My limited experience with Japanese issues in the early part of the 20th century and right after WW2 reflects the frequent use of thin rice paper, with or without added 'glue'. The combination makes for difficult separation of stamps, themselves often on softer poor paper, and the envelope remainders.
I was looking at these two ebay items and the seller lists them as "with backing paper". To me, they look like they got stuck to something and were cut out. Is this something that was done back then?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ryukyu-Islands-Provisional-3X11-Mint-1946-Miyako-14s-With-backing-paper-Signed-/121952232985?hash=item1c64eb6619:g:bwsAAOSw-RRXCwDF
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ryukyu-Islands-Provisional-3X2-Mint-1946-Miyako-2s-With-backing-paper-Signed-/121952235817?hash=item1c64eb7129:g:NSIAAOSwsN9XCwGk
re: Backing Paper?
My limited experience with Japanese issues in the early part of the 20th century and right after WW2 reflects the frequent use of thin rice paper, with or without added 'glue'. The combination makes for difficult separation of stamps, themselves often on softer poor paper, and the envelope remainders.