Zero

On December 1, 1941 the Communications Ministry of Japan issued an invitation for the public to submit designs for the next issue of postage stamps. Nineteen prize winning designs earned awards up to ¥500, including Suzuki Senzo of Tokyo, who won two prizes. The first became the Second Showa series 1 sen Hyuga Shrine on 1 October 1942 (another in this series of block prints), and the second was issued on August 1 1945 in the Third Showa series: 5 sen Sunrise at Sea and Plane. Professional stamp designer Kasori Teizo finalized the design, ommiting a battleship to leave only a plane, a rising sun, and a featureless green ocean.
The airplane was the famous Zero, so-named for the last digit of the year in which it was brought out, 2600 in the Japanese Calendar (1940). The carrier borne model was the type most often met by the Americans, often as much as 1600 miles from their carrier homes. The Zero was superior to all early Allied fighters in the Pacific and remained unchallenged until 1943, when better planes that outperformed the Zero in every way but maneuverability were brought out. The Zero was pure attack aircraft, highly agile, but with superior fire-power purchased at the expense of protection. With no self-sealing tanks or armour plate, many Zeros were lost in combat as Allied pilots died trying to learn how to fight them. The correct combat tactic to defeat the Zeros was to remain out of range and fight on the dive and climb. By using speed and resisting the deadly error of trying to out-turn the Zero, cannon could eventually be brought to bear. With little protection, a single burst of fire was usually enough.

Provenance:

Edition Size: 50
Inks Used:
Date cut:Image Size: 4" x 5"
Paper Size: 10" x 13"
Paper Type: Rives Lightweight

Available:

$25.00 USD
$500 MXN
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