1945 unissued 3f+47f green and 6+44f carmine, set of two, l.h., v.f. (announced in 1941, printed in 1944, and scheduled to be issued in September 1945, these semi-postals were in fact never released. After the Japanese surrendered in August 1945 and control of the area was returned to China, these stamps were destroyed. Only later did two or three sheets of each value reach the philatelic marketplace) (Image)

Est.US$2,500

1945 unissued set of four, 3f+47f green, 6+44f carmine, se-tenant horizontal pairs, n.h., post office fresh, one with a natural inclusion on gum, otherwise v.f., extremely rare set, one of only a few that has survived destruction (The patriotic inscription at the bottom of the design alternates between Japanese and Chinese, creating the se-tenant variety. The 3f+47f reads "Spirit of Youth Conquers the Sky," and the 6f+44f "Dedicate Planes and Crush the Dreaded Enemy.") (Image)

Est.US$10,000