1872, 1/2 sen brown, Matsuda printing, plate 2, complete sheet of 40, preserving sheet margins all around, detailed impression and well centred examples for the most part, including the “frameline missing in SE" variety in position 9, fine mint original gum showing some minor tone spots as usually encountered. Perforations reinforced by hinges on the right side, in outstandingly fine condition. A very desirable and rare complete sheet with the well known variety in position 9. (JSCA ¥230,000). Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary, H. R. Harmer auction, 28.10.1958, lot 224 (Image)

1872, 1/2 sen brown, Matsuda and Government printing, assembly comprising 12 examples from plates 1 to 4, of which ten in unused condition and generally with original gum, including marginal corner sheet strips of three (Govt. printing) and four (Matsuda), as well as four prominent flaws in singles used and unused: pl. 2 pos. 9, pl. 3 pos. 27, pl. 3 pos. 37 and pl. 4 pos. 24. Few minor imperfections not detracting. (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Matsuda printing, plate 3, marginal vertical block of six from the upper left of the sheet, positions 1-2 / 9-10 / 17-18, in a remarkably deep indigo shade, original gum with central pair being unmounted. A very fine and fresh block. (JSCA ¥90,000+; Michel 10IIIx). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, specialized study only featuring the position 1 of Matsuda plates 1-4 and government plates 1-26, comprising 32 stamps unused and used mounted on two exhibition pages, including corner-sheet examples (12) and pairs (3), varieties and readable postmarks. In unused condition: Matsuda plate 1, govt. plate 5, 10, 21, 25 and 26. Michel 10. (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue and 2 sen vermilion, Matsuda printing, on official wrapper front from Tottori (Inaba Province) to Yabase (Hoki Province), containing printed matters sent by the Tottori Prefectural Administration (cachet at top right), tied by very fine strike of framed early non-standard “Tottori / Kensa” handstamp, with very fine framed “2nd Class / Tottori Postal Bureau” handstamp alongside. Carried at double weight for bound official printed matters, not exceeding 120 grams, with 1 1/2 sen paid per each 16 momme (60 grams), of the postal rate period of Meiji 6.4.1-6.12.31 (1873). A very attractive "Tottori wrapper". (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, spectacular assembly made up of 22 unused singles, including four original gum examples from Matsuda printing, plates 1 to 4, otherwise from Government printing featuring pl. 1, 4, 5, 10-13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23-26 with 25A/B. The rare plate 6 with added perforation on one side, otherwise generally in fine condition, including a remarkable example from the scarce plate 26 with mint original gum in very fine condition. (JSCA ¥1,376,000). (Image)

1872, 2 sen vermilion, Matsuda printing, two unused examples without gum, including plate 1 position 37 with "flowers missing of paulownia" plate flaw (¥45,000), and plate 2 position 25, sheet margin at left. Both very fine. (JSCA ¥73.000; Michel 11ax €600). (Image)

1872, 2 sen vermilion, Matsuda printing, combined short tool 12 with Matsuda long large perforations, plate 1, position 24, uncharacteristically well centred, cancelled by faint strike of early non-standard double circle type of Kambara (Suruga Province). Very fine with a usual paper wrinkle. Cert. Philatelic Federation of Japan (2013). A very rare compound-perforation stamp which is only available in used condition. (JSCA ¥700,000). (Image)

1872, 2 sen vermilion, Matsuda printing, tied by framed early non-standard "kensa" (inspection settled) handstamp of Senju in Musashi province to small size envelope to Tokyo, with on reverse framed early non-standard "Posts / Senju station temporary bureau" in red. On obverse displaying type N1B1 "Tokyo 6.7.18" (18 July 1873) arrival cds. Stamp slightly oxidised, otherwise fine. These Senju markings were probably only used in 1872/73. (Image)

1872, 10 sen green, both printings, group of ten singles, including Matsuda printing in blue-green (7) with one unused, also featuring various perforations, one example with corner-sheet margins (postmarked Tokyo N1B1 Meiji 7.1.-), full strikes of Tokyo 6.12.21 (21 Dec. 1873) double circle, Nagasaki "golfball" (Nishinon type NS75A), one early non-standard cancel of Tsuruga. The Government printing apple green with one possessing part corner-sheet margins, one bearing full "kiban" Wakayama, double-circle type KG of Otsu and negative "kiban" of Osaka. (Michel 13a, 13b; €4,060). (Image)

1872, 20 sen violet, Matsuda printing, selection of eight examples in dark violet and lilac, including two with "mihon" overprint (specimen), five used with "large asterisk" foreign mail postmark of Nagasaki and Hiroshima "kiban", as well as mint corner-sheet example in lilac shade with perforated short tool 12 variety. Michel 14x (Image)

1872, 30 sen grey black, Matsuda printing, short tool perforation 11, two examples, of which one from position 40, without gum, with very light and small thin spot; the other, from position 19, overprinted "Mihon" (specimen), possessing original gum. Fine to very fine. (JSCA ¥175,000; Michel 15x). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Government printing, plate 14, position 26, e remarkable example with part original gum. The presentation has been improved by loosely hinging another stamp behind the original, in order to add missing perforations and a small part of the vertical outer frame line at right, otherwise fresh and unrepaired in the usual sense of the term. One of the three rarest plates of this stamp in unused condition, with only four unused examples recorded of plate 14. (JSCA ¥1,600,000). Provenance: Fukuhara Kazunobu (Grand Prix Philanippon 2001) (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, intermediate printing (Government printing with short tool perforation), type III, plate 3, perforation 10, position 38, displaying a fine impression and centred to the bottom, mint hinged with part original gum. The scarcest plate of Government Printing 1 sen with short tool perforation in unused condition. (JSCA ¥500,000). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Government printing with long tool perforation, type III, plate 22, position 10, in an attractive pastel shade with usual centring, mint hinged with part original gum. Small paper adherence on reverse of no importance, one perforation missing at top which has been replaced, still though attractive and a very rare example from this plate. (JSCA ¥450,000). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Government printing with long tool perforation, type III, plate 3, position 8, pistil missing in upper petal of the lower left flower, this being a very unusual variety, hinged mint with original gum. Minute surface scuff at base. A very fresh and well centred example. (JSCA ¥250,000+). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Government printing with long tool perforation, type III, plate 17, position 10, radiant colour reinforced by the neat impression, perforations barely touching at left, part original gum. A very fine and choice example. (JSCA ¥200,000). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, intermediate printing (Government printing with short tool perforation), type III, plate 4, perforation 13:13 1/2, position 21, appealing deep shade, perforations encroaching the frame line at base, mint hinged original gum. (JSCA ¥80,000). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, Government printing with long tool perforation, type III, plate 8A, vertical pair from positions 5 / 13, delicate pastel greyish shade and clear impression, quite well centred for this stamp, unused with part original gum. Few "blind" perforations have been backed and hinge reinforcement between stamps to keep them joined at left. A very scarce multiple from the rare plate 8A. (JHES ¥1,200,000). (Image)

1872, 1 sen blue, type III, Government printing on laid paper, a magnificent block of 12 (6x2) with sheet margin at left, unused without gum as issued. Despite the lower-left corner stamp being affected by a very small tear, this very appealing multiple is in an outstandingly good and desirable state of preservation. (Image)

1872, 2 sen rose, Government printing with long tool perforation, plate 1, position 25, a marginal example from the left of the sheet showing a striking imperforate sheet margin at left, great freshness and uncharacteristically well centred within large even margins on the three perforated sides, unused without gum. Very fine. An extremely rare variety. Another similar example, but not so well centred and not available in private hands, is exhibited as part of the Hiroyuki Kanai collection in The Philatelic Culture Museum in Kobe, Japan. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023). (JHES ¥200,000). (Image)

1872, 2 sen rose, Government printing, long tool perforation, group of four examples including three with original gum and corner sheet margins, comprising plate 1 pos. 33, plate 1 pos. 40 with "frame missing in sw" plate flaw (ex Fabergé); plate 2 pos.40; and plate 1 position 22 featuring "flower missing in paulownia" (lightly thinned) cancelled by clear strike of early irregular "Osaka/ken" handstamp. A very attractive lot. (JSCA ¥85,000; Michel 11bx, 11by €850). (Image)

1872, 2 sen rose, intermediate printing (Government printing with short tool perforation), plate 2, vertical block of six, positions 17-18 / 25-26 /33-34, centred to lower left, cancelled by six strikes of framed non-standard "Ken" postmark. Just two missing perforations in position 34, fresh and clean in other respects and a very rare used multiple. (JHES ¥480,000+; JSCA ¥400,000+). (Image)

1873, 2 sen yellow, long tool perforation, type III, plate 13, position 31, design exhibited complete, original gum barely hinged. Partly separated by scissors on two sides. The stamps of this plate were mostly used up and few mint examples survived. (JSCA ¥200,000). (Image)

1873, 2 sen yellow, long tool perforation, type III, plate 15, position 20 featuring "lower left cherry blossom with underpetal missing" variety, excellent impression and deep shade, good centring, original gum with negligible hinge mark. Two gum creases mentioned for accuracy only. A very fine and rare positional piece. (JSCA ¥200,000+). (Image)