This early Japanese postal card, issued in 1879 during the Meiji era, features a finely typographed 1 sen pre-printed stamp in vermilion-red ink. The design includes a chrysanthemum crest flanked by traditional motifs, representing the Imperial family and symbolizing renewal and authority in the rapidly modernizing Japanese state. Printed on buff cardstock with a delicate red border, this card belongs to the very first series of Japanese postal stationery, catalogued as Scott UX1 and Chan JP-PC-1. The card is clearly postmarked with a partial circular datestamp from Osaka, one of the major commercial hubs of the Meiji period. The reverse side bears a bilingual New Year’s greeting written in a mix of classical kanbun (Chinese-style Japanese) and handwritten Japanese script, dated Meiji 12 (1879), February 2nd. The sender, 熊一郎 (Kumaichirō), offers formal seasonal wishes, showing the common use of such postcards for polite and ritual correspondence between businesses and customers. The overall composition—including printed and manuscript elements—illustrates the fusion of tradition and modern communication methods in early Meiji Japan.
Estimate "$90 – 130"