Lot 90152 – 1875, 6 sen dull orange, syllabic 15 (yo), privately made plates

ONE OF JUST SEVEN 6 SEN SYLLABIC 15 (YO) IN EXISTENCE

1875, 6 sen dull orange, privately made plates, syllabic 15 (yo), the so called « Tamaroku Yo », Ichida serial number 36, with cancellation skillfully removed. Well centred within narrow margins. Stamp backed on reverse and with upper perforation added, although the design was complete prior to this repair, this does not undermine the stamp as all but one of the examples known have faults. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023).

The only example of the seven syllabic « yo » recorded resembling an unused example. A great gem of Japanese philately. (JSCA unpriced; JHES ¥18,000,000; Michel €250,000).

Note: This example is registered as Ichida serial no. 36, in Dr. Ichida Soichi’s « Sumiroku » monograph on the 6 sen violet-brown native paper (1968), as the 6 sen orange syllabic 15 was produced with the same plate used for the 6 sen violet-brown native paper , this enabling a tentative serial number to be given. Other Ichida serial numbers are indicated in the census of examples recorded below.

Provenance (the previous references as originating from the Peplow and Caspary collections can not be proven):

A. M. Tracey Woodward (H. R. Harmer, London, 26-28.6.1939, lot 785)

King Carol II of Romania

Census -based on 1968 Dr. Ichida Soichi’s monograph on « Sumiroko » and on Yoshida Takashi’s  » ‘YO’ of Egg-brown-6; The New Discovery, 7th found » article included in the « Philatelic Journal » (2012, pages 147-148 published by Stampedia)-:

-A bit centred to top, used with negative postmark (Ichida serial no. 1), ex Caspary

-Centred to lower left, red postage-due usage (Ichida serial no. 1)

-Centred a bit to left, red postage-due usage (Ichida serial no. 7), sold for ¥8,500,000 in 1991 (JPS auction)

-Centred a bit to left, red postage-due usage (Ichida serial no. 28), (see following lot)

-Centred to top right, used with negative postmark, pinhole type D, the only example faultless (Ichida serial no. 33)

-The example presented here (Ichida serial no. 36)

-Centred to lower left, red postage-due usage (Ichida serial no. 37)