Lot 30063 – 1871, 500 mon, greyish yellow green, plate 1, earliest printing, pos. 30, on cover

1871, 500 mon, greyish yellow green, plate 1, earliest printing, position 30, together with 100 mon dark-steal-blue plate 1, earliest printing, position 15, both well margined and applied on reverse of envelope from Shizuoka (Suruga Province) to Nagoya (Owari Province), tied by large “Kensazumi” handstamp featuring three characters in regular script (Kaisho) -used in the Eastern Zone-. Dated in manuscript on 3rd moon 20th day (Gregorian 9 May 1871). The top flap has few backed insect damages as usually found in this period, clear away from the franking. Cert. Philatelic Museum Foundation signed by Dr. Sawa (2001).Illustrated in the new 2023 JSCA catalogue on page 24.Twelve covers are recorded exhibiting the large “Kensazumi” postmark in regular script (Kaisho) -this being a highly sought-after feature in Japanese philately-, being unique with this franking and the 600 mon rate. (JHES ¥7,000,000).Provenance: Dr. Ichida SoichiFukuhara Kazunobu