1868 Japan Dragon Stamps (48 Mon)

Every nation's philatelic story has a beginning, and for Japan, that beginning is a pair of dragons. The Dragon Stamps of 1871 (often misdated to 1868 in popular listings) represent one of the most significant first issues in all of Asian philately. Featuring an intricate two-color design of paired dragons flanking a central value tablet, the 48 mon denomination stands as the first in a set of four stamps that launched Japan's modern postal system. For collectors, these stamps offer a direct connection to one of the most transformative periods in Japanese history: the Meiji Restoration, when Japan rapidly modernized from a feudal society to an industrial power.

Historical Context: The Meiji Revolution and Postal Modernization

Japan's Dragon Stamps cannot be understood apart from the dramatic political upheaval that created them. In 1868, the Tokugawa shogunate, which had ruled Japan for over 250 years, was overthrown in the Meiji Restoration. The young Emperor Meiji (then just 15 years old) was restored as the head of state, and Japan embarked on an astonishing program of modernization.

The new Meiji government looked to Western nations for models of modern governance, technology, and infrastructure. Among the institutions they sought to emulate was the postal system. Before the Meiji era, Japan's mail system relied on a network of private courier services (hikyaku), some of which dated back centuries. While effective, these services were expensive, inconsistent, and unavailable to ordinary citizens.

In 1870, Baron Maejima Hisoka (later known as the "Father of the Japanese Postal System") was dispatched to study postal systems abroad, particularly in Britain and the United States. His recommendations led to the establishment of Japan's modern postal service in April 1871, with regular mail service initially running between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

The Dragon Design

The first Japanese stamps were issued on April 20, 1871 (Meiji 4, Month 3 in the Japanese calendar). The design featured a pair of dragons facing inward toward a central panel containing the denomination value in Japanese characters. The dragons were rendered in a style drawn from traditional Japanese and Chinese artistic conventions, symbolizing imperial power, strength, and good fortune.

The stamps were produced in a remarkable two-color printing process:

The vignette (dragon design): Printed in color (which varied by denomination), the dragons were produced from etched copper plates.

The value tablet: The central denomination panel was printed in black from a separate plate, requiring careful alignment during the two-pass printing process.

This two-color process was technically ambitious for a newly industrialized nation. The printing was overseen by the government's printing bureau, and the technical quality, while not matching the finest European stamp production of the era, was remarkably competent for a first effort.

The Four Denominations

The 1871 Dragon Stamps were issued in four denominations, reflecting different postal rates:

• 48 mon: The lowest denomination, used for local letters. Printed with dragons in brown or reddish-brown.

• 100 mon: For standard domestic mail. Printed with dragons in blue.

• 200 mon: For heavier or longer-distance mail. Printed with dragons in vermilion/red.

• 500 mon: The highest denomination, for special services. Printed with dragons in green.

The "mon" was a unit of currency in pre-modern Japan, derived from Chinese coinage. It was already being phased out during this period in favor of the yen and sen system introduced in 1871, which means these stamps represent a currency unit that was itself becoming historical even as the stamps were printed.

Why "1868" Appears in Some Listings

The date "1868" frequently appears in descriptions of Japan's Dragon Stamps, but this is technically inaccurate. The stamps were not issued until April 1871. The "1868" date likely refers to the year of the Meiji Restoration itself, which set in motion the chain of events that led to the postal system's creation. Some less rigorous catalogs and dealers conflate the political event with the stamp issue, leading to persistent confusion.

The correct first date of issue is April 20, 1871 (Meiji 4.3.1 in the Japanese calendar). Collectors should be aware of this discrepancy when evaluating listings and descriptions.

Plate Varieties and Printings

The Dragon Stamps were printed from hand-etched copper plates, and each plate contained 40 stamp subjects (arranged in blocks). The 48 mon denomination is known from two distinct plates:

Plate 1: The original plate, used for the first printing. Plate 1 stamps are identifiable by specific characteristics of the dragon design and lettering that differ subtly from Plate 2.

Plate 2: A second plate was prepared to replace Plate 1 as it wore. Plate 2 stamps show slightly different dragon details and can be distinguished by knowledgeable collectors and experts.

Within each plate, individual positions (1 through 40) can sometimes be identified by minute differences in the hand-etched design. This "plating" exercise is one of the great challenges of Japanese philately, and a complete reconstruction of either plate from used or unused examples represents a significant philatelic achievement.

The stamps were printed on two types of paper:

Native wove paper: A Japanese-made paper with a relatively uniform texture.

Native laid paper: A paper showing the characteristic lines from the laid mold used in its manufacture. Laid paper varieties are generally scarcer and more valuable.

Value Guide by Condition

Type / Condition	Estimated Value
48 mon, unused, Plate 1, good margins, native laid paper	$2,000 - $8,000
48 mon, unused, Plate 1, native wove paper	$800 - $3,000
48 mon, unused, Plate 2, native paper	$500 - $2,000
48 mon, used, clear cancel, good margins	$200 - $800
48 mon, used, heavy cancel or cut into design	$50 - $200
48 mon, on cover (used on original letter)	$3,000 - $15,000+
48 mon, forgery or reproduction	$5 - $25
Complete set of four denominations, unused, genuine	$5,000 - $25,000+

Values for the finest examples can be substantially higher. A superb unused 48 mon on laid paper with four clear margins has been valued at over $10,000 in specialized Japanese stamp auctions.

Authentication: What to Look For

Like Afghanistan's Tiger Head stamps, Japan's Dragon Stamps have been extensively forged. However, the higher production quality of the originals (compared to the crude Afghan issues) makes authentication somewhat more systematic.

Paper type. Genuine stamps were printed on specific Japanese papers. The paper should have the appropriate texture, thickness, and (for laid paper) line patterns. Modern papers will not match.

Two-color registration. The alignment between the colored dragon vignette and the black value tablet should show the slight inconsistencies characteristic of two-pass printing. Perfectly registered modern reproductions may actually be too good to be genuine.

Ink chemistry. Under UV light and magnification, genuine printing inks from the 1870s behave differently than modern inks. The black value tablet ink should appear matte rather than glossy.

Design details. Experts have cataloged numerous fine points in the dragon design, from the number of scales to the shape of claws and the pattern of clouds. Reference works (see below) provide detailed illustrations for comparison.

Cancellations. Used stamps should bear cancellations consistent with the Japanese postal system of the 1870s. Early cancels were typically brush-applied in vermilion ink (known as "bota" cancels) and have a distinctive appearance.

The Mihon overprint. Some genuine stamps bear a "Mihon" (specimen) overprint applied by the Postal Ministry. These are genuine stamps marked as samples and carry their own collector value.

Expert Certification

Given the value and forgery risk associated with Dragon Stamps, professional certification is strongly recommended for any significant purchase. Key expertizing services include:

• The Japan Philatelic Expert Committee (JPEC): The gold standard for Japanese stamps

• Philatelic Foundation (New York): Handles Japanese stamps with experienced examiners

• Royal Philatelic Society London: Expert Committee certificates are widely recognized

• APEX (American Philatelic Expertizing Service): Reliable service for Japanese material

A certificate from JPEC is considered definitive for Japanese stamps and significantly enhances both confidence and resale value.

The Collector's Journey

Collecting Japan's Dragon Stamps is a pursuit that rewards deep study. The stamps offer layers of complexity, from plate identification to paper varieties to cancellation types, that can occupy a specialist for decades.

For beginning collectors, the 48 mon denomination offers the most accessible entry point, as it was the lowest denomination and was printed in the largest quantities. Used examples with less-than-perfect margins can be found for a few hundred dollars, providing a genuine piece of Japanese postal history at a moderate price.

Intermediate collectors often pursue a complete set of four denominations, ideally with examples from both plates. This set tells the complete story of Japan's first stamps and makes an impressive presentation.

Advanced collectors focus on plating studies, cover usage, and the acquisition of superb individual stamps with provenance from established collections. The great Japanese stamp collections of the 20th century (including those formed by Japanese industrialists who recognized the stamps' cultural significance) have set benchmarks that today's collectors aspire to match.

Market Outlook

The market for Japan's Dragon Stamps has been consistently strong, supported by several factors:

Japanese collector base. Japan has a large, wealthy, and passionate stamp collecting community. Japanese collectors view the Dragon Stamps as national treasures and compete vigorously for the finest examples.

Limited supply. The stamps are over 150 years old, and the supply of genuine examples in good condition is finite. Each year, attrition (damage, loss, entry into permanent museum collections) reduces the available market supply.

Cultural significance. The Dragon Stamps represent a pivotal moment in Japanese history. They are not merely postage stamps but artifacts of the Meiji Restoration, one of the most remarkable transformations in world history.

Cross-cultural appeal. The beautiful dragon design appeals to collectors worldwide, not just in Japan. The stamps are actively collected in Europe, North America, and throughout Asia.

For investors and collectors alike, Japan's Dragon Stamps represent one of the blue-chip holdings of Asian philately, a classic first issue from a major world nation, with strong demand, limited supply, and deep cultural resonance.

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