Original from a private collection!

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Historical Identification & Appraisal Report

Subject: Manchukuo Era Identification and Labor Booklet (1939) Issuer: Daito Kogyo (Great East Company / 大東公司) Period: Kangde Era (Year 6) / Showa Era (Year 14)

 1. Historical Context

This document is a rare survivor from Manchukuo, a puppet state in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, which was governed under a constitutional monarchy from 1932 until 1945. It served as both a personal ID and a labor tracking book for a Chinese migrant worker (often referred to as "coolie" labor) under Japanese occupation. Such documents were strictly controlled to monitor the movement of the labor force between different administrative districts and industrial sites.

2. Document Details & Translation

Document Title: Identity Certificate (身分証明書 — Shenfen Zhengmingshu).

Holder’s Name: Jiang Rui-chu (姜瑞楮).

Age at Issuance: 19 years old.

Origin: Taian County, Shandong Province (a major source of migrant labor for Manchurian industries).

Date of Issue: Kangde 6 (1939).

Employer: Daito Kogyo (大東公司). This was a prominent Japanese-owned corporation involved in large-scale infrastructure and mining projects during the occupation.

3. Content Analysis

Center Panel: Features an original sepia-toned photograph of the worker in standard labor attire. It bears the official red ink seal (Hanko) of the Daito Kogyo company, which authenticates the document.

Right Panel: Contains personal data, including the lack of family dependents (indicating a solo seasonal worker) and specialized skill codes.

Left Panel: Lists "Notes/Precautions" for the holder. It explicitly states that the document must be carried at all times, is non-transferable, and must be surrendered to the authorities upon leaving the workplace or the territory.

 

Internal Ledger (verso): A grid for "Employment and Dismissal Records" (雇傭解雇欄). This section was intended to be stamped by various employers, providing a chronological history of the individual's labor.

4. Condition & Rarity

Condition: Excellent/Fine. The paper shows natural age-toning but remains structurally sound. The photograph is clear and well-preserved, which significantly increases the value.

Rarity: High. After the fall of Manchukuo in 1945, many symbols of the Japanese occupation were destroyed. Intact labor booklets with original photos are sought after by collectors of WWII history, "Manchukuoiana," and Asian social history.

Suggested Valuation for Collectors

Estimated Auction Value: $350.00 – $700.00 USD.

Target Market: WWII ephemera collectors, specialized Asian history archives, and private collectors of Japanese colonial administration artifacts.

Document Analysis: Manchukuo Identity & Labor Booklet

This document is a highly significant historical artifact. It is a Combined Identity Certificate and Labor Booklet issued in the puppet state of Manchukuo (Japanese-occupied Manchuria) during the late 1930s or early 1940s.

Key Details and Translation

Document Type: Identity Certificate (身分証明書 — shên-fên chêng-ming-shu).

Issuing Organization: The "Daito" Company (大東公司 — Daito Kogyo). This was a major Japanese corporation operating in occupied territories.

Era/Date: Issued in the 6th year of the Kangde Era (康德六年), which corresponds to 1939. It also references the 14th year of the Japanese Showa Era.

Document Number: 060100.

Personal Information of the Holder

Name: Jiang Rui-chu (姜瑞楮) — written in traditional Chinese ink calligraphy.

Age: 19 years old (at the time of issuance).

Origin: Taian County, Shandong Province (identifying the holder as a migrant worker from mainland China).

Structure of the Document

Central Panel: Features the original ID photograph of the young man in work attire, official company stamps, and the date of issue.

Right Panel: Details regarding place of birth, family status (listed as "no family," suggesting he arrived alone as a seasonal laborer), and professional skills.

Left Panel: "Important Notes" or regulations. These strictly dictate that the document must be carried at all times, cannot be transferred to others, and serves as a vital pass for crossing district boundaries within Manchukuo.

Internal Section (Image 4-1.jpg): Columns for "Employment and Dismissal Records" (雇傭解雇欄). These were meant to be stamped by employers to track the worker's history.

Historical and Collectible Value

Rarity: Most artifacts from the Japanese occupation were destroyed after 1945. Surviving ID books are rare.

Subject Matter: It is a direct witness to the system of contract and forced labor established by Japan in Manchuria.

Condition: This specimen is in excellent condition. The presence of the original photograph significantly increases its market value.

Delivery: 15 dollars in a letter with a number!  REGISTRED !!!!