1871, 48 mon plate II, a vertical pair, positions 24-32, used in combination with 100 mon plate I, position 8 (with official pinhole at upper right), tied by framed non-standard "ken" of Tokyo (type 4) to the reverse of a cover used within the city, from Ushigome Yugenzaka to Shiba, vertical envelope fold affecting stamps.

Framed datestamp "year of the monkey 10th month 5th day / Tokyo postal bureau", Meiji 5.10.5 (5 November 1872). Handwritten vermilion "Ushigome" of the Ushigome branch office, being the latest known usage. Also showing frameless vermilion "A.M. dispatch" collection mark, the earliest recorded example, with recorded period of use from Meiji 5.10.5 to Meiji 6.1.9.

An especially interesting Tokyo local cover, combining branch office notation, non-standard framed "ken", and the earliest known strike of this scarce dispatch marking.

Rate: City drop rate 1 sen, double weight = 2 sen, second rate period from Meiji 4.12.5 onward.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 159.