Collection & Research

After The First Sino-Japanese War was broken out in 1894 (the 20th year of Emperor Kuang Hsu), next year, the Treaty of Shimonoseki had been signed at April 17, 1895 by China and Japan. In the Treaty, China ceded to Japan in perpetuity and full sovereignty of the Formosa (Taiwan) together with all fortifications, arsenals and public property. When the Japanese Force went into Taiwan, Taiwanese was alarmed and they opposed the cession of Taiwan and Penghu to Japan, and the people in Taiwan resisted valiantly and formed the “Taiwan Democracy” by themselves. At this time, most of the Private Letter Carriers had closed on mailing services, and the original official postal system had also been interrupted. The General Liu Yong-Fu (Black Flag Army) stationed and guarded Tainan. For the requirements of communication in businessmen and foreigners, and for funds-raising for military expenses, at July 31, 1895 (the 10th day of the 6th month of the 21st year of Emperor Kuang Hsu), he opened the “Solo Tiger Post” at Anping Customs and issued the “Solo Tiger Stamp”, also known as the “Republic of Formosa Postage Stamp”. On October19, 1895 General Liu left Taiwan for the China mainland; consequently, the Postal Administration of the Formosa Republic was closed, having operated for 81 days.