The Yasushi Tejima Collection Japan Dragon Stamps at Auction

1872, 1 sen deep dull blue, plate III, rounded corner at upper left, single franking tied by framed "Ken" of Tokyo on a local cover to Hatchobori. On reverse, framed "year of the monkey 1st month 18th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 6.1.18. On address side, vermilion framed delivery mark "afternoon".
A pleasing and scarce local Tokyo usage of the 1 sen Plate III.
Rate: Within city district, basic weight to 4 momme = 1 sen,...

1872, 1/2 sen brown, plate II, vertical pair, positions 10-18, tied by the head section* of large "Yokohama Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover from Yokohama to Tokyo.
Manuscript dateline "9th month 2nd day". Vermilion framed non-standard "year of the monkey 9th month 2nd day / Yokohama postal bureau" (4 October 1872). Red circular framed hakoba-in "hon" (本) of Honcho letter box. Framed same-day arrival "year of the monkey 9th month...

1871, 200 mon vermilion, early printing, plate I, position 3, with official pinhole at upper right, tied by large "Yodo Eki Kensazumi", with framed vermilion "Yodo station" alongside, on a cover from Yodo, Yamashiro Province, to Sano, Izumi Province.
On reverse, manuscript dateline "9th month 8th day sent" of Meiji 5.9.8 (10 October 1872). Transit mark in vermilion framed "Senshu / postal receiving and handling agency / Kaizuka". Senshu...

1872, 1 sen blue, plate I, probably position 20, tied by large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Osaka.
Two strikes of red framed "year of the monkey 9th moon 14th day / Saikyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.9.14 (16 October 1872), appear on both sides of the cover. Alongside, vermilion framed "year of the monkey 9th moon 15th day / Osaka postal bureau", or Meiji 5.9.15 (17 October 1872). At top, vertical single-line delivery...

1871, 48 mon brown, plate I, a horizontal pair, positions 7-8, the latter with official pinhole at upper right, tied by two clear strikes of an oval seal-style non-standard ("fancy") cancel of Yanagimoto, Yamato Province.
Manuscript dateline "9th month 25th day", or Meiji 5.9.25 (27 October 1872). Arrival framed vermilion "year of the monkey 9th month 26th day / Saikyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.9.26 (28 October 1872).
A striking...

1872, 1 sen deep dull blue, plate III, position 5, showing the plate flaw "stroke missing in sen character", single franking tied by framed "Ken" of Tokyo on a local cover roughly opened from Shitaya Takemachi to Shitaya Kanesugicho. On reverse, framed "year of the monkey 10th month 11th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.10.11 (11 November 1872). Alongside, framed collection mark "Matsuzumi". Vermilion single-line "midday dispatch"...

1872, 1 sen blue, plate II, early printing, tied by framed "Ken" of Tokyo to an illustrated local cover.
On reverse, framed "year of the monkey 10th month 19th day / Tokyo postal bureau", corresponding to Meiji 5.10.19 (19 November 1872). Frameless vermilion "morning dispatch" delivery mark.
A pleasing illustrated city cover, showing the 1 sen Plate II in attractive local usage within Tokyo.
Rate: Within city district, basic...

1872, 1/2 sen, plate II (2), upper stamp with corner fault and small rubbing spot, tied by framed non-standard "Nagoya Ken" to the reverse of a cover to Tokyo.
Manuscript dateline "10th month 26th day". Green framed non-standard "10th month 27th day / Nagoya station postal receiving and handling agency" on address side, corresponding to Meiji 5.10.26/27 (26/27 November 1872). Arrival framed non-standard "year of the monkey 10th month...

1871, 200 mon, middle period printing, plate I, position 18, tied by four strikes of a vermilion framed seal-style marking, the private seal of the postmaster of Hokota, Hitachi Province, to the reverse of a cover initially addressed to Tokyo, with manuscript "11th month 8th day dispatched" alongside. Also showing framed vermilion "morning dispatch" delivery mark of Tokyo.
In Tokyo, Cherry Blossom native paper 1 sen and 2 sen (2) were...

1871/72, 5 sen bluish green on "tough paper" (Tejima term) and Cherry Blossom 2 sen vermilion tied by framed "Ken" of Tokyo to an underpaid cover to Shimamura, Kozuke Province.
Manuscript date "year of the monkey 11th month 19th day", or Meiji 5.11.19 (19 December 1872). Also showing 500 mon Plate II (2, damaged, one only a small remainder, including position 33) and Cherry Blossom 1 sen blue, native paper (2), all with vermilion...

1872, 1 sen deep dull blue, plate II, middle period printing, perforation fault at upper right, tied by non-standard oval framed "Yamaguchi station" to a cover to Yoshida, Nagato Province. On reverse, vermilion framed non-standard "Suo Province Yamaguchi station / postal receiving and handling agency". No dateline, though usage is most probably Meiji 5 (1872).
A scarce and attractive provincial cover, distinguished by this unusual oval...

1871, 200 mon vermilion, latest printing, plate I, position 26, retouched (修正再刻), tied by framed early non-standard "Samegai Kensazumi" of Samegai, Omi Province, to the reverse of a cover to Iwatemura, Mino Province.
Manuscript dateline "1st month 22nd day", or Meiji 6.1.22 (22 January 1873). Position 26 shows the retouched right dragon variety (JSCA 3v-1-26).
A scarce and desirable variety cover, combining a plated retouch with...