Lot 30307 – 1875, 30 sen violet, syllabic 2 (ro), in combination with « Old Koban » 10 sen blue, horizontal pair with sheet margin at right,

1875, 30 sen violet, syllabic 2 (ro), in combination with « Old Koban » 10 sen blue, horizontal pair with sheet margin at right, used on 14 November 1880 envelope from Yokohama to Paris, each cancelled by seriffed foreign mail initial « Y » handstamp of Yokohama (Nishino type YH0A), the 30 sen tied by thimble « Yokohama Nov 14 1880 » cds, below showing « Indo-Chine/Paq.Fr.Modane » red entry cds in France (Salles fig. 1897). Struck on reverse with « Ligne S Paq. Fr. No. 1 14 Nov 80 » cds confirming the endorsement on front indicating the « Tanis » as the steamer to carry this correspondence per French maritime mail. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023).

A probably unique mixed franking paying a high external rate, with any usage on cover of the highest denomination of this issue being very rare. An exceptional regular-size envelope bearing the 30 sen, as this high value is more found on large-size covers. (JSCA ¥2,500,000+).

Note: From 1877 6.20 to 1897 9.30 the rate to European nations members of the U.P.U. was 10 sen for each 15 grams. This cover was carried at a most unusual quintuple rate.

Illustrated in the « Gallery of Japanese Stamps » (vol. 2, 1990, page 143).

Provenance: Fukuhara Kazunobu