Lot Details

1871, Dragon 100 mon dark blue, plate II, position 12, used in combination with 200 mon vermilion, plate I, position 22, showing the "right dragon worn out" variety (右龍損傷), tied by vermilion framed "Kensazumi" of Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke Province, with "8th month 13th day" dateline alongside, to Kakeda, Iwashiro Province.

Transit at Fukushima post office with manuscript vermilion dateline "13th day, 7th hour". Date of dispatch is Meiji 5.8.13 (15 September 1872).

The earliest recorded cover from Utsunomiya, and an important mixed-franking example further enhanced by the plated variety on the 200 mon.

Rate: Within 50 ri = 2 sen, plus 1 sen fee for delivery outside the postal delivery circuit = 3 sen.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 70.