Lot 90207 – 1877, Large part of cover with « Old Koban » 1 sen black and France 40c, « Degron-kun » type 1 handstamp

1877, Large part of cover (Munier correspondence) to France via British packet, bearing Old Koban 1 sen black, four examples in two different shades, cancelled by small negative cross with type N2B2 « Tokyo 10.10.15 » (15 October 1877) cds alongside, in combination with France 40c orange (Yvert 38), tied by « Yolohama Japon 29 Oct 77 » cds, repeated adjacent, with red French « Paq. Ang. V. Brind. A. Mod. 30 Nov 77 » entry at right. On reverse showing « Degron-kun » type 1 handstamp (“Mr. Degron, Chief of French Mail Ship Co., Honcho 5-chome, Yokohama”), applied to the mail of the French Military Mission in Tokyo. The usage of a 1sen black « Old Koban » is unique on Japan-France combination covers, as well as one of the latest combination frankings of these two countries.