Classification of Colden Kites in 4th and 5th class (An attempt...)

[JapanX]

Well its alarming, but not a "full proof" evidence ...

Actually its very far away from "full proff"

Try to distinguish (without enlarging) type 1 (on the left) and type 5 ;)

Edited November 26, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Closer

[JapanX]

They look practically identically.

Only when you look them straight in the eyes :)

[JapanX]

Makes you wonder if type 1 is really type 1 and type 5 is really type 5 ...

Of course they are!

Here comes the reverses

[JapanX]

Type 5 (note the sewn eye on the ribbon ... a sign of early ribbons)

[JapanX]

But then you see this early (made between 1885 and 1905) photo of Togo ...

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Or this exellent photo of the 1895 compaign veteran ...

[JapanX]

Looks very much like type 5 :whistle:

[JapanX]

All these are very disturbing

So after all type 5 could belong not only to Taisho epoch, but to Meiji (or even early Meiji - in "kites sence of the word" )

What we really need is 100% authentic documented group with type 5 kite...

Until then some additional photos of this interesting type.

Edited November 26, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

A nice example of type 5 in 4th class (please note the style of the kanji on the box lid and later added rosette)

[JapanX]

[JapanX]