Patriotic Stamp Appraisal

Japan 2+2 Sen Patriotic Airmail Stamp (Aircraft and Mountains)

This item is a Japanese postage stamp, likely from the WWII era, characterized by its patriotic theme. The stamp's primary color is a vibrant red, with lighter pink hues depicting the sky. The central imagery features a prominent red aircraft in flight, soaring above a landscape of red mountains or clouds. In the upper center, there is a distinct white imperial chrysanthemum emblem, a common symbol in Japanese imperial philately. Text in Japanese characters is visible at the top, along with more characters at the bottom right. A numerical denomination of '2+2' is clearly displayed in large white characters at the bottom left, indicating a surcharge, common for patriotic or wartime issues where the additional value went towards a specific cause. The stamp has a perforated edge, typical for postal issues, and appears to be in used condition as evidenced by a heavy, irregular black cancellation mark that partially obscures the aircraft and the upper right text. This cancellation suggests it was affixed to mail and processed. Given its design and theme, it likely dates from the 1930s to early 1940s, a period of significant military activity and nationalistic sentiment in Japan. The overall impression is one of a functional postal artifact with historical significance, showing signs of handling and postal use, consistent with its age. The print quality appears standard for its time, with clear imagery despite the cancellation.