Lot Details

1871/72, 500 mon late printing, plate II, position 38, with 200 mon plate II and 1 sen plate II, tied by the private seal of the postmaster of Jizodo, Echigo Province, to a cover to Kyoto.

Sender's black manuscript "11th month 13th day dispatched". The franking is cancelled by two strikes of the tensho (seal-style) private name seal of the local postmaster (probably Miyashige), together with vermilion manuscript "year of the monkey 11th month 19th day / postal agent" of Meiji 5.11.19 (19 December 1872).

Transit markings include Teradomari, with very clear strike of the vermilion "Hokurikudo / Postal receiving and handling agency / Teradomari station", also red framed mark "-.11.24 / Kanazawa postal bureau". On address side, arrival "year of the monkey 11th month 27th day / Saikyo postal bureau", and below, small framed vermilion "morning delivery".

One of only seven known covers bearing the 500 mon Plate II, and an outstanding three-colour franking of great rarity and exhibition value.

Rate: Within 200 ri distance = 4 sen, double weight = 8 sen, second rate period.

Provenance: Arnold Ebel auction (Frankfurt, 1980)

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 87.