1872, 1 sen blue, plate II (3, one damaged), tied by large "Hodogaya Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Hakone, Sagami Province. Alongside, manuscript dateline "year of the goat 7th moon 26th day", or Meiji 5.7.26 (29 August 1872).

The earliest recorded cover from Hodogaya, and a scarce provincial Dragon usage of considerable specialist interest.

Rate: Within 100 ri distance = 3 sen, second rate period.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 66.