Lot 30093 – 1872, 1 sen blue, plate 3 on brittle laid paper, complete reconstructed sheet of 40

THE RAREST COMPLETE-SHEET RECONSTRUCTION IN THE « DRAGON » ISSUES1872, 1 sen blue (shades), plate 3, on brittle laid paper, the breathtaking complete reconstructed sheet of 40, showing constant plate varieties in positions 4, 5, 11 and 31, comprising used examples except for the positions 7, 11 and 21 in mint condition -which incidentally are remarkably scarcer than in used condition-, including a good range of cancellations and a striking vertical pair from positions 8 / 16, showing Kiban i-ni No. 4 type from the Iwami Province and probably originating from Yunotsu; the position 4 used with red postage due cancellation. A monumental exhibition reconstruction, being undoubtedly the most significant « Dragons » complete-sheet reconstruction believed to exist. One of two recorded in private hands, with no complete sheets so far in existence. Illustrated in 2017 « Narumi » handbook on page 66. (JSCA ¥17,450,000+).Note: Dr. Ichida estimated just two or three reconstructions to have been ever completed, although the illustrations of six positions were not available in his handbook in 1959, nevertheless being these included in the subsequent edition of 1971. The assemblage presented here is illustrated in the 2017 « Dragons » plating handbook published by Narumi Co.Census: The three recorded reconstructions include the assemblage presented here (ex Yamada Yuji), with most stamps illustrated by Dr. Ichida, the reconstruction located in the Tejima collection and the third one, not available for collectors and ex Woodward, is exhibited in the Baron Mitsui Foundation Museum.