Lot 90167 – 1875, 20 sen carmine syllabic 8 (chi) with Old Koban 4 sen on cover

1875, 20 sen carmine, syllabic 8 (chi), together with Old Koban 4 sen green, both being very fine examples, tied by positive cross of Yokohama (Nishino-type YH 79C) with « Yokohama Nov 12 1879 » cds alongside on cover to Berlin, Germany. On reverse « Hong Kong No 20 79 » and Berlin 27.12 cds’s. Endorsed by the sender to be sent by German Navy Mail system « via Imperial Court Post Office » (Kaiserliches Hofpostamt Berlin), but deleted on arrival. The 24 sen paid the double foreign rate via Hong Kong and Brindisi (from 1877.6.20-1892.6.30).

A very rare cover paying the double 12 sen rate via Brindisi to Europe, sent during the « S.M.S Prinz Adalbert » Far East tour. Illustrated in « Gallery of Japanese Stamps ».

Note: Sent by « C. Saltzmann S.M.S. Korvette Prinz Adalbert » as indicated on reverse. The « Prinz Adalbert » was the Imperial German Navy corvette which made a world tour in 1878-80 having on board the Prince Heinrich, grandson of Emperor Wilhelm I. The sender of the cover was the famous marine painter Carl Saltzmann (1847-1923); many of his paintings, including some from this stop in Japan, are exhibited in various German museums.