Lot 30164 – 1873, 4 sen rose, plate 13, complete sheet of 40, one of only two

ONE OF THE TWO 4 SEN PLATE 13 COMPLETE SHEETS

1873, 4 sen rose, Government printing with long tool perforation, plate 13, an astonishing complete sheet of 40, rarely displaying such a remarkably neat impression which is enhanced by a vivid colour, retaining the peripheral margins except for position 4 only, with full original gum which is only slightly disturbed by one hinge in each corner. Small paper reinforcements along the external margins -and occasionally applied on the area of designs- in most of the intersections between stamps, with the purpose of avoiding the perforations to separate from the outer sides of the sheet, successfully keeping them joined.

The 13 is the scarcest plate of the 4 sen native paper -as a matter of fact it is valued at more than three times than the second scarcest complete sheet in the JSCA catalogue-. One of only two documented examples, being one of the most significant sheets in the “Cherry Blossom” Issues and the most valuable of the one-figure denominations. (JSCA ¥10,000,000).

Provenance: F. J. Peplow (H. R. Harmer, 16.3.1970, lot 54)