Japan – Global Postcard Sales

Showing 1–40 of 489 postcards

Tokyo, Hotel Okura
A somewhat Zen-like view of the interior of this famous hotel. Three cards are available, unused and undamaged. Grades: 1

Code: 20311001
Price: $2.00
Tokyo, Hotel Okura
1970s exterior view of this landmark property. Card is unused and undamaged. Grade: 1

Code: 20311002
Price: $5.00
Tokyo, Westin Hotel exterior
Nine of these unused cards are available. Grades: 1

Code: 20311003
Price: $2.00
Tokyo, Westin Hotel interior
Five cards are available, from the 1990s. Four are unused (Grades: 1, $1). The other was mailed in 1998 with one stamp, full Shibuya postmark, and some abrasion on the reverse (Grade: 2, $2).

Code: 20311004
Price: $2.00
Artwork
Mailed in 1985, though card is older, with stamp intact and legible postmark, this card was printed on a dark cardboard stock that has further mottled on both sides. Grade: 3

Code: 20311005
Price: $5.00
Mt. Fuji, aerial view
Card was mailed in 1985. It has four stamps and heavily inked postmarks. There’s also some postmark ink on the front–it must have been an aggressive day at the post office. Undamaged otherwise. Grade: 3

Code: 20311006
Price: $4.50
Kochi Ryojyun
Japanese experts will know the date of this antique postcard from a purple “chop” on the front: 14.8.31. Card has heavily aged over time but is unused and in other respects undamaged apart from small corner album marks. Grade: 3

Code: 20311007
Price: $17.00
Peach Boy from Nomura
An advertisement from Nomura, specially done for the year 1940, on behalf of a child-rearing trust fund–similar in concept to what Americans know as a Christmas Club. Why Momo-Taro, the Peach Boy? It’s a long story but our knowledgable advisor thinks this was a metaphor for bravery, considering the mounting militarism in 1940. The card was never mailed and is in terrific condition apart from tiny crease in upper right corner. Grade: 2

Code: 20311008
Price: $14.00
Unknown temple
We regret not knowing where (or who) this is, but Japan experts will know. Card is quite old and has aged heavily but is otherwise undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311009
Price: $13.00
Spring in Kyoto Grand Exhibition
This unused card portrays the Spring in Kyoto Grand Exhibition, hosted by the City of Kyoto; it was open from 15th March until 21st May, in the 13th year of the Showa Era (i.e., 1938). It turns out the first such exhibition took place in 1871, and we thank Tomizawa-san for helping us understand this card and the event! Somewhat aged on reverse, but in good condition for the era and a leader among our most exotic postcards. Grade: 2

Code: 20311010
Price: $18.00
Beppu Hot Springs
Really very old and heavily aged. No particular damage, but it is definitely antique! Grade: 3

Code: 20311011
Price: $17.00
Sea Women (Ama)
Toba city in Mie Prefecture, west of Tokyo, is known for these professional (and only female) divers who look for abalone and various seaweeds. The activity dates back to the 12th century, though the card doesn’t. Our thanks to Tomizawa-san for helping us interpret this. The card itself is heavily aged, unused, otherwise undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311012
Price: $17.00
Street scene
Purple “chop” on front of this unused card identifies “Tokyota” and “Hankuraka” in western letters, plus of course others in Japanese. Card was never mailed and is significantly aged but otherwise undamaged and would be interesting if framed. Grade: 3

Code: 20311013
Price: $19.00
Sapporo, snow view of Nakajima Park
Lovely old winter picture, and while the card is heavily aged, it is otherwise undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311014
Price: $16.00
Famous places
“Famous” in English but perhaps if you read Japanese you will know exactly where this early 20th-century view is. Card was never mailed but has one stamp on the back. No handwriting. Heavily aged and mottled but otherwise this sepia-toned card is undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311015
Price: $16.00
Futami, Ise
Somewhat distant, atmospheric view of this famous landmark. Card was never mailed and is quite heavily aged. If you want to feel you’re back in the postcard dark ages, this one’s for you. Grade: 4

Code: 20311016
Price: $11.00
Futami, Ise
Old, unmailed card with two “chops” on front: one small and red in Japanese, and the other in purple, bilingual, saying “Futami Hotel,” “The Futamiura Souvenir.” Card also has modest blue bilingual caption on bottom front. But how do you get to the starting point of the walkway? Grade: 2

Code: 20311017
Price: $29.00
Tokyo, multiple views
Scarce early 20th-century multiple views of Tokyo in this never-mailed but heavily aged old card. Perfect for framing. Grade: 2

Code: 20311018
Price: $34.00
Kumamoto Suezenji
Aged yet lovely card, blue tone with red bilingual caption. Unmailed, undamaged but certainly not “as-new.” Grade: 3

Code: 20311019
Price: $19.00
Ushiwaka and Benkei
On the Gojo Bridge and from the Chronicles of Yoshitsune, this legendary scene in full colour on an unmailed vintage Japan postcard. Slightly stained on reverse but, for its age, in great condition. Grade: 3

Code: 20311020
Price: $22.00
View of Temple Kiyomidera
Temple also known as Seikenji, this card looks to be more the view of Mt. Fuji from the temple. Unmailed, heavily aged, with red “chop” mark on front. Grade: 3

Code: 20311021
Price: $16.00
Greetings
We’re assuming these cards (three are available) represent festive greetings of some sort, but in any event they are unused and somewhat aging but undamaged. Grades: 2

Code: 20311022
Price: $12.00
Matsushima
Unused and aging B&W card with tiny captions on front. Grade: 3

Code: 20311023
Price: $14.00
Beach scene
Japanese caption on bottom front may identify exact location, but we don’t know, and surprisingly can’t even coax our Japanese friends to tell us. Card likely dates from early 20th century, was never mailed, and has aged significantly. Grade: 3

Code: 20311024
Price: $14.00
Frog and waterfall
Sorry, not sure where this is but if you read Japanese, you’ll know. Card has a very light blue background, has aged, but is unmailed and otherwise undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311025
Price: $16.00
Island and torii gate
Very old B&W card of what looks like a sacred island. A Japanese-language caption on front bottom will tell you. Unmailed, aged but undamaged. Grade: 2

Code: 20311026
Price: $12.00
Legendary event
Card depicts (and describes) a legendary event. Never mailed, heavily stained but at least colourful. Grade: 4

Code: 20311027
Price: $9.50
Baseball stadium
We know it’s a baseball stadium, but that’s all we know. If you read Japanese, you will see the large purple “chop” mark on the reverse, probably telling everything. Ask us and we’ll send the scan of that. Unmailed, aged card with minor staining. Grade: 3

Code: 20311028
Price: $17.00
Mystery card
We really don’t know what the story is for this card but welcome whatever you can tell us. Card is unmailed and heavily aged but otherwise generally undamaged. Grade: 3

Code: 20311029
Price: $16.00
Washington baseball team in Japan
We’re thinking this is the 1934 tour of the (USA) Washington Senators team to Japan. Unused card. Grade: 2

Code: 20311030
Price: $79.00
Waseda baseball
Probably mid-1930s unused card of the Waseda team. Slightly aged but in good condition. Grade: 2

Code: 20311031
Price: $36.00
In the field
Large purple “chop” mark on front gives date, Japanese-style, and hopefully a description. Unmailed card, aged and mottled but nicely atmospheric. Grade: 3

Code: 20311032
Price: $22.00
Mystery card #2
Comments similar to card #20311029–we’re not sure. Aged and unmailed. You can have both cards together for $24. Grade: 3

Code: 20311033
Price: $16.00
Baseball in action
Most likely, the Japanese-language caption identifies the team or event. Unmailed card, probably from mid-1930s, aged and slightly mottled. Grade: 3

Code: 20311034
Price: $22.00
Fable?
It would be fun to know the fable behind this very nice, embossed, unmailed and undamaged card. For its age, it’s in great shape. Grade: 1

Code: 20311035
Price: $21.00
Shoguen
English captions on front don’t illuminate much but Japanese captions certainly will. Front also has large purple “chop” with date. Unmailed, gently mottled. Grade: 2

Code: 20311036
Price: $22.00
Ota no Rakugan
Heavily aged but unused card. No particular damage, but clearly very old. Grade: 3

Code: 20311037
Price: $14.00
Futamigaura Ise
Not so much that the card is faded, but it’s a bleak view punctuated by the blue caption on front bottom. Never mailed, somewhat mottled. Grade: 3

Code: 20311038
Price: $12.00
Tokyo, Ginza bars
Many of the bars may have changed but the scene is the same from this 1980s unmailed card. Minor smudging on reverse. Grade: 2

Code: 20311039
Price: $4.00
Kyoto, Miho Museum
Mailed in early 2000s, with stamp intact and postmark mostly legible. Would be undamaged except that ink from a red Par Avion stamp on the card sitting on top of it at the post office has transferred itself. Grade: 3

Code: 20311041
Price: $4.50

Showing 1–40 of 489 postcards