Paraguay Gs. 0.50 — Torii Kiyonaga “Women on the Seashore”
Share
Correo del Paraguay · World Art series (circa late 1960s–1970s)
Quick facts
| Country | Paraguay |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Correo del Paraguay |
| Denomination | Gs. 0.50 (Guaraníes) |
| Series | World Art / Fine Art Reproductions (exact set & date TBC) |
| Artwork | After Torii Kiyonaga (鳥居清長, 1752–1815), Women on the Seashore (bijin-ga) |
| Printing credit | Lito Nacional, Porto, Portugal (noted in lower margin) |
| Format | Commemorative, multicolour lithography |
| Perforation | TBC |
| Gum | Original gum (for mint examples) |
| Catalogue refs | TBC (Michel/Scott/Yvert numbers not yet verified) |
Historical context
During the 1960s–1970s Paraguay issued a popular run of stamps celebrating global art, introducing masterworks from Europe and Asia to a broad audience via philately. This approach positioned the country as a cultural connector at a time when postal issues doubled as educational mini-museums.
The artwork
The design reproduces a woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga, a leading Edo-period master of ukiyo-e bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women). Three figures in patterned kimono linger by the water: one stands with a round uchiwa fan, another is seated looking towards the shore, and a third turns half-away. Kiyonaga’s elegant proportions, balanced spacing, and textile patterns capture the leisure and refinement of late-18th-century urban life.
Production & design notes
- Colour & framing: A metallic-gold outer frame with red and cyan keylines—typical of Paraguay’s art issues—enhances the print’s warm tones.
- Inscriptions: “CORREO” at upper left; value “Gs. 0.50” at upper right; “PARAGUAY” across the foot; artist credit “KYONAGA TORII” lower left; printer credit “LITO NACIONAL – PORTO – PORTUGAL” along the lower margin.
- Reproduction: High-chroma lithography emphasises pattern details and shoreline blues; the original Japanese calligraphy remains visible at right within the image panel.
Postal context (Paraguay)
While valid for postage at Gs. 0.50, this type of issue was primarily aimed at collectors and cultural promotion rather than heavy postal usage. Many examples survive in mint condition.
Collector notes & value
- Availability: Common to moderately common in mint hinged or never-hinged condition; used copies are less frequent but not scarce.
- Condition factors: Look for intact perforations, clean margins, and bright, unfaded colours; gold border scuffing is a typical flaw.
- Value: Generally modest catalogue values; worth collecting for cross-cultural art themes or an ukiyo-e topical set.
- Display idea: Pair with stamps of Hokusai, Utamaro, or other Japanese masters for a themed page on Edo art.
Provenance & credits
Image and specimen from the Page to Thread collection (1980–2000 family archive). Artwork credit: Torii Kiyonaga. Printing credit as inscribed: Lito Nacional, Porto, Portugal.