Lot 90020 – 1871, 200 mon vermilion, plate 1, early printing, pair on cover

1871, 200 mon vermilion, plate 1, early printing, detailed impression, vertical pair from positions 16 / 24, full to wide margins, paying the single weight letter rate up to 200 ri distance during the 2nd rate period, tied by framed early non-standard “ken” (inspected) handstamps of Tokyo to reverse of cover (opened for display) to Saikyo. On address side struck with red framed early non-standard “(year of) Water Monkey 9th Moon 5th Day/Saikyo P. O.” (Gregorian 7 October 1872) datestamp on arrival. Two manuscript characters in red at top left, stating “yubin” (government posts), in order to differentiate this mail from that of private courier companies. A very fine and rare franking.