Lot Details

1871, 500 mon bluish green to turquoise, five singles from plate I (2) and plate II (3), positions 1-14, 2-38, 2-31, 2-30 and 1-5, tied by framed "ken" to the reverse of a cover, corner clipped, from Tokyo to Nagasaki.

Alongside black framed "year of the monkey 6th moon 14th day", or Meiji 5.6.14 (19 July 1872). Sender: Honganji Temple Administration, Tokyo Asakusa. The cover bears the weight endorsement "17 momme 8 fun", indicating five times the basic weight.

The only recorded mixed franking of the 500 mon value from two different plates (plate I and plate II), of outstanding rarity and great importance within Dragon issue postal history.

Rate: Letter basic rate exceeding 200 ri = 5 sen; five times weight = 25 sen.

Reference: Illustrated in 19th century, fig. 50; Dragon Covers, p. 58.