---
title: Stamps for the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War, 2+1 sen and 5+2 sen (1942)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/greater-east-asia-war-anniversary-stamps-1942/
description: Two Japanese surcharged commemorative stamps side by side. The red-brown 2+1 sen shows two tanks moving along a shoreline past palm trees and a sailboat…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[![Stamps for the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War, 2+1 sen and 5+2 sen (1942)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/greater-east-asia-war-anniversary-stamps-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/greater-east-asia-war-anniversary-stamps-1942.jpg)

# Stamps for the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War, 2+1 sen and 5+2 sen (1942)

Two Japanese surcharged commemorative stamps side by side. The red-brown 2+1 sen shows two tanks moving along a shoreline past palm trees and a sailboat; the blue 5+2 sen shows a harbour with ships moored along a quay and a built-up shore beyond. Each carries the imperial chrysanthemum crest at top centre and an inscription marking the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War. The tag rests on the crest and the anniversary inscription set over military scenes (transfer): the imperial symbol and the war's name frame the images as one commemorated event.

## Text on the object

Original (Japanese) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
大日本帝國郵便
大東亞戰爭一周年記念
2+1
貳錢
大日本帝國郵便
大東亞戰爭一周年記念
5+2
五錢
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
Great Japan Imperial Postage
Commemoration of the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War
2+1
Two sen
Great Japan Imperial Postage
Commemoration of the first anniversary of the Greater East Asia War
5+2
Five sen
```

Read from the 753 by 357 pixel scan; left stamp first, then right. On each stamp the top inscription runs right to left across the crest (大日本 to its right, 帝國郵便 to its left) and the commemoration text runs along the foot between the two figures; the denomination character (貳錢, 五錢) is at the foot right. Characters at this resolution are legible but small, so the commemoration line is read with moderate confidence. The translation is machine-made and not checked by a fluent reader of Japanese.

[← 10 sen stamp with a map of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (1942)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/greater-east-asia-map-10-sen-stamp-1942/) [All the Ear-Marks of a Sneaky Jap! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-the-earmarks-of-a-sneaky-jap-1943/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Gold coin of Kanishka: King of Kings legend, king at the altar, deity Oesho](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gold-dinar-kanishka-king-of-kings-0130/) (Kushan Empire · 0130 · Transfer)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Bayeux Tapestry, scene 23: UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTVM FECIT VVILLELMO DVCI](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bayeux-tapestry-harold-oath-to-william-1070/) (Kingdom of England · 1070 · Transfer, Card stacking)
- [Mughal gold coin of Jahangir, dated 1028 AH, with a bull inside a ring of sun rays](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jahangir-gold-zodiac-coin-sun-rays-1619/) (Mughal Empire · 1619 · Transfer)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Consult of the doctors on the grave illness of the Grand Sultan (Consult vande medicijnen inde swaere siekte vanden grooten Sultaen)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/consult-of-the-doctors-sick-sultan-antwerp-1683/) (Spanish Netherlands · 1683 · Transfer, Bandwagon)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)