Japan Silver Kanji on the Box Lids: Actual Time Borders

[JapanX]

Very often you can hear that silver kanji on the box lid indicates that this box (and its content) came straight from WWII period (i.e. 1941-1945).

Is it really so?

Of course no.

This is just another naïve and wrong belief …

I think the actual time boarders for boxes with silver kanji are

[1938 (minimum time estimate known to me); 1956 (maximum time estimate known to me)]

Let`s take a look at evidence

Edited November 6, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

The lowest time estimate will be 5th Class Golden Kite from DavidS collection.

It was awarded to Okada Hitoshi on September 23, 1939

[JapanX]

.

[JapanX]

Doc

[JapanX]

Interesting, that the box for 7th class Golden Kite issued to Miriya Yoshihisa on August 22, 1937 has golden kanji

[JapanX]

Obverse

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Doc

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Details :rolleyes:

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Well, does it means that the watershed between gold and silver kanji lies somewhere between 1937 and 1938?

I think it doesn`t.

I think boxes with gold and silver kanji co-existed during this (and later) time period.

There could be several different manufacturers of the boxes one of which (by reason unknown to us) used silver kanji...

You see we know for a fact that in 1946 there were boxes with gold kanji

See http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/51243-order-of-the-sacred-treasure/page__st__40 posts #49 and #50

[JapanX]

Now check out this 3rd class sacred treasure from 1954

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Doc + official translation

[JapanX]

And now this Medal of Honor on Dark Blue Ribbon issued in 1956 ;)

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[Dieter3]

I'll have to go back and have a closer look, but I do have a 7th Class Golden Kite with a document from 1940 and if I recall correctly, the kanji are gold. I think you are right in stating there was a mixture of gold and silver, and probably pretty close to 1938 being the earliest we see silver kanji showing up on cases.

[JapanX]

I'll have to go back and have a closer look, but I do have a 7th Class Golden Kite with a document from 1940 and if I recall correctly, the kanji are gold.

Cool!

If you'll find this set, please post it here ;)

[JapanX]

Here come quality pictures of this 6th class with doc from 1946.