Japan, 1871, Dragon, 48m brown, plate 1, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 1a. Scott 1), position 8, deep, rich color and clear to full margins, without gum as issued, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $225 (HK$ 1,770). Est. HK$800-1,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800-1,000

Japan, 1871, Dragon, 100m blue, plate 1, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 2a. Scott 2), position 34, deep bright color, large to ample margins, without gum as issued, Very Fine. Scott $225 (HK$ 1,770). Est. HK$1,000-1,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,400

Japan, 1871, Dragon, 200m vermilion, plate 1, wove paper (J.S.C.A. 3d. Scott 3a), position 2, deep color and large, even margins, without gum as issued, Very Fine, a stunning example. Scott $500 (HK$ 3,940). Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Japan, 1871, Dragon, 500m blue green, plate 1, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 4e. Scott 4), exemplificative color and full margins, without gum; blurred impression, tiny nick in margin at top clear of design, slight central thinning endemic to this delicate paper, Fine to Very Fine, with 1987 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $575 (HK$ 4,530). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1871, Dragon, 500m blue green, plate 2, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 4h. Scott 4e), position 6, a gorgeous stamp with deeply etched lines, bright color and clean paper—not to mention near-perfect centering amid large margins, without gum as issued; paper hinge remnants on reverse, Very Fine. Scott $750 (HK$ 5,910). Est. HK$2,400-2,800 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,400-2,800

Japan, 1872, Dragon, ½s brown, plate 2, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 5d. Scott 5), position 12, sharp impression, intense color (with resultant ink smudging), and intact perforations; well-centered for this with clear margins on three sides, without gum, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $100 (HK$ 790). Est. HK$600-800 (Image1)

Est. HK$600-800

Japan, 1872, Dragon, ½s brown, plate 2, brittle wove paper (J.S.C.A. 5e. Scott 5c), position 1, lovely distinctive color and intact perforations; centered as usual, without gum, Fine to Very Fine, with 2015 Eichhorn certificate stating "brittle wove paper". Scott $725 (HK$ 5,710). Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

Japan, 1872, Dragon, 2s vermilion, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 7a. Scott 7), position 33, bright color, without gum; short perforation at bottom, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $500 (HK$ 3,940). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1872, Dragon, 5s blue green, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 8a. Scott 8), position 20, with sharp impression and strong color; perforations intact (a few faintly foxed) with excellent centering, without gum, Very Fine, with 1987 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $800 (HK$ 6,300). Est. HK$3,200-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,200-4,000

Japan, 1872, Dragon, 5s blue green, laid paper (J.S.C.A. 8a. Scott 8), position 5, clear highly detailed impression in nice pastel-like color; well-centered between intact perforations, without gum; paper hinge remnant causing small internal central split, Very Fine, with 2003 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $800 (HK$ 6,300). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1872-73, Cherry Blossom, ½s to 4s, native wove or laid paper (J.S.C.A. 9, 11, 16-19. Scott 9-14), a choice selection with bright fresh colors; each with varying degrees of o.g.; 2s has a few blunt perforations, 4s has small sheet pin hole at top left, still mainly Very Fine. Scott $367 (HK$ 2,890). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1872, Cherry Blossom, 10s blue green, Matsuda printing, native wove paper (J.S.C.A. 12a. Scott 15), short tool perf 12 x MLL, with radiant color on bright white paper and near-perfect centering, crackly o.g.; neat diagonal crease at lower right, Extremely Fine, an exceptional mint example, Ex Ruggiero, with 2017 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $250 (HK$ 1,970). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1872, Cherry Blossom, 20s lilac, Matsuda printing, native wove paper (J.S.C.A. 13a. Scott 17), fresh color; centered to lower left, traces of o.g., Fine to Very Fine, an attractive unused example, with 1999 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $600 (HK$ 4,720). Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

Japan, 1872, Cherry Blossom, 30s gray, Matsuda printing, native wove paper (J.S.C.A. 14. Scott 18), bottom margin single, with resplendent color and particularly well-centered, full crackly o.g.; small paper hinge remnant, Extremely Fine, a marvelous example of Post Office freshness; highly desirable, Ex Ruggiero, with 2014 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $625 (HK$ 4,920). Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Japan, 1872, Cherry Blossom, 10s yellow green, Government printing, native laid paper (J.S.C.A. 20a. Scott 16), delicate pastel-like color, well-centered for this, large part o.g.; a couple paper adherences at top, Fine to Very Fine, with 1987 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $400 (HK$ 3,150). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, 2s yellow, native paper, with syllabic 16 ("ta") (J.S.C.A. 22. Scott 28), dazzling color on brilliant white paper, exceptional centering, full crackly o.g.; small hinge remnant, Extremely Fine, a true gem, Ex Ruggiero, with 2014 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $425 (HK$ 3,350). Est. HK$3,200-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,200-4,000

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, ½s syll. 1 ("i"), 1s syll. 6 ("he") and 2s syll. 15 ("yo"), foreign wove paper (J.S.C.A. 28-30. Scott 32-34), each with part to much o.g. (the 2s without gum); fresh colors and excellent centering on all; the 2s has trace of residual gum crease, Very Fine and choice. Scott $350 (HK$ 2,760). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, 6s violet brown, foreign wove paper, with syll. 16 ("ta") (J.S.C.A. 32. Scott 36), resplendent color on fresh white paper, well centered with unusually large margin at top, practically full crackly o.g.; hinge remnant, Fine to Very Fine, with 2017 I.S.J.P. certificate. Scott $175 (HK$ 1,380). Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, 10s yellow green, foreign wove paper, with syll. 2 ("ro") (J.S.C.A. 33. Scott 37), intense color on bright white paper, large part o.g., Very Fine. Scott $200 (HK$ 1,580). Est. HK$1,200-1,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,600

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, 20s violet, foreign wove paper, with syll. 4 ("ni") (J.S.C.A. 34. Scott 38), in deep color, well-centered, full o.g.; hinge remnant and insignificant traces of rust on a few perforations on reverse only, Very Fine. Scott $425 (HK$ 3,350). Est. HK$2,400-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,400-3,200

Japan, 1874, Cherry Blossom, 30s gray, foreign wove paper, syllabic 1 ("i") (J.S.C.A. 35. Scott 39), deep color, exceptionally well-centered with unusually large margins at top and bottom, full o.g., hinge remnant, Very Fine, an example in elusive quality. Scott $475 (HK$ 3,740). Est. HK$3,200-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,200-4,000

Japan, 1875, Bird Series, 12s rose, foreign wove paper, with syllabic 1 ("i") (J.S.C.A. 36. Scott 46), fresh, clear color on brilliant white paper, well-centered, large part o.g. with hinge remnants; minor gum thinning, nevertheless Fine to Very Fine. Scott $375 (HK$ 2,950). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1875, Bird Series, 15s lilac, foreign wove paper, with syllabic 1 ("i") (J.S.C.A. 37. Scott 47), in lustrous color; centered to left within large margins, practically full o.g., Fine to Very Fine. Scott $350 (HK$ 2,760). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Japan, 1875, Bird Series, 45s lake, foreign wove paper, with syllabic 1 ("i") (J.S.C.A. 38. Scott 50), wonderfully bright color on pristine white paper, clean intact perfs., full crackly o.g., never hinged, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $500 (HK$ 3,940). Est. HK$3,200-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,200-4,000

Japan, 1875, Cherry Blossom, ½s syll. 4 ("ni"), 1s syllabic 13 ("wa") & 4s syllabic 2 ("ro"), foreign wove paper (J.S.C.A. 41-43. Scott 40-42), fresh colors on bright white paper, all with outstanding centering, large part o.g., Extremely Fine. Scott $280 (HK$ 2,200). Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000