Editorial
May 2006

My goal for the summer was to get caught up with our issues before the next issue was due out. Well, in spite of sincere efforts, we are now into August, when Issue 3 is due, and you are just now receiving Issue 2. But we’re getting close. The biggest barrier for the summer has been a lack of material, which is reasonable given the gap that has existed. But now we are very close to being back on schedule, and I really need material. This lack of material has caused me to be very creative, but I would much rather be hearing from you. Even my bribes from the last issue seem not to have borne much fruit. Please send me something— anything.

One of the things that you will notice in this issue is the large number of letters to the editor back in this issue. Personally, I really enjoy hearing what our members have to say, and I am so enlightened by the scholarship and observations of our members. So, if you aren’t prepared to send an article, even a short one, then send me a letter!

One of my Korean doctoral students has just alerted me to a newspaper story that she read from Korea announcing that, beginning next year, paper revenue stamps will be replaced with digital revenue stamps. This is surprising given that the Korean federal government has just issued a new set of revenue stamps, from 10 to 10,000 won (as announced in 51:1). It would be strange to issue a new series (thus, replacing the 1971 series) so close in time to when they plan on eliminating them.

This also has significant implications for the collecting of Korean revenue stamps, but what is the impact likely to be? A few years ago, with the help of my Korean students, I wrote to every government agency in Korea trying to acquire a set of municipal revenue stamps. I received stamps from only two agencies; others that replied indicated that they no longer used stamps but had switched to meters, Sometimes, the elimination of a type of service stamp diminishes the interest in that area because no new stamps can be added. But sometimes it increases interest because of the renewed interest in that type of collecting. What do you think of this story, and what impact do you think it will have on the collecting of Korean revenue stamps? I am trying to get more information on this, and I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has more information.

Unfortunately, with the rush to catch up, some mistakes were made. But our readers are on the ball and were quick to inform me. Please see the errata, below. My apologies.

Errata from the Editor

It appears that I combined a photo with the wrong description in an article submitted by Florian Eichhorn and published on page 4 of 50:4 titled “Fusanpo 1882.” Please disregard that article completely. I am including the correct photo and picture for Fusanpo 1882 in this issue. Mv anoloQies. Elorian.KP