Lot 90138 – 1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), together with « Cherry Blossoms » in a three-colour franking

1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), together with « Cherry Blossom » 4 sen green, syllabic 2 (ro), western wove paper, and 1 sen brown « ribbon », all used on 1876 cover from the Bolmida correspondence to Lyon, France, endorsed « p. China », each cancelled by deteriorated foreign mail postmark, the 4 sen tied by red « Yokohama Paid All Jan 30 » cds, with red « 5./cents » (U.S. credit) two-line marking at left, struck in transit with « San Francisco Cal. FEB 25 Steamship » and red « New York Mar 4 » cds’s, blue French « États Unis/Paq. Fr. Brest ». On reverse French TPO « Paris a Auxerre 17 Mars 76 » and Lyon arrival « 18 Mars ». Minor imperfections including horizontal filing fold clear away from the franking and bottom back flap lacking. A very fine three-colour franking.

One of the finest covers known featuring this scarce rate, which was valid during merely three months.

Note: The 17 sen franking paid the foreign rate to France via USA (1st January to 31 March 1876). Illustrated in « Gallery of Japanese Stamps » Vol. 2 (1990), fig. 116. For a very similiar cover see Takahashi private treaty 1995, lot 64, offered at ¥1,200,000).

Provenance: Maurice Burrus (Kanai auction, Osaka 12.10.1963, lot 350)