Lot 90207 – 1877, Large part of cover with “Old Koban” 1 sen black and France 40c, “Degron-kun” type 1 handstamp

1877, Large part of cover (Munier correspondence) to France via British packet, bearing Old Koban 1 sen black, four examples in two different shades, cancelled by small negative cross with type N2B2 “Tokyo 10.10.15” (15 October 1877) cds alongside, in combination with France 40c orange (Yvert 38), tied by “Yolohama Japon 29 Oct 77” cds, repeated adjacent, with red French “Paq. Ang. V. Brind. A. Mod. 30 Nov 77” entry at right. On reverse showing “Degron-kun” type 1 handstamp (“Mr. Degron, Chief of French Mail Ship Co., Honcho 5-chome, Yokohama”), applied to the mail of the French Military Mission in Tokyo. The usage of a 1sen black “Old Koban” is unique on Japan-France combination covers, as well as one of the latest combination frankings of these two countries.