Lot Details

1871, 48 mon dark brown, plate II, a vertical pair, positions 14-22, upper stamp touched at upper right frameline, tied by framed non-standard "Nara aratame / kensazumi", with framed "Nara station / postal receiving and handling agency" alongside, to a cover to Ichinomoto, Yamato Province.

Manuscript dateline "6th month 20th day", or Meiji 5.6.20 (25 July 1872).

A remarkable instance of postal fraud: already postmarked stamps, originally cancelled by large Kensazumi, were reused and passed undetected by the postal clerk. Only two such fraud covers bearing Dragon stamps are recorded.

An exceptional postal-history rarity of great interest and exhibition significance.

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

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 61.