1944 Japanese Woodblock New Year Postcard Monkey Zodiac Koshin Showa Wartime

Original Japanese woodblock-printed New Year postcard dated 甲申元旦 (Kōshin Gantan) — New Year’s Day of the Wood Monkey year, corresponding to 1944.

The front features a bold stylized seated monkey rendered in red, gray, green and black, together with the traditional New Year greeting:

賀春 – “New Year Greetings”
甲申元旦 – “New Year’s Day, Wood Monkey Year”

The image was likely created as a zodiac nengajō for the Year of the Monkey during the wartime Shōwa period.

Details:

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  Date: 1944
  
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  Period: Shōwa era / wartime Japan
  
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  Type: Japanese New Year postcard / nengajō
  
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  Technique: Woodblock printing
  
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  Subject: Monkey / Japanese zodiac
  
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  Theme: New Year / Year of the Monkey
  
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  Origin: Japan
  
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  Material: Paper
  
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  Size: 8.5 × 13 cm
  
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  Approx. size: 3.35 × 5.12 inches
  
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  Postage condition: Unposted
  
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  Original period item

The reverse shows the pigments and image clearly penetrating through the thin paper, consistent with traditional woodblock printing.

Condition:
Vintage condition with age-related toning, light spotting, minor surface wear and some fading consistent with age. Please examine the photos carefully for exact condition.

Shipping: Free Worldwide Shipping from Japan.