Lot 30105 – 1872, 5 sen bluish green on brittle laid paper, vertical strip of three on cover

THE HIGHEST MULTIPLE FRANKING OF THE HIGHEST SECOND-ISSUE DENOMINATION

1872, 5 sen bluish green, brittle laid paper, vertical strip of three emanating from positions 18 / 26 / 34, all considerably better centred than usual and displaying a vivid shade, used on official cover front from Tottori (Inaba Province) to Yabase (Hoki Province) probably containing printed matters sent by the Tottori Prefectural Administration (cachet at top right), tied by two very fine strikes of framed early non-standard “Tottori / Kensa” framed handstamp, with very fine framed “2nd Class / Tottori Postal Bureau” handstamp in red alongside. Of great visual appeal for exhibition. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023)

We have documented fifteen covers or cover fronts bearing this value, and this cover is unique bearing the largest multiple. Of great significance, as this is the highest denomination in the “Sen-Dragon” series. A great gem of this issue. In this restricted group of fifteen, two originate from Tottori and both are official printed matter mail, this being a very rare characteristic in this period.

Note: Carried at ten times the rate for bound official printed matters, not exceeding 600 grams, with 1 1/2 sen paid per each 16 momme (60 grams), according to the postal rate period of Meiji 6.4.1-6.12.31 (1873). This cover is illustrated in the Dr. Ichida’s handbook on “Dragon” issues, second edition of 1971, page 194.

Provenance: Yamamoto Kunichi

Our census of 1872 5 sen covers:

-The example presented here

-Single franking, Iyo-Uwajima to Tokyo, in the Tejima Yasushi collection

-Single franking, Tokyo to Kii-Kaminakajima, in the Tejima collection

-Single franking, Tokyo to Rikuzen-Shiogama, in the Tejima collection

-Single franking, Osaka to Akita, in the Tejima collection

-Single franking, Ogori to Tokyo, in the Yigal Nathaniel collection

-Single with 1872 1/2 sen, official mail Tottori to Hoki-Tahara, in the Tejima collection

-Single with 1872 1 sen, registered from Hiroshima to Osaka, in the Tejima collection

-Single with “Cherry Blossom” 1 sen, Tottori to Yabase, ex Shirai Tsugumi

-Single with “Cherry Blossom” 1 sen, Fukushima to Tokyo, in the Suzuki Tetsukazu collection

-Single with “Cherry Blossom” 1 sen & 2 sen, Tokyo to Osaka, in the Yigal Nathaniel collection

-Two examples, Tokyo Musashi to Niiya, in the Kanai Hiroyuki collection (The Philatelic Culture Museum)

– Pair with “Cherry Blossom” 2 sen, Tokyo to Osaka, in the Ota Katsumi collection

-Two examples with 1872 1/2 sen (12), Tokyo to Saikyo, ex Metzelaar

-Two examples with “Cherry Blossom” 2 sen, Tokyo to Osaka, in the Tejima collection