Lot Details

1871, 100 mon blue, plate II, early printing, a block of four, positions 31-32-39-40, tied by the head section* of large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover from Tokyo to Yamada, Ise Province.

Alongside, vermilion framed "year of the monkey 3rd month 16th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.3.16 (23 April 1872). Vermilion manuscript notation: "from Yokkaichi carry on" (持込).

A scarce and highly attractive multiple on cover, made particularly interesting by the officially regulated head-portion strike and the manuscript instruction for onward courier conveyance.

Rate: Within 100 ri distance = 3 sen, plus 1 sen delivery to a destination outside the postal circuit of the next post office, second rate period. Tokyo to Yokkaichi/Ise was within 100 ri; Yokkaichi to Yamada/Ise was carried onward by courier (approximately 18 ri).

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 137.

Note: *Head section: the "large placename Kensazumi" postmarks were officially ordered in Meiji 4.12 to be struck with the placename head portion only, or even with the lower three characters removed. This is therefore not an incomplete strike, but a consequence of official regulation.