Lot 387th Auction - 738710100003

1871, 200 mon vermillion, earliest printing, plate I position 29, tied large "kensazumi" in special small seal style (reisho), so called "Eguchi type", to reverse of cover from Osaka to Otsu. Showing (Meiji 4.) 4.7 dateline. Rate: 200 mon basic weight, separate area rate of 1st rate period. Eguchi type: a special tensho (seal script) large kensazumi type recorded in three covers only, dating Meiji 4.3.7-Meiji 4.4.7, used in Saikyo (2) and Osaka (1). The dates are alongside with usage of the regular type Kensazumi at these places. It is assumed the "Eguchi" type marks were manufactured additionally by the GPO and distributed to these two cities to cope with large amounts of mails. Eguchi mentioned them for the first time in his classic "Early Meiji period postmarks of Japan" in the 1950s. However back in the nobody accepted these to be genuine. (Discussion see Yamazaki Yoshiyuki: "Dragon Stamps Plating Book", Tokyo (Narumi) 2017, pp. 101-103). One of three recorded covers with Eguchi type large Kensazumi. 200 mon with Eguchi type large Kensazumi from Osaka