2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, each cancelled by Yokohama "X" chop, used on folded prices current and shipping table (departures listed up to August 24, 1869) printed at the Hiogo News Office, addressed to J. B. David in St. Etienne, France, "Forwarded by Textor & Co. Kanagawa" blue oval handstamp on back, sender's directive "via San Francisco", "SHORT PAID" framed handstamp applied at New York exchange office, blue crayon "2" and "3" crossed out, magenta manuscript "70c" (7 decimes) due marking applied in France, partly readable St. Etienne receiving backstamp (October 1869), piece torn from top has been repaired and refolded to hide most of the missing piece (stamps appear to be in their original position)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ON PRINTED MATTER FROM KANAGAWA (YOKOHAMA) TO FRANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER WITH THE 2-CENT 1869 USED FROM CHINA OR JAPAN.

This printed market and shipping report is one of several known pieces of mail sent to J. B. David in St. Etienne, France, through the U.S. or French post offices in Yokohama. This cover, listing an August 24, 1869, sailing in the shipping table, was carried on the PMSS Great Republic, departing Yokohama August 30, 1869, and arriving San Francisco September 18. The "X" cancel is one of a series of Japanese "chops" used on mail carried by PMSS steamers between San Francisco and Japan. This particular chop is identical to the one used to cancel stamps on the cover offered in Sale 911, lot 331, which was definitely carried on the Great Republic August 30 sailing. The pair of 2c 1869 stamps underpaid the required postage on this printed circular from Japan to France, perhaps because there was a handwritten letter attached at one point.

The earliest recorded cover with 1869 stamps used in China or Japan is the "Miro" cover with 10c and 30c 1869 pairs, which was carried on the PMSS Japan, departing Yokohama July 1, 1869, and arriving San Francisco July 20. The next sequential usage of 1869 stamps from Japan are three covers carried on the same August 30, 1869, trip of the Great Republic from Yokohama: the 2c cover offered in this lot, a cover with two 10c stamps and the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval (Sale 911, lot 331) and a single 10c on cover to Rev. Bingham in Ridgefield, Connecticut, also with the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval (Laurence book, p. 286).

Ex Coulter.

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