10c Yellow (116). L-shaped strip of three with one stamp folded over top edge, tied by Yokohama quartered cork cancels, "Yokohama Japan Nov. 24" (1870) circular datestamp on cover with "United States Consulate at" imprint and manuscript "Yedo, Japan" in distinctive hand also used for address to Mrs. James B. Parke, Buffalo, New York, sender's directive "Per Stm 'Japan'"--carried on the PMSS Japan, departing Yokohama November 25, 1870, and arriving San Francisco December 20--magenta "San Francisco Paid All Dec. 20" circular datestamp on back, stamps have minor gum stains and short perfs, slightly reduced at right and small sealed tear in bottom right edge

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN COVERS FROM JAPAN WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE IMPRINT--ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE TRIPLE-RATE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FRANKING AND YOKOHAMA DATESTAMP.

This cover was sent from Charles O. Shepard, a resident of Buffalo, New York, who served as the first U.S. Consul at Edo (Tokyo), U.S. Consul at Yokohama and Acting Minister (Chargé d'Affaires) in Japan successively from 1868 to 1874. It is addressed to his only daughter, Mary, who was married to James B. Parke and lived in Buffalo in 1870. Shepard's autobiographic account of his time in Japan was published in The American Foreign Service Journal (July 1925, available online).

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 149)--another cover from the same correspondence, with the U.S. Consulate imprint and one 10c 1869 stamp, is shown on page 146.

Ex Dr. LeBow. With 1985 P.F. certificate.

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