Lot Details

1871, 200 mon, middle period printing, plate I, a horizontal pair, positions 38-39, tied by large "Osaka Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Tokyo.

Manuscript dateline "year of the monkey 4th month 25th day". On the address side, vermilion framed "year of the monkey 4th month 25th day / Osaka postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.25 (31 May 1872). Below the stamps, circular framed "jo" (常) of Joanbashi Kitazume letter box. Blue framed arrival "year of the monkey 5th month 29th day / Tokyo postal bureau" (4 July 1872), together with framed vermilion "morning delivery", the earliest recorded date of this marking, known from the 4th to 9th month of Meiji 5.

A notable Tokyo destination cover, of particular interest for the earliest recorded usage of this delivery marking.

Rate: Up to 200 ri = 4 sen, second rate period.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 139.