Lot 30307 – 1875, 30 sen violet, syllabic 2 (ro), in combination with “Old Koban” 10 sen blue, horizontal pair with sheet margin at right,

1875, 30 sen violet, syllabic 2 (ro), in combination with “Old Koban” 10 sen blue, horizontal pair with sheet margin at right, used on 14 November 1880 envelope from Yokohama to Paris, each cancelled by seriffed foreign mail initial “Y” handstamp of Yokohama (Nishino type YH0A), the 30 sen tied by thimble “Yokohama Nov 14 1880” cds, below showing “Indo-Chine/Paq.Fr.Modane” red entry cds in France (Salles fig. 1897). Struck on reverse with “Ligne S Paq. Fr. No. 1 14 Nov 80” cds confirming the endorsement on front indicating the “Tanis” as the steamer to carry this correspondence per French maritime mail. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023).

A probably unique mixed franking paying a high external rate, with any usage on cover of the highest denomination of this issue being very rare. An exceptional regular-size envelope bearing the 30 sen, as this high value is more found on large-size covers. (JSCA ¥2,500,000+).

Note: From 1877 6.20 to 1897 9.30 the rate to European nations members of the U.P.U. was 10 sen for each 15 grams. This cover was carried at a most unusual quintuple rate.

Illustrated in the “Gallery of Japanese Stamps” (vol. 2, 1990, page 143).

Provenance: Fukuhara Kazunobu