1875, bird 45 sen syllabic 1 (i), a spectacular corner example from the lower left of the sheet, position 33, deep shade and outstanding freshness, lightly hinged and with original gum. A superb exhibition item. (JSCA ¥92,000; Michel 27 (1) €720). (Image)

1875, 12 sen violet, three unused examples: syllabic 1 (i) perf. 12 1/12 mint with original gum, few tone spots at top, otherwise very fine; syllabic 2 (ro) with two unused examples, of which one with original gum, perforated 11:12 1/2 (scarce thus) and signed by Thier, the other perforated 11, unused without gum. The syllabic 2 stamps are affected by thin spots on reverse. (JSCA ¥230,000; Michel 25 (1, 2) €1,900). (Image)

1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), vertical block of ten, positions 1-2 / 9-10 / 17-18 / 25-26 / 32-33, thus originating from the left of the sheet and including the two first columns, very appealingly presented with sheet margins on three sides, with original gum lightly mounted mint, but including four examples never hinged. Of outstanding freshness and great delight. (JHES ¥745,000). (Image)

1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), together with "Cherry Blossom" 4 sen green, syllabic 2 (ro), western wove paper, and 1 sen brown "ribbon", all used on 1876 cover from the Bolmida correspondence to Lyon, France, endorsed "p. China", each cancelled by deteriorated foreign mail postmark, the 4 sen tied by red "Yokohama Paid All Jan 30" cds, with red "5./cents" (U.S. credit) two-line marking at left, struck in transit with "San Francisco Cal. FEB 25 Steamship" and red "New York Mar 4" cds's, blue French "États Unis/Paq. Fr. Brest". On reverse French TPO "Paris a Auxerre 17 Mars 76" and Lyon arrival "18 Mars". Minor imperfections including horizontal filing fold clear away from the franking and bottom back flap lacking. A very fine three-colour franking. One of the finest covers known featuring this scarce rate, which was valid during merely three months. Note: The 17 sen franking paid the foreign rate to France via USA (1st January to 31 March 1876). Illustrated in "Gallery of Japanese Stamps" Vol. 2 (1990), fig. 116. For a very similiar cover see Takahashi private treaty 1995, lot 64, offered at ¥1,200,000). Provenance: Maurice Burrus (Kanai auction, Osaka 12.10.1963, lot 350) (Image)

1875, 12 sen rose, syllabic 1 (i), two examples with different specimen overprints, including "sumiten" (ink-dot specimen) and overprinted "Mihon" (specimen), the latter signed Krueger and with light tone spots; as well as 15 sen violet, syllabic 3 (ha), two examples with "Mihon" (specimen) overprint, one with gum slightly toned (signed Krueger), the other without gum. Certs. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2020) for the "sumiten" 12 sen and the "mihon" 15 sen without gum. (JSCA ¥195,000). (Image)

1875, 15 sen violet, four examples featuring the three syllabics (1-3), including two in mint condition with original gum showing syllabics 2 and 3, the other two (1, 3) with cancellations in black and blue. Mixed condition with some imperfections. (Michel 26 €1,820). (Image)

1875, 15 sen violet, syllabic 2, in combination with "Cherry Blossom" 2 sen yellow "ribbon", both very fine examples used on envelope addressed to the Temple Club in London, each cancelled by intaglio cross cancel of Tokyo with matching 9.2.11/16 Feb. 1876 cds on reverse, large red "Yokohama Paid all Feb 12" cds also tying the 2 sen, "5. / cents" (U.S. rate credit) two-line handstamp in same colour at left, and purple transit "San Francisco Cal. Feb. 29" cds below. One of the finest covers known showing this scarce rate, which was only valid during three months. Note: The 17 sen postage paid the foreign rate to the United Kingdom via USA (1 January to 31 March 1876). For a very similar cover see the Henry W. Moser collection (Corinphila auction in Dec. 1999, lot 153). Provenance: Afinsa auction 24.4.2001 lot 177; Cherrystone auction 1.2.2022, lot 866. (Image)

15 sen bird syllabic 2 (ro), a marginal example from the upper right corner of the sheet, position 8, overprinted "Mihon" (specimen) and with original gum. A superb lightly hinged example. (JSCA ¥50,000). (Image)

1875, 15 sen violet, syllabic 3 (ha), part sheet margin at top, paying the triple 5 sen UPU favourite rate to the U.S. (20.6.1877-30.9.1897), tied by foreign mail initialled "Y" handstamp (Nishino-type YH3A), on large cover from Yokohama to New York, to U.S.A., with small "Yokohama 22 May 1883" cds in centre, backstamped on arrival on April 21 & 22. Some wrinkles affecting the stamp and small tear. Single frankings featuring the syllabic 3 on foreign mail are considerably scarcer than those with syllabic 1 and 2. Only three are recorded in private hands according to our census (the fourth one belongs to a museum). Our census of covers bearing the “Bird” 15 sen syllabic 3 (ha): -The example presented here -Single franking, 7.4.1882, registered from Yokohama to Philadelphia, "Meiji" property Part I, David Feldman auction, 3.6.2023, lot 30268 -Single franking, 23.10.1883, registered from Shanghai to Nagasaki, in the Kanai collection (The Philatelic Culture Museum) -Single with “Bird” 45 sen, “Cherry Blossom” 20 sen and “Koban” 2 sen, 11.2.1882, registered from Yokohama to Bavaria (Germany), Christoph Gärtner auction (30.5.2016, lot 119) Provenance: Takahashi private treaty July 2001, lot 72, ¥800,000 (Image)

1875, 45 sen rose carmine, a selection of six examples featuring syllabics 1, 2 and 3, including two unused, of which one with original gum (syllabic 1), one used from the upper right sheet corner; the scarce syllabic 2 (ro) is represented by one unused plate 1 position 35 (thin spots) and a very fine used sheet corner example of plate 2 position 40, with Yokohama initial "Y" postmark for foreign mail. (Image)