Lot 30008 – 1871, 48 mon brown, plate 1, vertical strip of four, on cover

THE ONLY RECORDED COMBINATION COVER WITH A PRIVATE COURIER BEARING THE “NUMBER ONE” 1871, 48 mon brown, plate 1, vertical strip of four, positions 8 / 16 / 32 / 40, mainly good margins, tied by large “Nagoya Kensazumi” hs to reverse of cover (opened for display) from Nagoya (Owari) to Yamada (Ise), dated lunar 1st month 11th day (Gregorian 27 February, 1872), showing below superb strike of framed three-line Ise Yamada handstamp of the local Suzukiya Takeuemon courier company. Insect hole damage, affecting the stamp at base and parts of the cover (backed), still though perfectly preserving the superb strike of the courier company. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023).Fourteen State Post – private courier combination covers are documented exhibiting the “Dragon” (10) or “Cherry Blossom” (4) stamps. See “Hiyaku to Yubin” (private couriers and state mails) by Mr. Yamazaki Yoshiyuki, Narumi publishers 2016, pp. 135/148 and 306/318. This is the only known cover with the first stamp of Japan, which was carried through the state postal service and then a local private courier mail handler. Illustrated in the Dr. Ichida’s handbook on “Dragon” issues, second edition of 1971, page 13.Note: The state postal connection between Nagoya and Yamada (Ise) existed only up to Yokkaichi (Ise). Consequently it required the service of a “hikyaku” (literally “flying feet”, private courier company) to deliver the mail. The company Suzukiya Takeuemon, which was used in the carriage of this letter, was already established since 1776 (Ansei 5). The 200 mon rate covered the Nagoya-Yokkaichi route and was paid with the stamps, according to the single rate for 4 nomme within a distance of 50 ri. The combination service of State Post and “hikyaku” west of Osaka was possible during 18 months only, between Meiji 4.8. and Meiji 6.3.31.Provenance: Watanabe Yoshio