Lot 90138 – 1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), together with “Cherry Blossoms” in a three-colour franking

1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), together with “Cherry Blossom” 4 sen green, syllabic 2 (ro), western wove paper, and 1 sen brown “ribbon”, all used on 1876 cover from the Bolmida correspondence to Lyon, France, endorsed “p. China”, each cancelled by deteriorated foreign mail postmark, the 4 sen tied by red “Yokohama Paid All Jan 30” cds, with red “5./cents” (U.S. credit) two-line marking at left, struck in transit with “San Francisco Cal. FEB 25 Steamship” and red “New York Mar 4” cds’s, blue French “États Unis/Paq. Fr. Brest”. On reverse French TPO “Paris a Auxerre 17 Mars 76” and Lyon arrival “18 Mars”. Minor imperfections including horizontal filing fold clear away from the franking and bottom back flap lacking. A very fine three-colour franking.

One of the finest covers known featuring this scarce rate, which was valid during merely three months.

Note: The 17 sen franking paid the foreign rate to France via USA (1st January to 31 March 1876). Illustrated in “Gallery of Japanese Stamps” Vol. 2 (1990), fig. 116. For a very similiar cover see Takahashi private treaty 1995, lot 64, offered at ¥1,200,000).

Provenance: Maurice Burrus (Kanai auction, Osaka 12.10.1963, lot 350)