30c Black (154). Used with 2c Red Brown (157) and pair and single of 6c Carmine (148), stamps tied together by Yokohama segmented cork cancels, partly clear "Yokohama Japan Nov. 3" (1871) circular datestamp on legal-size cover to Stuart Eldridge, Chicago, Illinois--carried on PMSS Alaska, departing Yokohama November 3, 1871, arriving San Francisco November 29--"San Francisco Cal. Nov. 30" double-circle datestamp on back, cover reduced about 11/4 inch at left with small edge tear and a piece out of side flap, stamps have some minor gum toning, 2c small scuff at top

FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USE OF THE 30-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE FROM A UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IN JAPAN--THE COMBINATION PAYS THE 5-TIMES 10-CENT RATE.

The United States offices in Japan seem to have been well-supplied with 2c, 6c and 10c stamps, but any of the higher denominations are extremely rare with Japanese markings, on or off cover. This is one of four covers from Japan with a 30c 1870 or 1873 large Bank Note stamp known to us. Three have a Yokohama datestamp (other two ex Ishikawa U.S.P.O. in Japan, lots 58 and 64). The fourth has a "United States Naval Depot Nagasaki" imprint on the large-size envelope, but no datestamp (Sale 845, lot 650).

Ex Ainsworth.

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