Early Classic Japan Stamps

Japan is located at North Pacific Ocean, east of China. The first Japanese stamp was shown a Pair of Dragons Facing Characters of Value. It was issued on 20 April, 1871 comprised of Plate I and Plate II. There were four face values unwatermarked consists of 48mon brown, 100mon blue, 200mon vermilion and 500mon blue green.

For 48mon, Plate I was consists of solid dots in inner border whereas Plate II was consists tiny circles replace dots; 100mon, Plate I – lowest dragon claw at upper right and at lower left point upward whereas Plate II – same two claws point downward, 200mon, Plate I - Dot in upper left conner whereas Plate II – No dot; 500mon, Plate I - Lower right corner of Greek-type border incomplete whereas Plate II – Short horizontal line completes corner border pattern.

1871 Japan 48mon, Scott #1c Brown on fragment, Plate II - tinny circle replace dots in inner border, unwmk., engrave, imperforate, native laid paper, sound genunie, curious cancellation, Ten Greek-type border with shapes, do not have “sanko’ at left and right of the centre-bottom character, VFU, gorgeous & elusive stamp, SCV $290(M) & $285(U)

The second type was issued in 1872 shows Imperial Crest and Branches of Kiri Tree comprised of ½ sen, 1 sen, 2 sen and 4 sen. Paper native wove or laid paper of varying thickness.

1872 Japan ½ Sen, Scott #9b Brown, native laid paper, Perf. Com. 13, unwmk., MLH, elusive stamp, SCV $67.5(M)

1872 Japan ½ Sen, Scott #9 Brown wove paper, Perf. Com. 9, unwmk., Secret dot at bottom of centre Character, thin paper, VFU, elusive stamp, SCV $21(M&U)