The Yasushi Tejima Collection Japan Dragon Stamps at Auction

1871, 500 mon yellow green, earliest printing, two singles including position 37, used in combination with 200 mon earliest printing, plate I, bottom 500 and 200 mon, cut into at upper right, uncancelled, but with sender's address in Tokyo and addressed to Kameyama, Ise Province.
Manuscript date "year of the ape 3rd month 16th day", or Meiji 4.3.16 (5 May 1871).
A remarkable early high-franking cover from the opening months of the...

1871, 200 mon, early printing, plate I, position 21, slightly oxidised, tied by a clear strike of large "Shizuoka Kensazumi" of Shizuoka, Suruga Province, to the reverse of a cover to Kakegawa, Totomi Province.
Alongside dateline "4th month 26th day" and official manuscript "dispatched 29th day", or Meiji 4.4.29 (17 June 1871). At bottom right also showing vermilion framed "mochikomi chinsen zumi", meaning "carry-on fee settled".
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1871, 200 mon vermilion, earliest printing, plate I, comprising vertical pair positions 31-39, strip of three positions 11-19-27, and at right vertical pair positions 32-40 (with official pinhole at upper right), tied by two strikes of large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Saikyo.
The franking includes the major variety at position 31, "left dragon arm missing", as well as the variety at position 19, "right dragon hair...

1871, 100 mon blue, plate I, position 36, tied by large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Osaka.
Manuscript dateline "7th month 29th day" of Meiji 4.7.29 (13 September 1871). Also showing vermilion vertical frameless "29" day marking of Saikyo, together with circular framed hakoba-in "matsu" (松) of Matsubara letter box.
A desirable early Saikyo cover, additionally enhanced by the scarce Matsubara letter box marking....

1871, 48 mon brown, earliest printing, plate I, position 34, frame cut at left, bottom luped margin to touched, otherwise large margins, tied by large "Yokohama Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover with manuscript dateline "10th month 19th day", Meiji 4.10.19 (1 December 1871), from Yokohama to Tokyo-Ushigome.
On the address side at lower right, vermilion circular framed hakoba-in "No" (野) of the Nogemachi letter box, recorded in use...

1871, 100 mon dark blue, early printing, plate I, position 37, with positional pinhole, right frameline partly touched to cut in, used in combination with 200 mon vermilion, late printing, plate I, position 17, slightly oxidised, tied by a clear strike of large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, reduced at top right and bottom left, to an unclear destination, probably Kuwana or Yokkaichi.
Sender: Kyoto city administration....

1871, 200 mon vermilion, plate I, a vertical strip of three, positions 5-13-21, partly oxidised, with two positions showing luped margin at right, tied by large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Kakegawa, Totomi Province.
Manuscript datelines "11th month 10th day sent" and "11th month 12th day received" of Meiji 4 (22 and 24 December 1871). Also showing the red circular framed hakoba-in "kyo" (京) of Kyobashi, a letter box...

1871, 100 mon blue, late printing, plate I, position 21, touched at right frameline, tied by large "Otsu Kensazumi" (Nakagawa type A of Meiji 4) to the reverse of an illustrated cover to Kyoto.
Official correspondence from the Otsu prefectural administration to the Kyoto city administration. At lower right, vermilion oval framed "Otsu". No dateline survives, though usage in the second half of Meiji 4 is assumed.
An attractive...

1871, 500 mon pale dull green, middle period printing, plate I, position 32, tied by large "Tokyo Kensazumi" to a cover to Kaso, Bizen Province. Cover slightly reduced at top; thins at centre on reverse (backed). Opened out for display.
First-month usage of the Tokyo datestamp, framed in vermilion "year of the goat 12th month 25th day / Tokyo postal bureau", or Meiji 4.12.25 (5 February 1872). On the address side at lower right,...

1871, 200 mon, middle period, plate I, position 35, tied by a full strike of large "Yokohama Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover, mounted on paper, to Ejiri, Suruga Province.
Alongside, vermilion framed "year of the cock 12th month 27th day / Yokohama postal bureau", or Meiji 4.12.27 (7 February 1872).
The earliest recorded example of this Yokohama datestamp, giving the cover notable postal-historical importance.
Rate: 200...

1871, 200 mon vermilion, earliest printing, plate I, position 26, tied by a large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of a cover to Gifu, accompanied by a large framed "Chinsen Kitte Zumi" marking ("prepayment for return postage paid").
On the address side, a red framed "Saikyo / year of the monkey [Meiji 5] 1st month 13th day" (21 February 1872). Red manuscript notation indicates an additional 50 mon payment.
Only eight covers are...

1871, 48 mon brown, earliest printing, plate I, a vertical pair, positions 15-23, tied by large "Saikyo Kensazumi" to the reverse of cover, slightly reduced at top and left, to Osaka.
Framed vermilion "year of the monkey 3rd month 25th day / Saikyo postal bureau", or Meiji 5.3.25 (2 May 1872). Circular framed hakoba-in "tera" (寺) of Teramachi letter box.
A pleasing and scarce cover, further enhanced by the presence of the...