1872-76, Group of "Cherry Blossom" issues overprinted "Mihon" (specimen), including native paper 1 sen govt. printing, 2 sen and 20 sen Matsuda printing, 2 sen yellow native paper syllabic 16 (all signed Krueger); western paper including 1/2 sen brown syllabic 1, 6 sen brown syllabic 10, 20 sen syllabic 4. Also 4 sen green crossed branches (part thinned) and 5 sen girdle. Mostly with tonings. Two certs. Florian Eichhorn BPP (2020) for the western paper 20 sen and the 4 sen green "butchi", as well as opinion Eichhorn BPP (2014) for the 6 sen. (JSCA ¥385,000). (Image)

1872-74 Two covers exhibiting early non-standard handstamps, including 1872 2 sen vermilion, Matsuda printing, used on reverse of fully backed cover to Hyogo, tied by framed "Wakayama ken" postmark, with vermilion transit type N1B1 "Osaka Meiji 6.4.5" and same type used in red on arrival at Kobe on the same day; quite an early usage of the N1B1 types, only introduced by April 1st. The other, bering a 2 sen,western paper syllabic 2 (ro), on cover with contents to Tokyo, with early non-standard imitation of standard double circles of "Wakamatsu Meiji. 7.." with empty date slugs, but on obverse showing dates "Meiji 7.6.10" (10 June 1874) inserted in manuscript, Tokyo arrival N1B1 of 14 June; stamp with corner torn on opening but neatly closed. (Image)

1873-75, Two registered covers carried at 8 sen (2+6) rate, including: 4 sen native paper type I, vertical pair tied by type KG "Takada.Echigo -.1.22" cds on cover to Tokyo (part of back flap missing); Revised Colours 4 sen green syllabic 2 (ro), horizontal pair tied by two strikes of Kiban te-1 (Rikuchi.Morioka) on cover to Osaka, with type KG "Morioka -.11.27" cds alongside, via Tokyo with type N2B2 9.11.30 (30 November 1876) and arrival type KB2 -.12.2. Cover slightly reduced at bottom. (Image)

1874-75, Two inland covers: one franked by 2 sen yellow, porous western paper, syllabic 20 (ne), tied by brilliant strike of kiban i-ku 6 (Hyuga.Nobeoka) to reverse of cover to Osaka with good strike of early non-standard "Hyuga Nobeoka Station Mail Receiving and Handling Agency" alongside, on front struck with type N1B1 8.7.8 (8 July, 1875) double circle on arrival; cover opened out with back flap incomplete. The other bearing vertical pair of 1 sen brown syllabic 16 (yo), tied by two strikes of Kiban nu-6 (Totomi.Kakegawa) to reverse of small cover to Tokyo with type KG "Kakaegawa.Omi -.8.17" double circle alongside, type N2B2 8.8.19 (19 August 1875) on arrival. A very fine duo. (Image)

1874-75, Group of four covers bearing 2 sen yellow single frankings, including syllabic 11 (ru) on entire letter to Nagasakiwith with full strike of kiban i-wa 2 of Nagato.Hagi with type KG Hagi -.1.14 double circle alongside and arrival type N1B1 8.1.18 (18 Jan. 1875); "Ribbon" 2 sen, top margin example tied by kiban ma-1 = Iwashiro.Wakamatsu from Wakamatsu via Tokyo N2B2 9.5.22 (22 May 1876) to Suruga province; 2 sen bottom sheet-margin example tied by kiban w(o) 3 = Owari Nagoya to reverse of illustrated cover (telegraph poles) to Gifu; upper-sheet margin 2 sen perf. long tool 13, tied by "Kanazawa" double circle on illustrated cover to Ojiya/Echigo province. An attractive group.

1874/76, Two inland covers showing the 1 sen brown with syllabic used to pay the rate for delivery fee to places outside of the standard delivery circuit of post offices: 1 sen syllabic yo (10) bottom sheet-margin example showing plate line on selvedge, together with 2 sen "ribbon", each tied by kiban i-ri 10 = Suruga.Kawabe, with type KG "Kawabe.Bitchu -.1.4" (month slug error) cds alongside to reverse of cover to a village in the Asaguchi district. The other cover is franked with 1 sen syllabic 14 (ka) and "ribbon" 2 sen, cancelled by damaged killer type from "Osaka -.12.2" (KB1), sent to a village in Izumi province. (Image)

1874/76, Group of six inland covers including four 2 sen single frankings frankings with 2 sen yellow syllabic or "ribbon" singles (4) used from Tokyo or Kobe; 1 sen "ribbon" pair with two clear strikes of "Yokohama horseshoe" -.11.29 via Tokyo 8.11.29 (29 Nov. 1875) to Aizu/Iwashiro province, with on reverse large woodbock printing "Kanagawa Justice Court". Plus Old Koban 1 sen black and 2 sen olive tied by double circle "Kajigasawa.Kai" to illustrated cover with arrival "Okitsu.Suruga" on front. (Image)

1871-1879, spectacular collection in stockbook used and unused, including a remarkable number of rarities such as used 1874 6 sen slate purple on western paper, syllabic "yo"=15 (Eichhorn BPP cert., Michel 17z €4,200), 1875 45 sen bird with syllabic 3 used (Michel 27 €1,800), or used 1875 6 sen orange with the rare syllabic "ra"=22 (Eichhorn cert., Michel 31 €3,000). Many mint original gum examples are also included. In usual condition from mixed to very fine. (Image)