four singles of the 30c green, one 50c red, one 100c violet (showing partial watermark “...ING”), and one block of four of the 30c bearing the watermark “DORLING ... LOND ...”. The fourth issue was lithographed at the Tainan Printing Office during the final days of the Republic on thicker, more rigid paper than earlier issues, with a straighter tiger’s tail, bolder inscriptions, and more structured design. This issue was printed but never released, as the collapse of the Formosan Republic and subsequent Japanese occupation of Tainan in October 1895 halted its distribution, making it the final, unissued production of the short-lived Republic’s postal system. Most surviving examples of this issue show washed or deteriorated ink, while the present group remains fresh and complete, exhibiting all three denominations and distinct watermark features. An exceptionally rare and significant assembly for the study of the printing methods and unissued issues of the late Formosan Republic. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.278.

printed on thin native paper with bright, even impressions and wide margins, ungummed and without perforation. Produced at the Tainan Printing Bureau in mid-1895, this represents the first officially issued postage stamp of the Formosan Republic, bearing the “Tiger” design symbolizing national autonomy and the establishment of an independent postal system. The block shows precise alignment and sharp impressions, likely printed during the early stage of plate use when printing quality was at its best. A rare and representative multiple from the first issue of the Republic, well preserved and of exceptional philatelic and historical importance. Ex Meiso Mizuhara Collection.

showing the red handstamp “Huwei Branch Station” and a red forwarding cachet of Wenchou Steamship Company. The Taiwan Postal Stamp consisted of two parts, the Stamp Coupon and the Record Coupon, joined by a red-printed Classification Code for Station Name. After collecting the postage based on weight and distance, the clerk recorded the weight, date, and destination station name, along with serial and fare details. The two portions were then separated: the Stamp Coupon was affixed to the mail, canceled by the dispatching station, and the Record Coupon retained for accounting. The sender received a Receipt of Stamp as proof of payment, with the red station code identifying the originating station. Only about five examples of such Huwei–Taipei covers are recorded to date. They are invaluable postal artifacts documenting the formative stage and operational framework of Taiwan’s emerging modern postal system under Liu Ming-chuan’s reforms, marking a pivotal development in the evolution of late Ching postal administration. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.263.

all printed from the first hand-engraved die (Die I) on extremely thin, semi-transparent silky paper, imperforate. Each stamp was individually handstamped from a silver die, with the denomination inserted separately in a second operation, resulting in two distinct horizontal settings: wide (approx. 36 mm) and narrow (approx. 8 mm), with a very rare 2 mm “extra-narrow” setting known for the 30c value. The total printing was about 5,000 of each denomination. This first issue, produced by Tainan Printing Bureau during the formative months of Formosan Republic, represents the regime’s earliest hand-printed postage stamps. The set displays the delicate impressions and translucent native paper characteristic of the period’s limited resources and artisanal production. The example with the omitted value, a striking printing error bearing a genuine postal cancellation, demonstrates that even defective impressions were put into postal circulation, offering direct evidence of both production and usage practice. A complete and significant assembly encompassing all values and a rare error, providing vital material for the study of the Republic’s earliest postal issues and printing techniques. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.269.

comprising a complete unused set of three (30c, 50c, and 100c), one used 30c, one used 50c (value type Die III), one horizontal pair of 100c (value type Die I), and two partly imperforate examples of 30c and 100c respectively. Printed from hand-engraved silver dies on thin wove paper with perf. 12, these stamps often show irregular or incomplete perforations at the edges. Produced in October 1895, when the Tainan government was nearing collapse, the printing conditions were difficult and materials scarce; the impressions display uneven inking and varying line thickness, reflecting the crude craftsmanship typical of late wartime production. This second issue represents the re-engraved and revised stage of the Formosan Republic “Tiger” stamps. While retaining the original tiger design, the overall engraving and coloration appear coarser and darker, marking it as a distinctly late-period issue. The group includes unused and used examples, a multiple, and partly imperforate varieties, together forming a comprehensive representation of the second issue’s printing methods, die variations, and postal usage. An essential and rare assemblage for the study of the printing evolution of Formosan Republic postal issues. Mizuhara "Huayou Jijin II" vol. 7, p.271.