Auction Detail
The Yasushi Tejima Collection Japan Dragon Stamps Part 1
1872, 1 sen blue, plate II, a vertical pair, tied by non-standard blue framed "Ken" of Tokyo on a cover to Setogawa, Suruga Province, near Fujieda. Alongside, manuscript dateline "7th moon 12th day dispatched". On the address side, vermilion framed "year of the goat 4th month 4th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.4 (10 May 1872).
The framed "Ken" in blue is recorded from Meiji 5.4.4 to 5.7.12, and this is the earliest recorded usage. The medium-sized vermilion Tokyo datestamp is likewise the latest recorded usage. Sender: ekiteiryo (General Post Office).
A highly important Tokyo usage, combining the earliest recorded blue framed "Ken" with the earliest known postal use of the 1 sen Plate II.
Rate: Within 50 ri distance = 2 sen, second rate period. The revised postal regulations of Meiji 4.12.5 stated Setogawa as "within 100 ri = 3 sen", but recorded distances vary between 49 and 51 ri. Tejima suggests that Setogawa was probably reclassified as "within 50 ri" by Meiji 5.3.1 (see 19th century, fig. 49).
Reference: Illustrated in 19th century, fig. 49; Dragon Covers, p. 46.
1871, 200 mon, plate I, middle printing, a vertical pair, positions 9-17, upper stamp with scraped left frame and dragon teeth at upper left, tied by two strikes of blue framed "Ken" to the reverse of a cover to Osaka.
Framed "year of the monkey 4th month 10th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.10 (16 May 1872). Framed "Ken" was used in Tokyo from Meiji 5.4.1 to 6.4.30. Vermilion framed arrival "year of the monkey 4th month 12th day / Osaka postal bureau" (18 May 1872).
A scarce and attractive cover, notable for the Tokyo framed "Ken" usage on a Plate I pair.
Rate: Within 200 ri = 4 sen, second rate period.
1871, 200 mon, plate I, two singles in different printings and shades, the upper a middle-period example from position 18, cut into at right frame, the lower a late printing from position 22, showing the retouched right dragon variety (右龍修正再刻; JSCA 3v-1-22), tied by framed non-standard "Nara station / Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Tokyo.
Blue framed arrival, tying the adhesives, "year of the monkey 4th month 21st day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.21 (27 May 1872).
The earliest recorded cover from Nara, further distinguished by the presence of the notable Plate I-22 retouch variety.
Rate: Within 200 ri = 4 sen, second rate period.
Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 138.
1872, 2 sen vermilion, tied by a clear strike of large "Yokohama Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to an unclear destination, probably Yamuramachi in Kai Province. Cover reduced at top, with part of address incomplete.
Framed vermilion "year of the monkey 4th month 24th day / Yokohama postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.24 (30 May 1872).
A scarce and attractive single-franked cover, well showing the large Yokohama Kensazumi.
Rate: Within 50 ri = 2 sen, second rate period.
1871, 200 mon, middle period printing, plate I, a horizontal pair, positions 38-39, tied by large "Osaka Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Tokyo.
Manuscript dateline "year of the monkey 4th month 25th day". On the address side, vermilion framed "year of the monkey 4th month 25th day / Osaka postal bureau", or Meiji 5.4.25 (31 May 1872). Below the stamps, circular framed "jo" (常) of Joanbashi Kitazume letter box. Blue framed arrival "year of the monkey 5th month 29th day / Tokyo postal bureau" (4 July 1872), together with framed vermilion "morning delivery", the earliest recorded date of this marking, known from the 4th to 9th month of Meiji 5.
A notable Tokyo destination cover, of particular interest for the earliest recorded usage of this delivery marking.
Rate: Up to 200 ri = 4 sen, second rate period.
Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 139.
1871, 100 mon dark blue, middle period printing, plate II, position 25, displaying the major variety "jaw missing from the right dragon", tied by a large "Fujieda Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover from Fujieda (Suruga Province) to Hamamatsu (Totomi Province).
Manuscript dateline [Meiji 5] 4th month 29th day (4 June 1872).
A visually striking major variety, clearly defined and well-presented on cover, greatly enhancing its appeal to the specialist collector.
Rate: 1 sen up to 25 ri distance, basic weight, second rate period.
Reference: Illustrated in Large Placename Kensazumi (1979), p. 21.
1871, 100 mon dark blue, middle period printing, plate II, position 18, slightly touched at left, tied by a large "Osaka Kensazumi" to a cover addressed to Koriyama, Yamato Province.
Alongside, a red framed "Osaka / year of the monkey 5th month 8th day" (Meiji 5.5.8; 13 June 1872). On the reverse, a circular framed hakoba-in "gen" (源) of Genzaemoncho, recorded between Meiji 4 and 8.
The adhesive shows the major variety "right dragon leg missing" (JSCA catalogue value ¥1.5 million).
A striking and desirable example combining a prominent variety with clear postal markings.
Rate: 100 mon (1 sen) up to 25 ri distance, basic weight, second rate period.
Reference: Illustrated in Ichida (1971), p. 93; Dragon Covers, p. 53.
1871/72, 500 mon blue, plate I, middle period printing, position 25, used in combination with Dragon 2 sen vermilion, rounded corner and some perf faults, and Dragon 1 sen blue, plate II, position 12, tied by framed blue "ken" of Tokyo to the reverse of a cover, corner clipped, to Kyoto.
Blue framed "year of the monkey 5th month 16th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.5.16 (21 June 1872), on address side; on reverse, vermilion framed arrival "year of the monkey 5th month ... / Saikyo postal bureau".
A scarce and attractive three-colour franking, notable for the mixed usage of mon and sen Dragon values during this transitional period.
Rate: Up to 200 ri distance = 4 sen, double weight = 8 sen.
1871, 200 mon vermilion, a vertical pair, plate II, positions 5-13, tied by framed blue "Ken" to the reverse of a cover, slightly reduced at top, to Osaka.
Framed "year of the monkey 5th month 18th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.5.18 (23 June 1872). Vermilion framed arrival "year of the monkey 5th month 22nd day / Osaka postal bureau".
A fine and straightforward postal usage of the 200 mon Plate II on intercity mail.
Rate: Within 200 ri = 4 sen, second rate period.
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.
1871, 48 mon, middle period printing, plate I, position 7, tied by large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, address side incomplete, with manuscript dateline "6th month 10th day" alongside.
Red framed "year of the monkey 6th moon 10th day / Saikyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.6.10 (15 July 1872). At upper left, circular framed hakoba-in "shita" (下) of the Shimotachiuri letter box, recorded in use from Meiji 4 to Meiji 8 (1871–75).
A scarce and appealing single-franked city drop mail cover, representing the reduced local rate introduced in the second rate period.
Rate: City drop mail rate of 1/2 sen, half the ordinary rate, introduced Meiji 4.12.5, within the second rate period.
Reference: Illustrated in Dragon Covers, p. 57.
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.