Lot Details

1871, 500 mon yellow green, earliest printing, plate I, position 10, tied by large "Fushimi Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover via Hirakata, Kawachi Province, to Hoshidamura, Kawachi Province.

Manuscript dateline 6th month 9th day of Meiji 4 (26 July 1871).

The earliest recorded cover bearing the large Fushimi Kensazumi, and an important early postal-history usage of the 500 mon earliest printing.

Rate: 100 mon basic weight plus additional charge for kobin area (within 3 ri square) 400 mon, separate area rate of the first rate period.

Reference: Illustrated in Large Placename Kensazumi (1979), p. 52; Dragon Covers, p. 15.