (JPS). 2018.04.20. The size of A5 (148 x 210 mm). 352 p. ISBN 978-4-88963-818-9).
  3. ^ a b さくら日本切手カタログ2014年版2013年4月20日発行(第49版)(c)公益財団法人 日本郵趣協会(JPS)A5判388ページ (SAKURA Catalogue of Japanese Stamps 2014. 49th Edition. Edited & Published by Japan Philatelic Foundation (JPS). 2013.04.20. The size of A5 (148 x 210 mm). 388 p. ISBN 978-4-88963-753-3).
  4. ^ a b c d e さくら日本切手カタログ1999年版1998年4月20日発行(第34版)(c)公益財団法人 日本郵趣協会(JPS)A5判300ページ (SAKURA Catalog of Japanese Stamps 1999. 34th Edition. Edited & Published by Japan Philatelic Foundation. 1998.04.20. The size of A5 (148 x 210 mm). 300 p. ISBN 4-88963-562-9).
  5. ^ 原色日本切手図鑑1992年版1991年4月18日 第27版発行(c)編集・発行 財団法人日本郵趣協会(JPS)A5判 (SAKURA Catalog of Japanese Stamps, Illustrated in Colours 1992. 27th Edition. Edited and Published by Japan Philatelic Foundation. 1991.04.18. The size of A5 (148 x 210 mm). ISBN 4-88963-469-X).