Lot 90053 – 1872, 1 sen blue, plate 3, two examples, and 2 sen on cover

1872, 1 sen blue, plate 3, two examples from position 23 and 30 used as postage dues, and 2 sen vermilion applied on dispatch, position 36, this tied by early non-standard “ken” (inspected) postmark of Tokyo, on cover from Tokyo via Okitsu to Shimizu, both in Suruga province. On obverse the two 1 sen examples were applied as postage due and tied by red brush strokes (as usual when franked with this purpose), alongside displaying framed “(year of) Water Monkey. 8th Moon 22nd Day / Tokyo P. O.” (Gregorian 24 September 1872) datestamp and large “fusoku” (Insufficient) marking in red. The 2 sen with perforation faults at top, although the important 1 sen plate 3 are in fine condition. Cover opened up for display. Cert. Philatelic Federation of Japan signed by chairman Prof. Sawa Mamoru (2012).

The “Dragon” 1 sen plate 3 is a remarkable rarity on cover.

Note: The 2 sen paid the single weight of the 2nd rate period (Meiji 4.12.5-6.3.31) up to 50 ri distance. Nevertheless, it was not fully paid since Shimizu had no post office before Meiji 6, so a courier from the nearby Okitsu post office was required to forward mail to Shimizu, by additionally charging 1 sen. In this letter the additional 1 sen fee was missing and it was charged with two 1 sen examples, in order to pay twice the initially unpaid amount.

Provenance: Robson Lowe auction, 28.1.1970, lot 1180