Manchukuo Tourist Cachets and Cancels

Tourist Cachets

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Mixed Tourist Cachets of Manchukuo (no postal validity)

A wide range of tourist cachets were available within Manchukuo and the Kwantung Leased Territory. It is likely that most of the tourists were Japanese, as often the date (if shown) is based upon the Japanese 昭和 Shōwa era dating system. Colours and sizes vary. Manchukuo at this time was a tourist destination and the South Manchurian Railway Company offered tours in collaboration with shipping lines.

The cachets could be obtained in bookshops, kiosks, tourist attractions, from companies, hotels and railway stations. They had no postal use and were simply collected as souvenirs of a particular visit. Often it is hard to find clear examples as the practice seems to have been to apply them to the picture side of a postcard. This may have been due to a postal regulation. The range to be found is huge, (I would welcome any scans readers me wish to send me).

Tourist Cachet - Issued 8th April 1939.
This example was issued in 頦縣 Chin-hsien

Design features - Buildings and a pagoda with what might be fruit in the foreground. The dating based upon the Japanese 昭和 Shōwa era.

Size 48mm dia. Known colours - red

Tourist Cachet - Issued 9th September 1934.
This example was issued in 吉林 Kirin.

Design features - racing horses and a building on a hill. The longer text reads 遊覧紀念 Japanese: Yūran kinen. Sightseeing Commemoration. (紀念 "kinen" can also mean “memory”)

The characters 昭和 mean Shōwa, indicating the Japanese era date 9.9.9.

Both sets of characters read from left to right which is not typical at this time.

Size 38mm dia. Known colours - red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Design features - The Monument to the Loyal Dead

Size 46mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 23rd June 1939
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

From the National Museum at Mukden.

Size 46mm x 35mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 23rd June 1939
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

This is probably from the Ancestors Hall?

Size 43mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 23rd June 1939
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

From the Northern Tombs.

Size 52mm dia. Known colours - Green

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Hoten Pei-ta-ying (Beidaying) battlefield, commemorating the battle that took place on 18th Sept 1931 (the Mukden Incident).

Size XXmm dia. Known colours - Green

Tourist Cachet - 18th Sept 1934
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden Old Palace Museum

Size XXmm dia. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - dated 10th May 1936
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Beiling 北陵 (Northern tombs), Mukden

Size 36mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - dated 9th May 1936
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Showa Hotel, Mukden

Size 32mm dia. Known colours - Blue

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden monument to the loyal dead.

Size 50mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden monument to the loyal dead.

Size 60mm dia. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

The picture shows the Mukden monument to the loyal dead, The text reads Peiling (Beiling) 北陵 (Northern tombs).

Size 63mm dia. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Souvenir of Peiling (Beiling) 北陵 (Northern tombs), Mukden

Size 75mm x 75mm. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Souvenir of Peiling (Beiling) 北陵 (Northern tombs), Mukden

Size 38mm x 36mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden Peiling (Beiling) 北陵 (Northern tombs), Mukden

Size 85mm x 52mm. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden Kichijun Shibo Department Store

Size 35mm x 38mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden Kichijun Shibo Department Store

Size 68mm x 68mm. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

From the Pingan Hotel.

Size 38mm x 52mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Issued 23rd June 1939
This example was issued at 奉天 Mukden

Mukden Paita-ying Battlefield - remains of the Paita-Ying barracks.

Size 54mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Issued
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

From the National Museum, Mukden.

Size 42mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in

Souvenir of Peiling (Beiling) 北陵 (Northern tombs), Mukden

Size 36mm x 46mm. Known colours - Green

Tourist Cachet - Issued Dec 1929
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Commemorating the departure of the discharged solders. Garrison 33^rd Infantry Regiment

Size 42mm dia. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

Mukden, National Museum

Size 56mm x 25mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Dated 17th Feb 1938
This example was issued at in 承徳 Cheng Te

This is the cancel shows donkeys and a pagoda.

Size dia 40mm. Known colours - Red and Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in

Manchu Customs (possibly a horse drawn taxi).

Size 70mm x 52mm. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

This is the cancel used by the SMR Yamato Hotel featuring the facade of the hotel and a "modern" car. Full image here.

Size dia 31.5mm excluding car. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in 奉天 Mukden

This is the cancel shows a famous tomb site in Mukden

Size dia 37mm excluding car. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 21st August 1936
This example was issued at in Harbin

This is a typical hotel cancel in this instance for the Hokumen Hotel in Harbin. The cover with this cancel can be seen here.

Size 45mm. Known colours - Blue

Tourist Cachet - 21st August 1936
This example was issued at in Harbin

Another hotel cancel with a similar image. This one is from the Nagoya Hotel.

Size 45mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Harbin.

Awaiting Translation

Size 27.5mm x 61mm. Known colours - Violet

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Tsitsihar.

The cachet features sheep a staple of local farming with the label in English Chi Chi Haerh indicating that it was aimed at foreign tourists.

Size 36mm x 36mm. Known colours - orange red

Tourist Cachet - 10th March to 10th May 1932. Location unknown.

This cachet reads 滿蒙大博覽會紀念 Commemorating the Manchurian Mongolian Exposition.

The card features a Manchurian army helmet and the the exhibitions logo.

Size 33.7mm maximum width,. Known colours - red.

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Tsitsihar.

The cachet features a coastal scene with the label in English Chi Chi Haerh indicating that it was aimed at foreign tourists.

Size 36mm x 34mm. Known colours - Violet

Tourist Cachet - Issued 19th Sept 1934.
This example was issued at 撫順 Fushun.

Design features - Fushun Oil Refinery.

Design Size XXmm Dia. Known colours - pink/red.

Tourist Cachet - Issued 24 June 1939.
This example was issued at 撫順 Fushun.

Design features - the Fushun colliery building with the stripes below representing coal deposits.

Design Size 60mm x 65mm . Known colours - purple.

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at 撫順 Fushun.

Design features - Fushun sight-seeing commemoration - Fushun colliery.

Design Size 42mm dia. Known colours - Green.

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at 撫順 Fushun.

Design features - Fushun Town.

Design Size 41mm x 46mm. Known colours - Green.

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun

Design features - 撫順炭礦 Fushun Coal Mine. Famous for a coal seam 40m deep on average and up to 130m thick in places! This is probably indicated by the illustration.

Size 46mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun

Design features - the mining pit head.

Size 46mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun

Design features - Most likely Fushun Dining Hall.

Size 46mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 撫順 Fushun

Design features - Scene in front of station..

Size 46mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 23rd September 1934.
This example was issued in Anshan

Design features - The Showa Steelworks at Anthan.

Size XXmm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Anshan

From the Anshan Omiya Hotel.

Size XXmm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Issued 24th September 1934.
This example was issued in 湯崗子 T’ang-kang-tzu

Design features - The mud bath house at Tangkangtzu hot springs and spa. Pu Yi spent 2 days at a Japanese hotel here prior to becoming Chief Executive of Manchukuo.

Size Dia 45mm. Known colours - Blue and Red

Tourist Cachet - Issued 21st September 1934.
This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking

Design features - Stalks of ripe Kaolin. The J.T.B. may stand for Japanese Tourist Board, this was a corporation set up in 1912 to look after foreign visitors to Japan.

Size xx x xxmm. Known colours - Blue

Tourist Cachet - Issued 31st July 1938.
This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking

Design features - tall buildings in a map of Manchukuo, the J.T.B. may stand for Japanese Tourist Board, this was a corporation set up in 1912 to look after foreign visitors to Japan.

Size 57mm dia. Known colours - red

Tourist Cachet - Issued 26th July 1938.
This example was issued in 安東 Antung

Design features - a raft of logs being guided downriver to the sawmills., The J.T.B. may stand for Japanese Tourist Board, this was a corporation set up in 1912 to look after foreign visitors to Japan.

Size 59 x 22mm. Known colours - red

Tourist Cachet - Undated but known to have been used in July or August 1938.
This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking

新京驛前紀念 New Station Commemorative.

Design features - a picture of a swineherd possibly smoking opium with the city walls in the background.

Size 62mm dia. Known colours - purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated but known to have been used in July or August 1938.
This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking

新京驛前紀念 New Station Commemorative.

Design features - a picture of a big city building with the flag that was the emblem of Hsinking.

Size 70mm dia. Known colours - purple

Tourist Cachet - dated 28th September 1935.
This example was issued in 新京 Hsinking and Harbin

This cachet appears to celebrate both Hsinking and Harbin

Design features - various buildings including a Russian Orthodox Church..

Size 38mm dia. Known colours - purple

Tourist Cachet - dated 12th August 1935.
This example was issued in Nanling

This cachet appears to celebrate the battle at Nanling

Design features - a memorial with a helmet and rifle above which a rising sun emblem of Japan.

Size 57mm dia. Known colours - blue

Tourist Cachet - Issued 30th July 1938. .
This example was issued in 奉天 Mukden

Design features - a dragon pillar from the North Mausoleum and a large modern building, it has been suggested to me that this might be the offices of a hair brush company because of the characters 满毛, this seems a little unlikely, please let me know if you have a better translation..

Size 65mm dia. Known colours - red

Tourist Cachet - Issued 26th July 1938. .
This example was issued in 安東 Antung

Design features - a log raft and the iron bridge across the Yalu River set inside a circular saw blade. The wording reads Yalu River Lumber Corporation.

Size 60 x 48mm. Known colours - green

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 遼陽 Liao Yang

Design features - a helmet outline filled with images of places of interest in Laioyang, the pagoda, mountain and city wall. The inscription reads Manchuria-Mongolia visit commemoration. Liaoyang. Namiki souvenir shop.

Size 35mm x 26.5mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Hsinking

Design features - The train Asia and a suitcase, probably issued by the Hsinking Tourist Board.

Size 49mm x 35mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 31st July 1938.
This example was issued in Hsinking.

The cachet reads Hsinking Tourist Information Office.

Size 54mm x 50mm. Known colours - Red

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in Liaoyang.

The cachet reads Liaoyang Souvenirs, Tel 340 Namiki souvenir specialists shop.

Size 72mm x 87mm. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - 22nd September 1934.
This example was issued at the Nanling Battlefield.

This date stamp commemorates a visit to the Nanling Battlefield near Mukden.

Size 31.5mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was issued in 錦州 Chin-chow (later renamed Chinhsien).

The cachet features Chin-chou hospital and the caption reads 錦州巡覽 Chin-chou Tour.

Size 36mm x 36mm. Known colours - orange red

Tourist Cachet - 22nd September 1934.
This example was issued at the 金州石 Chin Chou Shih.

The exact text has yet to be translated.

Size 37mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Tourist Cachet - Undated.
This example was simply reads 觀光紀念 sightseeing souvenir.

The cachet features a city and appeared on a card from Chin-chow.

Size 42mm dia. Known colours - Red/Orange

Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Harbin

OSK Harbin Maru, a ship.

Size 43mm x 76mm. Known colours - Purple

Mixed Tourist Cachets of the Kwantung Leased Territory

Brilliant Manchuria Exposition - Dairen

Issued during 1933.
This example was issued in 大連 Dairen

大连市催 - 満州大博覧曾記念 Organised by Dairen City - Manchuria Exposition Commemoration. This cancel was not for postal use, it is found on postcards promoting the exposition. Issue dates are unclear, they may have been issued at the showground during the exposition or beforehand on promotional cards.

Size 35mm dia. Known colours - green

Issued during 1933.
This example was issued in 大連 Dairen

Dairen City - Manchuria Exposition This cancel shows the dates for the exhibition which ran from 23rd July to 31st August 1933. Both the Japanese and Manchurian year date is shown, this is very unusual and may be unique.

Size 47mm dia. Known colours - Purple

Undated.
This example was issued in 大連 Dairen

The meaning here is obvious,
the cancel shows the symbol of the city
with the flags of both nations.

Size 47mm dia. Known colours - purple

Issued during 1933.
This example was issued in 大連 Dairen

This is the Manchurian version of the exhibition
cancel. Again showing the opening and closing dates
with the flags of both nations.

Size 36mm dia. Known colours - purple

KLT Tourist Cachet - Issued 1st September 1931.
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - an old man and a boy, this cachet has yet to be translated.

Size 42mm dia. Known colours - purple

KLT Tourist Cachet - Issued 1st July 1939.
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Dairen Manchu Resources (shigen) Hall.

Size 43mm dia. Known colours - purple and blue

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - the main passenger terminal at the port and a junk. This decorative cachet was issued by a Dairen Chiangpanchiao Products Hall.

Size 49mm dia. Known colours - red

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - the main passenger terminal at the port and a junk. This decorative cachet was issued by Dairen Chiangpanchiao Products Hall.

Size 49mm dia. Known colours - Violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Awaiting translation

Size 39mm dia. Known colours - purple

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Awaiting translation

Size 31mm dia. Known colours - purple

KLT Tourist Cachet - 25th September 1934
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Diaren Mantetsu Wharf, outline of passenger terminal.

Size 35mm x 31mm. Known colours - blue

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Donkey design, probably a logo of the Dairen Chiangpanchiao Products Hall.

Size 56mm x 45mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 29th June 1939
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Train and ship - issued by the gift shop Dairen Hsitung.

Size 35mm dia. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 8th May 1939
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Ship & Monument to the Loyal Dead - issued by the gift shop Dairen Hsitung.

Size 53mm dia. Known colours - violet

Railway 8 - Dated 14th June 1939.
This example was issued at 大連 Dairen Station

Design features - A train, probably the Asia together with an image of the passenger terminal and a junk.

Design Size 72mm x 39mm . Known colours - grey blue.

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur).

Design features - Ryojun Memorial Hall, Kawatani (or Kawaya) Shop (concession).

Size 66mm x 40mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 14th June 1939
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Port Arthur battlefield, Peipaolei 堡壘(north rampart).

Size 48mm x 33mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 30th June 1939
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Port Arthur Battlefield, Peipaolei 堡壘(north rampart)

Size 36mm dia. Known colours - green

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - Musician - Dairen Daiman Inn, Commemorating visiting Manchukuo.

Size 43mm x 65mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 14th June 1939
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur).

Design features - Port Arthur tourist assoctiation - sacred ground.

Size 35mm dia. Known colours - light grey and green.

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur).

Design features - War Memorial to the Loyal Dead and the Navel Forces Monument.

Size 44mm dia. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - Undated
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - crossed flags of Manchukuo and Korea (from 1911 to 1945 Korea was a Japanese colony and used the Japanese flag), with images of the passenger terminal and war memorial in Dairen. The characters read Korean-Manchurian Travel Commemorative.

Size 41mm dia. Known colours - grey/blue

KLT Tourist Cachet - 5th August 1938
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Design features - the Japanese War Memorial on White Jade Hill. The text reads Souvenir of study and observation visit to Ryojun Baiyushan battlefield ruins.

Size 41mm dia. Known colours - Purple

KLT Tourist Cachet - 16th October 1934
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Design features - An artillery piece - this is the early version with the characters reading 闆東廳博物館記念館 "Guandong Ting Museum Commemorative".

Size 29mm x 50mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 27th June 1939
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Design features - An artillery piece - in this later version the message reads 旅順博物館記念館 "Lǚshùn (Port Arthur) Museum Commemorative".

Size 29mm x 50mm. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 27th June 1939
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Design features - Port Arthur Battlefield Memorial.

Size 36mm dia. Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 27th February 1932
This example was issued at in Dairen.

Design features - The port at Dairen.

Size 54mm x 40mm. Known colours - brown

KLT Tourist Cachet - 9th August 1934
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Design features - A Chinese Vase. The characters read Kwantung Government Museum.

Known colours - violet

KLT Tourist Cachet - 28th November 1909
This example was issued at 旅順 Lǚshùn (Port Arthur)

Self-explanatory a bi-lingual message surrounded by guns.

Known colours - violet