Lot 30272 – 1875, 1 sen brown crossed branches “butchi”, bottom margin block of four

1875, 1 sen brown, crossed branches “butchi”, perforation 11m, a marginal block of four from the bottom of the sheet, positions 27-38 / 35-36, good centrings within clear to large margins, great freshness overall, possessing immaculate original gum which is only very slightly disturbed by a very small hinge remnant. In superb condition. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023).

Only about five unused blocks are recorded. An exceptional multiple of this stamp, being already very difficult to find as single example. (JSCA ¥5,000,000; Michel €48,000+).

Note: This block originates from a unique complete sheet which was part of the collections formed by A. M. Tracey Woodward and F. J. Peplow. After the sale of the Peplow collection in 1970, the sheet was split into multiples. A surviving block of 20 is the largest block recorded, with blocks of four being the second largest. Two different blocks of four were offered by Takahashi by private treaty in 1995 and 2001, priced at ¥5,500,000 (€38,000) and ¥5,800,000 (€40,000) respectively.

Provenance (as complete sheet):

A. M. Tracey Woodward (H. R. Harmer, London, 26-28.6.1939, lot 842)

F. J. Peplow (H. R. Harmer N.Y, 16.3.1970, lot 111, “one of the outstanding pieces in Japanese philately” and being the title cover illustration of the sale)