Lot 90167 – 1875, 20 sen carmine syllabic 8 (chi) with Old Koban 4 sen on cover

1875, 20 sen carmine, syllabic 8 (chi), together with Old Koban 4 sen green, both being very fine examples, tied by positive cross of Yokohama (Nishino-type YH 79C) with “Yokohama Nov 12 1879” cds alongside on cover to Berlin, Germany. On reverse “Hong Kong No 20 79” and Berlin 27.12 cds’s. Endorsed by the sender to be sent by German Navy Mail system “via Imperial Court Post Office” (Kaiserliches Hofpostamt Berlin), but deleted on arrival. The 24 sen paid the double foreign rate via Hong Kong and Brindisi (from 1877.6.20-1892.6.30).

A very rare cover paying the double 12 sen rate via Brindisi to Europe, sent during the “S.M.S Prinz Adalbert” Far East tour. Illustrated in “Gallery of Japanese Stamps”.

Note: Sent by “C. Saltzmann S.M.S. Korvette Prinz Adalbert” as indicated on reverse. The “Prinz Adalbert” was the Imperial German Navy corvette which made a world tour in 1878-80 having on board the Prince Heinrich, grandson of Emperor Wilhelm I. The sender of the cover was the famous marine painter Carl Saltzmann (1847-1923); many of his paintings, including some from this stop in Japan, are exhibited in various German museums.