This postal card from Meiji-era Japan features the blue 1 sen Chrysanthemum design, issued in the 1890s as part of the early Japanese postcard series standardized for domestic correspondence. The card bears the imperial chrysanthemum crest (菊花紋章) centrally integrated into the ornate oval frame, with "1 SEN" flanking the denomination in both Roman and kanji characters. The printing is executed in finely detailed typographic intaglio, typical of early Meiji postal stationery, and the paper is stiff, uncoated and slightly off-white with no gum as was standard for government-issued cards. The card is postmarked with three circular date stamps, two of which clearly read 大阪 (Osaka), indicating it was cancelled in Osaka, a key commercial hub during the period. The markings are crisp and bold, with additional writing in brush script suggesting either official or formal merchant correspondence. The reverse side is densely filled with fluid, expressive calligraphy, characteristic of Meiji-period written communication, conveying both practical content and an aesthetic balance rooted in Japanese literary tradition. These postal cards were used extensively in the Meiji era for business, personal, and bureaucratic matters, and their design reflects Japan’s efforts to modernize and align with Western postal systems following its accession to the Universal Postal Union in 1877. The fusion of Western postal formality and traditional Japanese artistry makes this a culturally significant and visually compelling object.
Estimate "$45 – 70"