Received a mail from All-Japan Golden Bat Party.
He asked me for a link exchange and I immediately added his website on my All about tobbaccoes.

He told me he would welcome I as an honourary member.
My article about "Golden Bat" is here.
Use nifty or Excite machine translation services to read.

---

Blank album leaves and clear mounts from Aoyama stamp dealer have arrived.
20% discount, 3,236Yen.


As I'm going to send money from GIRO to GIRO so it will take time but he won't bother.
He also enclosed backnumbers of Yushu that I don't read anymore.
Only 15Yen charged when sending money from GIRO, on the other hand, 70Yen charged when I send money in normal way.
The blank leaves for Japanese stamps was out of stock.
I'll make some album leaves.


Always waking up in the midnight.
Not very healthy(^_^;
I slept again.

---

When I ordered "Asuka" to my local tobacco shop yesterday, I got a phone call from the shopkeeper that "Asuka" is no longer produced. I told him it is produced by McBaren as "Asuka II".
They said they will provide it in 9th August. This is my birthday(*^_^*)
I still have a stock of JT "Asuka" but I want to try "Asuka II" to comfirm the difference of taste.
The decrease demand of pipe tobacco brought the intermal productiion of "Asuka" to an end.
50% of the smokers in Europe enjoy pipe tobacco also but less than 1% in Japan. Too bad.

I checked the Golden Bat Party and I was already added to the 2nd member.
An very honour.

"Golden Bat" is the most cheap cigarette in Japan but have a nice taste.

I love "bats" and collecting "bats on stamps".
Moreover, I am a member of Bat Study and Conservation group of Japan.
I have paid the membership fee of 2003 that I was defaulting.
1,000Yen a year. Very reasonable.

---

Looking forward to the "snowman" stamps of North Korea to arrive.

Also want to but a new pipe next year.
I don't have Dunhill pipes.

The last day of July.
It's going to get hotter and hotter.
Air conditioner is essential. I can't stand with the hotness.

Woke up in the midnight.
Need a cup of coffee and cigarette to wake up.

All 8 dragonfly cancellations have come back.
Insects on cancellations.
My website got a little bigger.
Postal Cancellations of Japan
.
I have a stock of Scenic cancellation in a corrugated cardboard, all in the first day but few dragonfly.
I started to fill in the statement of delivery.
The dragonfly from 3 dealers haven't arrived yet.
I sent the money form GIRO to GIRO so it's slow.

My EMSs sending the membership fee for the Australian Philatelic Society and Swan River Stamp Show 2005 already arrived to Australia.


The one I sent to US has not arrived yet.

The vending machines of cigarettes stop form 23o'clock to 5o' clock in the morning in Japan.
It's inconvenience:-(
Only 3 "Peace" cigarettes left in my last box but I have bought a carton of "Gauloises Caporal".
8 tins of JT "Asuka" left and more pipe tobaccoes.

I have a dictionary of philatelic words in Japanese, German, Chinese, English and Russian. Very convenience.


Vol.39 bulletin of Korean stamp study group arrived yesterday.
It tells about the first Korean mail sent abroad.


Another cup of coffee.

The buzoo rental guestbook is going to stop the service this September.
I created a new one here.

Well, well, well, I'm going to buy something to eat.
Convenience store is open 24 hours.
My bowels are alright now.

---

I was just taking stock of my goods on hand and found a full sheet of the old 2Yen stamp, no colour mark..


Also found full sheets of the bar-code 10Yen stamps, both colour mark at the top and the bottom.




As I already have all of them in singles, I don't need them.


I uploaded them on Postal Cancellations of Japan to get rid of them.
$40.00 each.
I have a large stock.
1 or 2 stamps each is enough for my private collection.
I don't want to mix up the stocks and my private collection and keeping the materials for sale in another room.

Commercially used cover of the first stamps of Lithuania.



According to the LIETUVOS PASTO ZENKLU KATALOGAS, the envelope is issued in17 May 1990.

I just found a website on USSR and East Europe.
I immediately posted my self introduction to the guestbook and got a lot of replies.
I never knew a website of USSR of such prosperous.
The webmaster collects stamps.
Some members are familiar with stamps and cigarettes of East Europe.
Some members who do not collect stamps say they will spare covers for me(*^_^*)

I'll order "Asuka II" to my local tobacco shop.
I think it was not a CAP brand when JT was producing "Asuka". I might have to wait a little.
Three 100g. tins=1 carton, it's 5,400Yen.

My friend said he forgot to pay the 6,000Yen for the translation but it will be in my hand within a week.

Took a shower and a cup of coffee to wake me up.

JT(Japan Tobacco Industry) stopped producing pipe tobaccoes in Japan.
This is what I wrote for tobaccoreviews.com.
"The only existing brand of Japan Tobacco Industry (JT) which is rich in latakia flavour. Not a refined mix when compared with Dunhill MyMixture965 but I believe it must give a contentment to novice latakia lovers. As ill luck would have it, the decreased demand of pipe tobaccoes in Japan, the foolish act of JT has brought the internal production of Asuka to an end."

My friend asked me how to use Adobe Photoshop.
It's here.

Smoking "Mellow Breeze Regular" now.

I like the flavour of wine.
11 tobacco jars on the top of my computers.
I need them to keep the humidity of tobaccoes.


It's bad economy to smoke too much rare "Gauloises Caporla".
I only smoke 1 box in 2 days.

---

My bowels are out of order.
I don't know why. I haven't ate something strange.

Waiting for the post office to open.
I have to pay for the Korean stamps. 133.37Euro this time.

I just received a mail from International Society for Japanese Philately.
They said they liked my Skull collection.

I filled in the form and sent it to become a member.


As I have some excessive US$ cash in my hand, it's a good chance to get rid of them.
I don't like changing $ to Yen at banks as 1% charged for 1Yen.
My chance to start collecting stamps was the stamp of Okinawa.

Made a mirror-site of My Stamp Collections here.
Still some ads.
Looking for a free webspace "without" advertisements, more than 1GB.

---

Got several summer greetings from my friends.
Summer greeting cards have lotteries at the bottom.


My friend dealer said he started studying computer.
He's going to learn e-mail at the end of the lessons.
Hope he will visit my sites.
He told me to come to the meeting of Korean stamps study group even I am not a member of JPS anymore.
Well, I'll visit Mejiro for advice on my Korean collection next month.

Sea Post uploaded. A very small collection.
I have some more, but these are unclear with the years.

---

The cancellations of dragonfly are coming back little by little.


Also waiting for dragonfly materials from 3 dealers.
A full sheet of 9Yen dragonfly costed 4,000Yen!

---

A ready-made illustrated album for China 2004 is already issued.
I'll buy it next month.
Another3 red albums in my room (^_^;

---

I am listening to an album of Olivia.
She played together with Jean-Michel Jarre, the musician I respect in 2002.

---

Vol.1 of Scott CD-Rom A-B is missing. I don't remember where I kept it but no problem. I don't collect USA and I already have a single CD-Rom of Australia.


I am not interetsed in new editions of Scott. I've already recorded the dates of issue of newly-issued stamps.
I hope MICHEL will publish CD-Roms. They must be very attractive.
Like this.

---

Made another blog in Japanese language here.
My Japanese friends welcomed it. Few Japanese can speak and read English.
I will post a same one after I wrote the English blog.

I received a mail from my friend in Taiwan.
The ATM is printed in blue, not black.


It's really rare.
My friend in Taipei said he queued up from the morning and only 10 each was available for collectors.
He sent this rare one for me, THANKS.
I'm very new to ATMs so guidance from senior collectors are very blessed.
He liked my summer greeting card:-)
This is how to draw cloud.
1; open a new file.


2; Filter 1


3; Copy the layer


4; Emboss


5; Layer 1


6; Bluesky gradation


7; Levels


8; Draw the outline


9: Mask and gradation


10; Fin


I want more ATMs of Australia. Even I collect Australia, I missed the ATMs as Scott does not list them. I was careless.

---

I slept around PM4:30 yesterday and woke up in the midnight. Then did some work and slept again.
Not a regular life(^_^;
I need a cup of coffee to wake up.
Cappuccino machine, one of the thing I want. Cappuccino matches with the taste of cigar.
A tobacco called "Cappuccino" exists.

.
It does have a taste of cafe.

---

The draft of my collection of Korea wasn't very good.
Dr.Taizo Maeda told me it is unclear with the story "what I want to tell with this collection"(I sent a photocopy before I send it to Australia).
Well, I'll correct it.

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I can't wait for the journal of Australian Philatelic Society. I assume it is more interesting than Yushu of JPS. I have no friend in Australia who collects stamps.
Wanna make friends(collectors) in Australia.
If I am going to make an entry to Canberra Stampshow 2006, I will stay here.
I've already sent the membership fee. As it was difficult to provide Australian$, I sent US$. Hope they will accept it.
I've already sent cash via EMS but it's not on flight yet.
EMS is not very fast than I expected.
The one I sent to Belgium took 7 days.


He says he is going to send $135.00 tomorrow.
I feel like a dealer:-)
I'm waiting for the 7 cancellations from the post offices and reply from 3 dealers.

---

When I bought a carton of "Gauloises Caporal" yesterday, the shopkeeper told me that I am a specialist on tobacco. Embarrassed.
My website became bigger and bigger and now it has 52.12GB.
Only 2GB. left in my Macintosh harddisc.
I need to take a backup on DVD-R but how many do I need?

I have scanned too many album leaves for My Stamp Collection.


...read more

I got a lighter of GAULOISES!




I just had a phone call from a tobacco shop that "Gauloises Caporal" has arrived.
I immediately went to the store and found this lighter inside.

Gas can be replenished.
A very nice gift.

Be visited by a typhoon.
One event succeeded another.
Earthquake, then typhoon.
I have just went to the post office before the rain gets heavy. I paid the membership fee of the Australian Philatelic Society and the money for dragonfly stamps.
Bought something to eat and drink, and cigarettes.
I can be shut up.
I bought 2 "Peace" and 1 "Peace Aroma Menthol".
The latter one is unsavory!
Menthol kills the taste of Virginia and too light. Only 7mg tar..
I'm never going to buy this again
I just filled in my blank of my database.

$142.20 proceeds.
Wondering for what I shall spend this money for.

A collector in Belgium ordered all the materials I provided.
3 dealers in Japan said they will keep the items for me.
I'll go to the post office to send money, 9o'clock in the morning.
He is adhere to "dragonfly" on stamps and cancellations but every man on his taste.
I collect skulls, bats and clocks.
There are some stamps not yet arranged on leaves.
Aerogramme of Pakistan. Date of issue is unknown.


Also looking for the mints of these stamps, issued in a set of 2.


I already have a set of used but I'm looking for mints.


A lot of Russian stamps also, not yet on the leaves.
I had studied a little about time and calendar.
Michael O'Malley/KEEPING WATCH A History of American Time.


All about calendar.


There will be Canberra 2006 exhibition next year.
DPR Korea again.


A family in Sydney said they will welcome my stay.
I'm going to look for ATMs of Australia when I visited Sydney.

---

I was asked about my seals.
Click for details.
My real name.


The seal for Korean stamps.

Started working with my collection of DPR Korea for the Swann River Stamp Show 2005.







I was too busy to make an entry to Taipei 2005 but one-frame class will do.

As I am not very much familiar with early Korean stamps, I'll send the collection to Dr. Taizo Maeda for an advice, before I send it to Australia.

Just joined Australian Philatelic Society yesterday.
The membership fee is reasonalble, AU$20.00 for an year.
I need another AU$25.00 for an entry fee so I have to buy AU$ at the bank.

Shall I visit Taipei 2005 knocking off some works?
15 ATM machines are very attractive.

We have an habit to send summer greeting cards in July and late-summer greeting cards after 15 August.

---

I am looking for a full sheet of 9Yen dragonfly stamps for a collector in Belgium.
It draws Orthetrum albistylum speciosum.


This stamp is no longer printed in Japan and I made several contacts to dealers but no good answer.

A collector in Italy asked me to translate the meter stamps of Japan.


Always welcome, I can help with Japanese and Korean.

---

I am thinking of studying another language from the next year April.
My mind is torn between the two choices. Russian or Gerrman?
Maybe German, as philatelic words are in German and MICHEL is written in German.

I got another mail from a collector who collects turtles.
I was looking into my stocks and found an new year card I sent in 2002.


Will he(she?) be interested in the full sheet of South Korea?


Also found a packet of USSR I bought in 200Yen.


Just finished with the requests of 7 dragonfly cancellations.
100 postcards and fourteen 90Yen stamps.
Very busy day.

I got a mail from a collector in Belgium.
He's collecting "dragonfly", looking for HC7 postcard and more cancellations of dragonfly.
It's very difficult to get stationary in Japan, no market for them.
I only have 1 in my "own" collection.


I looked into the catalogue of Scenic cancellations and found 7.














I started writing to those post offices to cancel the postcards.


I have a lot of duplicates in North Korean stamps and looked into my stock and found 1 dragonfly sheetlet.

Will he be interested in the insects' stamps of Hong Kong "with" tabs?


I feel as if I were a dealer:-)
I sent him a mail to introduce these materials.


I need another 100 postcards.
It's a good chance to update my website Postal Cancellations of Japan.

He told me that he will help me with the stamps of Belgium.
Hope he can get early ATMs of Belgium. There's a lot.


My early stamps of DPR Korean collection is too poor for an exhibition.
I have to fill in the blanks and add some covers but I've already spent about 70,000Yen. How much do I need?

I'm thinking of becoming a member of Australian Philatelic Society.
There is no time differencial and the membershep fee is reasonable.
I can make an entry to an exhibition in Australia.

There was a big earthquake in Tokyo around PM4:30.
These happenings are too familiar to surprise us but it was a big one.
I was just working with early North Korean stamps.
A lot of blanks, but please have a look at it.

I got a phone call from my friend after a long time, yesterday night.
She made a contact as I sent her a summer greeting card.
She was a little angry because I did not send her an new year card last year
She was smoking from when she was 17years old(In Japan, we are allowed to smoke at 20.In some countries, 16 or 18).
We had a chat about tobacco.
Her father smokes "Caster" and she is smoking "Caster cool vanilla" now.


Designs of "Caster" changed last year.
The former one.


New one.


She said she wants to meet me but as I broke my leg last year, I told her to please wait.
I think I will meet her at the cigar bar in Shibuya.
I assume she never tried a cigar.

---

I was working for my skull's stamps yesterday.
After Philanippon'01(Skull and its Images-Dark & Bright-), I was still buying skull's stamps.
I did not have a time to arrange them on leaves but I could take up times.
There were 20 leaves.
The proof of P.W.P.W., Majdanek was the most expensive.


Few album leaves left. I have to buy another 100 blank leaves.

My DVD-Ram drive fixed by itself.
I don't know the reason.
As I had to read the Scott CD-Roms, I tried several times and it fixed.
It worked up right.


As Scott is said to have listed some stamps of DPR Korea, I am going to buy Vol.3 only this year.

I want to get rid of this Scott CD-Rom of Australia as I have already bought A to Z, 6 CD-Roms. Is anybody interested in? Free, of course.


As I had an extra income, I am going to buy blue imperf. of Michel #328.


The catalogue value is 6,800Yen, but Koie Stamp dealer offers it at 4,000Yen + postage.


Invitation to become a member of this shop was included.
Well...1,800Yen a year is a little expensive. I know a dealer of 600Yen a year in Hiroshima.
Membership fee of JPS(Japan Philatelic Society) was 6,000Yen a year.
I quitted. Their magazine Yushu is no longer interesting.
Actually, I don't need JPS for collecting stamps.
Oversea auctions and some dealers who understand collectors' feeling are enough.

One of my dreams is to become a stamp dealer, but it won't be successful in Japan.
Postal Cancellations of Japan is not very successful.

No young collectors, small market in Japan....

---

I need another 10 summer greeting postcards as some of my friends want my design.
2 years since I designed my "own" greeting card.
I will design an new year card also this year(^_^; using Adobe Photoshop.
Think I need my 3rd computer, too many files in my Macintosh G4.
DVD-R will do to take a backup all of my designs.

---

Anybody interested in my collection of Australian Antarctic Territory?
DVD of this collection for Macintosh available at $28.00 + postage.

Bought a carton(10 boxes) of "Gauloises Caporal".
It's after the laps of 6 months.
I like this cigarette very much.


The details are at http://www.gauloises.com/
This cigarette splits from likes and dislikes as it has a fermentation specific, and dark tobacco, but I like it very much.
Some smokers don't like non-filtered cigarettes but the glamour of cigarettes is in plain cigarettes.
There are few non-filtered cigarettes in Japan. "Peace"(the most seniority, I think), "Golden Bat" and "Shinsei".
"Gitanes" without filter is always out of stock...
I love the cigarettes of France, for the pipe tobaccoes, I like the ones of Northern Europe.

The first filtered cigarette is said to be "KENT/1952" but we can go back to the 1850s Russia.


Charcoal filter is first adopted for "Seven Stars" in 1969 in Japan.


Some people have counted the numbers of the stars and there used to be 3190.
After the notes written to remind people of their health, it's 2667 stars.
Taiwan and South Korea are very close to Japan in the tastes of cigarettes.
I tried several foreign cigarettes but few cigarette in Europe adopts charcoal filter.
My cigarettes collections is here.
I have a lot of cigarettes of Ber(l)arus and PRO China.
My friend in Taiwan has sent me another 4 cigarettes. I have 8 now.

I have to be careful with the humidity of pipe tobaccoes.
I need tobacco jars and humidor.

---

My friend who is going to make an entry to Taipei 2005 philatelic exhibition asked me to translate the first leaf. I'm going to get 6,000Yen for 500words.
So, what shall I spend this money for?
Not enough to buy a new pipe.
I think I Will fill in the blank of the 3rd Showa stamps.

---

Skull on stamps uploaded.

Demecratic People's Republic of Korea writes as follows(Click to enlarge).


Face values in Won.


If you are really into DPR Korea(North Korea), you must have this book in your hand.


This handbook describes all the varieties and reprints from 1946 to 1957, published by Dr.Taizo Maeda.

No.15 described as follows, Click to enlarge.


15a, orange.


15b.


15c.


No.16 described as follows. Click to enlarge.


Tractor stamps. Click to enlarge.
16a, original/lithograph, 20.0*27.5mm.


16b, original/typograph, 22.0*30.0mm.


16c, reprint, 22.0*31.0mm.


25*31.5mm., perf.10.1., CTO.


25*32mm., imperf., CTO.


Early stamps have reprints and a lot of varieties.


Reprints also exist in newly issued stamps.


Varieties in paper after 1970s.


There used to be a ready-made illustrated album for DPR Korea.


Really deep
I don't have all the varieties of No.2 Samson Rocks.

What do I need for philately?

The word "philately" means "collecting stamps(and stationery, cancellations etc.)".
I think I have to explain the basics of philately for people not familiar with collecting stamps.

First of all, you must have a pinzette(tongs).
Don't touch the stamps with dirty hands!


Most people will buy a stockbook for keeping stamps.(Click to enlarge)


But, this is not the end.
You will need what is called "album leaves".


You can arrange the stamps on leaves by yourself using hinges or mounts.
This is what is called "mount".


Write down the details of the stamps on the blank album leaves and put on the stamps using the mounts that have a gum on their back.
There are black, gray and clear mounts. Chose the one you like.
Measure the size of the stamp and carefully cut the mount.
Use a set square and a rubber sheet.
This is how to make an album leaf.

---

1; Open a new file.


2; Rule guides.


3; Measure the sizes of the stamps and draw squares.


4; 10points bold.


5; Three stamps on a leaf.


6; Another box for an FDC.


7; Put them in order and write the details of the stamps.


8; The end.


Hinges are usually used for putting your "used" stamps to your albums.
Most of the mint stamps in the 19th century are on hinged conditions but don't be so nervous. They are at on-hinged conditions in ordinary.
Take care of the centred-printing and the clearness than the back of the stamps.
To peel off the stamps from envelopes, first cut out the stamps and dip them in water. Remove the papers and change the water 2 to 3 times.
Confirm that the gums are completely off the stamps and put them on a towel or something.
Then put them on soft paper and dry them carefully.

If you feel it difficult to arrange the stamps by yourselves, there are many ready-made illustrated album leaves including Scott.


Bind the leaves in the album files.
The more you collect the stamps, the more stamps will be in your collection, so arrange the binders in order in your bookshelf.
As some of the mint stamps have strong gums, be careful with humidity. It's better to put the albums in dry case.

Don't think buying stamps is the end.
You can make FDCs(First Day Covers) of the stamps you bought.
FDCs are made by philatelic companies, but you can make your own FDC by yourself.
This one is made by Japan Philatelic Society.


I made this FDC by myself and sent by poste restante. You can get an arrival mark stamped.


I sent this envelope to Qatar and they stamped it and sent to me.


You will need "corners" to put covers(envelopes) on your album leaves.


It's better to put a "mat" so that the covers are conspicuous.
Mainly gray, but sometimes black, white or red mats will do.


Perforation gauge is also convenient to count the numbers of perforations on the stamps.


If you don't feel like making albums, notebooks will do.
Just put on the stamps using hinges.


For more details about the stamps, have a look at "stamp catalogues".
"Scott" is said to have listed all the stamps of the world, very convenient, but some stamps are missing.


If you need more details, "Michel" is said to be the most detailed.


For some of the countries, get a catalogue issued in their "own" countries.


It's better to have some dictionaries.




Don't think only the countries are the target of collection.
Many people collect stamps of their favorite topics.
I collect "Clocks", "Bats", "Tabletennis" and "Skulls" on stamps.

This is a catalogue published by my friend who collects "Volleyball on stamps".
It lists all volleyball stamps of the world.


He also issues a newsletter on phila-volley.




Philately is indeed profound.
I'm only an easy collector.

The one I want to be at grips with the occupation/military posts during WWII.

I just received a mail order from a collector in Belgium.


He visited my website Postal Cancellations of Japan.
I did not have any contact last year so thinking this website is no longer in interests.
He collects "insects".
I was asked for a stock of SG9(issued in 7 July 1958) postcards.
Fortunately, I had a stock of them and enclosed with the other insects' cancellations.
I assume he did not know that SG9s were issued in 2 different illustrations at their backs. I enclosed both.
They each costs 1,400Yen.


Will he be interested in a full sheet of this 9Yen dragonfly stamp?
Only 900Yen for 10*10 sheet.


or maybe for the 10Yen, 20Yen and 30Yen stamps of Oxycetonia jucunda, Apis cerana and Lycaena phlaeas.




Well, I think I should add some more cancellations and stationery to my website.
My idea was to introduce cancellations and stationery which seldom sold abroad.
I was forgetting the ideal when I made this website(^_^;

Being a stamp dealer is one of my dream.
I had several chances to design postal cancellations but never designed a stamp.


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