Lot Details

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.