Lot 90141 – 1875, 15 sen violet, syllabic 2, in combination with « Cherry Blossom » 2 sen yellow on cover to England

1875, 15 sen violet, syllabic 2, in combination with « Cherry Blossom » 2 sen yellow « ribbon », both very fine examples used on envelope addressed to the Temple Club in London, each cancelled by intaglio cross cancel of Tokyo with matching 9.2.11/16 Feb. 1876 cds on reverse, large red « Yokohama Paid all Feb 12 » cds also tying the 2 sen, « 5. / cents » (U.S. rate credit) two-line handstamp in same colour at left, and purple transit « San Francisco Cal. Feb. 29 » cds below. One of the finest covers known showing this scarce rate, which was only valid during three months.Note: The 17 sen postage paid the foreign rate to the United Kingdom via USA (1 January to 31 March 1876). For a very similar cover see the Henry W. Moser collection (Corinphila auction in Dec. 1999, lot 153).Provenance: Afinsa auction 24.4.2001 lot 177; Cherrystone auction 1.2.2022, lot 866.