1874, 1/2 sen brown, syllabics 1 and 2, choice group of sixteen examples on exhibition page, in mint original gum and used conditions, including six with corner sheet margins, one syllabic 1 plate 1 pair originating from the upper right of the sheet showing "Fukushima" cds, plate 2 position 4 with "leaf incomplete" plate flaw, or syllabic 2 (ro) plate 1 position 36 with foreign mail "large asterisk" postmark. An attractive assembly of the lowest denomination. Michel 18x. (Image)

1874, 1 sen blue, syllabics 1-12, a used selection of 35 examples mounted on three exhibition pages, showing eight plate flaws, including a very fine example of the elusive syllabic 5 (ho) plate 1 with "dot missing in right sen character" (JSCA ¥100,000), also featuring eight marginal corner-sheet examples, fancy cancels on plate 1 pos. 33 (2) of Kawamuara/Yamashiro and Matsuzaka, syllabic 1 (i) marginal pair, etc. (Image)

1874, 1 sen blue in foreign paper, syllabic ho (5), two very fresh examples cancelled by Fujisawa Rikuchu province non-standard negative "Fuji" fancy cancel, applied on reverse of cover, tied on dispatch by "Fujisawa Rikuchu -.2.8" double circle type KG. Alongside showing vermillion double circle KG "Rikuzen Oinokawara -.2.8" in transit and arrival KG "Rikuzen Tomeshi -.2.9.". Envelope with faults at base and bottom (torn on opening), and with full contents. A very desirable cover bearing the scarcest syllabic for this value. Note: The Fujizawa P.O., located in remote Rikuchu, opened in end of 1874. The JSCA catalogue values this syllabic "ho" at more than double the second scarcest syllabic. (Image)

1874, 1 sen blue, syllabic 10 (nu), a very fine and fresh vertical pair tied by kiban ha-24 of Sakura, Shimosa province, to reverse of envelope (probably dated 1876) showing a printed decorative surrounding frame in blue, with full contents and travelled to Mitsukaido in the same province, red type KG of Sakura -.4.8 (8 April) cds in red on back. (Image)

1874, 1 sen blue, syllabic 12 (wo), a marginal vertical pair from the right of the sheet, tied by two clear strikes of kiban ne-14 of Kobe, on reverse of cover to Kamioda village, with type N1B1 Kobe 8.4.4 (4 April 1875) cds alongside. Cover opened out for display. (JSCA ¥35.000). Provenance: Mike Ruggiero (Image)

1874, 2 sen yellow, single on two early non-standard postmark (fancy cancel) covers, one bearing syllabic 2 (ro) tied by large "Kensazumi" handstamp of Takamiya on Temple correspondence between Myotokuji/Takamiya-Horimura and Fukuzenji, travelled within the Omi province, with manuscript date 8th month 16th day (16 August 1874 or 1875); the other being syllabic 7 (to), a left sheet-margin example with scissors cut at right, tied by "Kishu Kokawa/Kensazumi" to reverse of very small cover dated 10th moon 10th day (10 October 1874), signed Mayer BPP and cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2015). The JHES does not report the usage of large "Kensazumi" postmarks for this syllabic. Two interestiing early irregular postmarks from the Kinki area. (Image)

1875, 2 sen yellow, syllabic 23 (ma), two examples, in combination with 1 sen brown, syllabic 13 (wa), tied by "tsubure-in" (detoriated cancel) of Tokyo on special delivery (red endorsement both sides) cover to Yokohama, with type N1B1 Tokyo 8.6.19 (19 June 1875) double circle alongside, and arrival on the same day on reverse. This 5 sen rate consists of 3 sen special delivery on mail sent to other 1st class post office (tariff 1 Jan. 1874 to 31 Dec. 1880), plus 2 sen basic letter postage. (Image)

1874, 4 sen rose, syllabic 1 ( i ), position 1, perforation 11, positional pinhole at upper left, brilliant colour and crisp impression, original gum with hinge remnants at top. Couple of light tone spots not detracting from the freshness. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2023). (JSCA ¥520,000). (Image)

1874, 4 sen carmine-rose, syllabic 1 (i), perforation 11, deep shade, original gum, some small imperfections not detracting from its great freshness. (JSCA ¥520,000; Michel 21, €4,300). (Image)

1874, 4 sen red syllabic 1 (i) , four used examples, including plate 1 with position 1, and plate 2 with positions 1, 29 and 33, mainly exhibiting foreign postmarks, including crossroads and blue asterisk of Yokohama. Just one with thin spot, otherwise fine. (JSCA ¥380,000). (Image)

1874, 4 sen rose, syllabic 1 ( i ), perforation 11, bottom left positional pinhole, intense deep colour, quite well centred, showing almost complete strike of seven-blade propeller of Hyogo (unrecorded in Nishino's 1985 handbook on foreign markings, but later confirmed for Hyogo on a cover with dated 20 Feb. 1875 dispatch). Scarce and very appealing. (JHES ¥96,000). (Image)

1874, 4 sen rose, syllabic 1 ( i ), perforation 11, positional pinhole at bottom right, centred within good to large margins, cancelled by double cross of Yokohama in blue, (Nishino-type YH75D used in March 1875). Very fine. (JHES ¥96,000). (Image)

1874, 6 sen violet brown, trio of unused stamps, including very fine syllabic 11 (ru) without gum (signed Tyler by pencil), syllabic 16 (ta) without gum (slightly toned) and a fine syllabic 17 (ra) with original gum. (JSCA ¥178,000; Michel 17). (Image)

1874, 6 sen slate-purple, five used examples showing "kiban" usages, including foreign mail crossroads and double circle cancels, with syllabic 10 (nu) with "left wave missing" variety (JHES ¥170,000), 14 (ka), 16 (ta) plate 1 (pos. 1), 17 (re) and 18 (so). This group containing the better syllabics 10 (small tear) and 14 (light wrinkle, signed Champion), with the other three being in fine condition. (JSCA ¥214,000 ; Michel 17z €1,840). (Image)

1874, 6 sen violet brown, syllabic 13 (wa), together on piece with "Old Koban" 4 sen blue-green, each tied by Ikuno type KG cds (5.8, Tajima Province). A rare stamp enhanced by the very scarce combination, including the 6 sen violet brown instead of the 6 sen orange. (JHES ¥900,000). (Image)

1874, 6 sen slate-purple, syllabic 17 (re), a marginal example from the top of the sheet, tied by Kiban te-1 type of Morioka to reverse of registered cover to Tokyo, in combination with "Old Koban" 1 sen black pair on obverse, tied by the same dispatch postmark. Type KG "Morioka Rikuchu -.10.24" and "Tokyo N2B2 10.10.29" (29 October 1877) cds's. Couple of insect holes not affecting the franking. (JSCA from ¥200,000). (Image)

1874, 6 sen violet brown, foreign paper, syllabic 18 (so), in combination with Revised Colours 1 sen brown, syllabic 16 (ta), and 2 sen "ribbon", tied by two strikes of kiban i-ke 9 of Fukuyama, Oshima province to registered cover addressed to a village without post office in Omi province, Gamo district. Type KG of Fukuyama -.3.6 cds and transit "Tokyo 9.3.22" (22 March 1876) cds alongside. The 2 sen with vertical scissor separation at right, otherwise very fine franking, the cover slightly reduced on bottom and incomplete on address site. The 6 sen violet brown on western paper with syllabic 16 is a rarity on cover. Cert. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2015). (JSCA ¥350,000). (Image)

1874, 10 sen yellowish green, five examples including syllabic 1 (i) represented by perf. 12 1/2 unused without gum (faults), and a superb bottom right corner-sheet example perforated 11 showing full strike of Kiban i-ka 1 of Wakayama; Syllabic ro (2) perf. 12 1/2 featuring two mint original gum examples from positions 13 and 23, the latter with "stroke missing in right sen character" plate flaw, as well as one used from position 18 showing "right dragon´s thorn missing" variety. Stamps in general with some faults, except for the corner sheet example. (JSCA ¥132,000; Michel 22x €1,310). (Image)

1874, 20 sen violet, group of five featuring both syllabics and shades, including syllabic 4 (ni) in light violet with original gum, dark violet cancelled by foreign mail type "crossroads", syllabic 5 (ho) with dark violet possessing original gum (some thin spots), the same shade used with full strike of kiban i-ma 9 = Oita, Bunga province, as well as light violet cancelled by foreign mail type "large ring" of Hyogo. All with slight faults, but an attractive selection. Michel 23x plate 4-5 (Image)

1875, 20 sen violet syllabic 4 (ni), some toning at right, and 1 sen blue, syllabic 5 (ho), each tied by negative foreign mail cross cancel (Nishino-type YH75B, used only in March 1875) on cover to Nottingham, England, with alongside matching "Yokohama Jan 30 6 A. M." cds on dispatch, circular "Paid/All" in red, "San Francisco Feb 16 Cal." transit in purple, where also the "2 / Cents" due mark was applied, and arrival on reverse. (JSCA ¥,.500,000 for overseas letter usage). Note: The 21 sen was the single weight rate to England between 1 January - 8 September 1875. Illustrated in the "Gallery of Japanese Stamps" Vol. 1 (1983), fig. 20. Provenance: Cherrystone auction 1.2.2022, lot 862 (sold for 21.000 USD) (Image)

1874, 20 sen violet, syllabic 4 (ni), deep shade, and 2 sen yellow, syllabic 18 (so), tied by large early "Nagasaki Jul 2 12. M" foreign mail cds to cover from the famous Higgins correspondence to Northampton, England. Red "Yokohama Paid All Jul 12" cds also tying the 2 sen, two-line "6. / cents" (U.S. credit) handstamp, "San Francisco Aug. 1 Paid" in purple alongside, and Northampton backstamp. Refolded at top and stamps with faults, especially the 2 sen, but a very rare franking. The 21 sen rate to England was in use from 1.1.1875 to 9.9.1875. Provenance: Ishikawa Ryohei, illustrated in his 1976 book on page 45 Robson Lowe auction, London 28.1.1970, lot 1229 Takahashi private treaty 1995, lot 61, ¥1,500,000 (Image)

1874, 30 sen grey, syllabic 1 (i), a partial plate reconstruction of 15 of the 40 positions, all used and showing a variety of mostly Yokohama foreign mail cancellations of the 1870s. In mixed condition, with few fine examples are included. An invitation to continue the reconstruction.

1874, 30 sen grey, syllabic 1 (i), two singles, together with 2 sen yellow, syllabic 10 (nu), and 1 sen blue, syllabic 9 (ri), each cancelled by large size negative cross with early large "Yokohama Jan 30 6. A. M." cds alongside on envelope to London. Red "Paid All" circular postmark, "San Francisco Cal. Feb. 19"and "London Paid All 9 Mr 75" cds's on front. All stamps have some discrete faults, the address name has been cut out and cover soiled. The 63 sen paid corresponded to the triple rate of 21 sen to England (1.1.1875 to 9.9.1875). Only fourteen covers bearing the highest "Cherry Blossom" denomination are recorded, this being unique with this triple rate combination. Cert. Philatelic Federation of Japan (1998) signed by Kanai Hiroyuki. Provenance: Takahashi private treaty 1995, lot 62, ¥1,500,000 (Image)

1875, 6 sen orange "girdle", syllabic 20 (ne), vertical pair, in combination with "Old Koban" 2 sen olive, tied type KG "Numazu.Suruga -.6.24" double circle to registered special delivery (express) cover to Tokyo, with arrival type N2B2 "Tokyo 11.6.24" (24 June 1878). The 6 sen pair paid the express- and registration fees, each corresponding to 6 sen. (JSCA ¥70.000+; Michel 64). (Image)