This Japanese postal stationery card from 1888 features a pre-printed 1 sen blue Chrysanthemum design, characteristic of the Meiji-era correspondence system. The oval indicium bearing the imperial seal is cleanly struck with a clear cancellation from Osaka (大阪), offering both postal and geographic insight. Printed in a distinct teal hue, the card aligns with the standard design language of the early postal cards issued during the late 1880s. The card is written in classical vertical Japanese script using black ink, densely filling both sides, and appears to be a formal or business-related message. The three circular date cancellations on the address side further confirm active postal circulation and add value for collectors interested in Japanese postal history. The paper is unwatermarked, as was typical for this period, and it bears no gum, as expected for postcards. The cultural and aesthetic value of the Chrysanthemum motif, symbolizing the Japanese Imperial family, lends this card additional significance within Meiji-era ephemera. A fine and evocative example of early Japanese communication. Estimate "$40 – 65"
4o