The Koban Study Group 小判: May 2020

2020-05-27

The China Large Dragon Cover (“cover” is the philatelic term for an envelope used in the mails) from Peking to Tokyo in 1884, written by Saburo Yokata to Kuniomi Yokata, Minister of Justice in Tokyo, Japan, endorsed “Tokio Japan” on front, franked with Japan 5s blue New Koban stamp canceled by a crossroads-shaped obliterator along with “Shanghai 19 MAR 1884 I.J.P.A.” datestamp imprint. Reverse of the cover shows China 5ca chrome yellow Large Dragon on thick paper, smooth perforation issue, canceled by one complete and one partial strike of Peking, China seal in blue, with matching “I.G. of Customs MAR 10 84 Peking” datestamp alongside, next to the 5ca stamp, which shows a partial second strike where a 1ca stamp was affixed, then lost in transit. Interestingly and quite amazingly as well, is that exactly where the 1ca would have appeared, a Tokyo (Meiji) 17.3.22 double circle date stamp appears, tying the 5ca Dragon! Estimated value: $50,000 - $60,000US.

Mr. Gibson states: “This 1884 China cover is truly remarkable for several reasons. In Jame B. Whang’s authoritative A Comprehensive Illustration of the Covers of Chinese Large Dragons, the author notes ‘Large Dragons addressed to destinations in Japan are extremely rare, so far only two are known.’ Secondly, according to Whang, this cover would now represent the earliest known cover charged according to the new 6ca rate to the U.S. or Japan. Thus, a huge find and a rarity of high significance.

2020-05-25

2020-05-24

1Sen TORRES ex GF cover

Note reverse N ; P as I; I as L

4519 wider than 4491

IInd Battalion 10th infantry rgt.
(blue = postal info colour in german postal system of old, e.g. postage due amounts)
They used very "fat" blue crayon, particular in parcel system. - F EICHHORN