Lot 70094 – 1874 2 Sen Syllabic “i” on Thin Native Wove Paper One of Three Unused Examples Recorded

A GEM OF JAPANESE PHILATELY

1874, Cherry Blossoms 2 Sen, Syllabic i plate 1, printed on thin native wove paper, unused with original gum, very fresh featuring a rich color, with trivial imperfections including 3mm closed tear, faint thin spot and small paper adherence on reverse, being otherwise in fine condition, one of only three unused copies known as stated by Woodward in his handbook on page 257; a highly desirable gem of Japanese philately

Note: This major Japanese rarity on native paper was exists on native wove- and native laid paper, with the former being by far the rarest, although it is priced in the Ichida handbook at 43% more than the stamp printed on laid paper. The Michel catalogues this stamp at €46,000 which, according to the Ichida cataloguing, can be estimated, with a 43% increment, at €65,780

Provenance: A. M. Tracey Woodward and King Carol of Romania collection

Expertise: Certs. Krüger BPP (1984) and Florian Eichhorn BPP (2019)