Auction Detail

1871, 500 mon bluish green, early printing, a block of six, plate I, positions 3/4-11/12-19/20, position 3 cut into at upper left, tied by large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, address side incomplete, from the Ministry of Finance to Kyoto.

Manuscript dateline on front side, month 29th day. Positions 3 and 20 with official pinholes at upper right for sheet stacking.

A celebrated and highly important classic Dragon cover, long associated with the name of Tracy M. Woodward. The impressive block of six, together with its official origin and distinguished provenance, places this among the iconic large-multiple covers of Japan.

Rate: Triple weight, basic rate 1400 mon x 3, overpaid by 200 mon. Separate area rate of the first rate period.

Provenance: Tracy M. Woodward (H.R. Harmer auction, 1939)

Reference: Illustrated in 19th century, fig. 22; Dragon Covers, p. 30.

1871, 48 mon brown, plate I (position 23), comprising a block of eighteen, vertical strip of four, and single, used in combination with 100 mon plate I (position 6, strip of four and two singles), all tied by six strikes of a large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, address side incomplete, via Shono, with framed vermilion "Shono eki tatsu", addressed to Ueno, Ise Province.

Manuscript dateline Meiji 4.12.1 (10 January 1872).

On the address side, a red circular framed hakoba-in "ba" (羽) of Akabanebashi.

An exceptional and rare example of intended usage of the 48 mon fractional value to satisfy a higher weight rate during the first rate period. Fewer than ten such covers have been recorded.

Rate: Higher weight rate: Tokyo to Shono separate area rate of the first rate period—1100 mon × 1.5 = 1650 mon, plus 100 mon for delivery beyond the standard circuit.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 35.

1871, 200 mon, middle period printing, plate I, position 39, stamp partly cut at right, tied by large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to a cover to Mishima, Suruga Province.

First-month usage of the Tokyo datestamp, framed in vermilion "year of the goat 12th month 25th day", or Meiji 4.12.25 (5 February 1872). On the address side at lower right, vermilion circular framed hakoba-in "yon" (四) of Yotsuya-gomongai, the letter box outside the Yotsuya gate, here in its latest recorded usage.

A highly desirable Tokyo cover, of particular significance for the latest known date of the Yotsuya letter box mark.

Rate: Within 50 ri = 200 mon, second rate period.

Reference: Illustrated in 19th century, fig. 23.

1871, 200 mon, latest printing, plate I, position 36, showing the constant variety "dot of sen missing", tied by large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Gengahama, Mino Province.

On the address side, framed vermilion "year of the monkey 1st month 4th day / Saikyo postal bureau" (12 February 1872), with manuscript notation: "Postage paid unto Kuwana, but from Kuwana to destination postage must be paid by addressee". The kobin charge was paid by latest printing plate I, position 8, with positional pinhole, tied by vermilion brush stroke.

A highly interesting due usage, combining a constant variety with postal markings and manuscript instructions of considerable specialist interest.

Rate: Up to 50 ri = 200 mon; kobin area 100 mon x 2, second rate period.

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 41.

1871, 100 mon blue, plate II, early printing, a block of four, positions 31-32-39-40, tied by the head section* of large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover from Tokyo to Yamada, Ise Province.

Alongside, vermilion framed "year of the monkey 3rd month 16th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.3.16 (23 April 1872). Vermilion manuscript notation: "from Yokkaichi carry on" (持込).

A scarce and highly attractive multiple on cover, made particularly interesting by the officially regulated head-portion strike and the manuscript instruction for onward courier conveyance.

Rate: Within 100 ri distance = 3 sen, plus 1 sen delivery to a destination outside the postal circuit of the next post office, second rate period. Tokyo to Yokkaichi/Ise was within 100 ri; Yokkaichi to Yamada/Ise was carried onward by courier (approximately 18 ri).

Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 137.

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 a consequence of official regulation.