Lot 41132 – The famous “Dai Nihon Teikoku Yubin Kitte Enkakushi”

The famous “Dai Nihon Teikoku Yubin Kitte Enkakushi” Japanese presentation book of 1894 This official history of the Japanese posts included examples of all stamps issued to date; as there were none of the 1 sen or 2 sen perforated Dragons on hand (or the original plates), these were reproduced using new steel plates. Of 300 “Enkakushi” issued, perhaps only a few dozen have survived. The present example is complete with all stamps and postal stationery as issued, and with original silk binding. It was presented by members of the Japanese delegation to the U.P.U. Congress at Budapest in July 1896 to other delegates. This example has, on a white cover page, a vibrant inscription “Warm remembrance from Mr. Berard Yokohama, 25th February 1900; on board of the Sydney”. We know of only two other example of this rarity having changed hands during the last decade.