Lot Details

1871, 100 mon blue, latest printing, plate I, position 20, tied by the head section* of large "Yokohama Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, address side incomplete at left, from Yokohama to Tokyo.

Vermilion framed "year of the monkey 5th month 27th day / Yokohama postal bureau", or Meiji 5.5.27 (2 July 1872). Blue framed same-day arrival of Tokyo postal bureau. Framed vermilion Tokyo delivery marking "morning delivery", recorded in use from Meiji 5.5 to 5.9. Addressed to the staff of the Telegraph Office (Denshinryo) within the Ministry of Public Works.

A scarce and attractive official usage, combining the regulated head-section Yokohama strike with a particularly desirable governmental destination.

Rate: Within 25 ri distance = 1 sen, second rate period.

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 the consequence of official regulation.