10c Brown (150). Part of original franking with 2c Red Brown (146) and 3c Green (147), tied by cork cancels and "New Haven Ct. Sep. 21" (1873) circular datestamp on cover to Yokohama, Japan, addressed to D. Kitamura, "care of Japanese Post Office, Yokohama" with directive "Via San Fr.", sent by Hara Rokujiro at Yale University, short paid 5c for the double 10c rate to Japan via San Francisco and handstamped with framed "SHORT PAID" marking and red "New York Sep. 22" circular datestamp, manuscript "Due 5" markings, returned to New Haven where an additional 6c postage was paid with 6c Carmine (148), tied by corks cancel, red "New Haven Ct. Sep. 29" circular datestamp, the 21c postage paid the single rate to Japan via North German Union Closed Mail (effective Feb. 1873 to Jun. 1875), red "New York Paid All Oct. 4" circular datestamp, red crayon "14" credit -- there were same-day departures on Oct. 4 by the HAPAG City of Chester and NGL Main, arriving Oct. 13 and 14, respectively -- carried via Bremen in closed mail, Italian TPO "Ala Verona" backstamp (Oct. 16), carried on the P&O Madras, additional backstamps at Brindisi (Oct. 17), Hong Kong (Nov. 26) British P.O. and Yokohama (Dec. 5) British P.O., at Yokohama the cover was put into the inland mail department of the Japanese post office, datestamped Saikyo (Dec. 6), Toyooka (Dec. 6), Japanese character vermilion handstamps "Postage Paid by Addressee" and "Tajima Post Office Yaga", with Japan, 1873, 4s Rose, Native Wove Paper (14a), tied by Tajima Yaga kensazumi handstamp on back, paying double 2s rate, the cover has minor tears and soiling, U.S. stamps have small tears and 2c wrapped around edge, Japanese stamp slightly oxidized

FINE. OBVIOUSLY A UNIQUE COVER AND DESCRIBED BY JAPAN EXPERT FLORIAN EICHORN AS "A NEW FIND AND THE FIRST RECORDED COMPLETE U.S.-JAPAN INBOUND COMBINATION COVER" (2017).

Accompanied by an excerpt of email from Florian Eichorn (Aug. 22, 2017) with detailed description of this cover, which was acquired by the Magnolia collector in a 2017 sale by Japan Stamp Auctions. It is believed this is the first time this cover has been offered in the United States.

From the Magnolia collection.

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