Joan Van Patten (JVP) wrote a number of books on Nippon. In these books was a section aptly titled, “Nippon Backstamps.” This section contains hand-drawn facsimiles of the marks found on the wares the collectors were encountering at that time - whether it be fancy-ware, practical items, doll, or toy, etc.. As each new and different backstamp was discovered it was recorded and assigned a number. The marks were brought to her over a number of years; they were not added in any particular order, nor were they separated into categories. Each book that Joan published saw the backstamps section grow as INCC members found more and more new marks. Her first book was written in 1979 and had only 118 marks. By her last book written in 2005, she (and the INCC members) had created a wonderful library in the “Nippon Backstamps” section of 359 marks. To this day a few more backstamps of the era are being discovered, and we now have a better understanding of some of the earlier ones.

Although this website uses the same numbers that are found assigned to the marks in Joan’s “Nippon Backstamps” section, it differs from her books in that it attempts to “extract” the marks to make the booklets above. In Joan’s books the marks used by the Morimura Company to identify their wares are peppered throughout the entire “Backstamps Section.” As much as those marks can be discerned, they have been combined to comprise the pdf above – “The Backstamps of the Morimura Company.” The next category of marks are the backstamps found on wares that were NOT produced by the Morimura Company – “Marks Other Than Morimura Backstamps.” These were made by companies about which we know very little though we endeavor to learn more. The next booklet is  “Newly Discovered Marks.” These backstamps have come to light since the publication of Joan’s last book and do NOT have identifying JVP numbers. “Nippon Era Dinnerware” contains dinnerware known to be made IN the Nippon Era and may or may not have JVP numbers. The “Dolls and Playthings” booklet is based entirely on the wonderful book by Joan and Linda Lau: Nippon: Dolls & Playthings Identification and Values (Collectors Books, a division of Schroeder Publishing Co., Inc.,  P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009; 2001 (ISBN: 1-57432-201-X).

Facsimile of JVP 52

In each booklet the marks are presented much like those in Joan’s books: see the example of the Maple Leaf to the left which is a hand-drawn representation as close to the original mark as was able to be drawn.  The label under it tells us this is “Facsimile of JVP 52” and often more detail will be included. When possible, examples of actual marks and pieces are included for each mark. Finding such examples of every mark in Joan’s Backstamps Section continues to be a challenge but new discoveries will be documented as and when they occur. Also, each Backstamp Booklet contains links to articles that have information that hopes to enhance the reader’s understanding of the marks of the companies of this era.