1873 Japan Syllabic 2 Wisteria Issue

The 1873 Wisteria Issue represents one of the most visually appealing periods in Japanese philatelic history, combining the Western postage stamp format with distinctly Japanese artistic sensibility. The Syllabic 2 designation refers to the Japanese syllabic character (katakana) printed on the stamps as a control mark, a unique system that allows precise dating and attribution of these early Meiji stamps. For collectors of Asian philately, these stamps occupy a position of genuine historical and aesthetic importance.

The Meiji Era Postal Context

Japan's modern postal system was established in 1871 under the Meiji government, part of the broader westernization of Japanese institutions during the period. The first Japanese stamps, issued in 1871, used traditional Japanese design elements including cherry blossoms and geometric patterns, printed by Japanese methods. The 1872 and 1873 issues continued this development with improved designs and better printing quality.

The 1873 Wisteria Issue takes its name from the wisteria flower motifs incorporated into the ornate border design. The stamps were typographed, showing the influence of Western printing techniques that Japan was actively adopting, combined with specifically Japanese decorative elements.

The Syllabic Control System

The syllabic marking system is what makes early Japanese stamps particularly interesting to philatelists. Japanese postal authorities printed a small Japanese syllabic character (from the katakana syllabary) on each printing plate, allowing them to track which plate was used for any given stamp. The syllabic character appears in a specific location on the stamp design.

"Syllabic 2" refers to the second character in the sequence used to mark the printing plates. Different syllabic numbers indicate different printing plates, and the combinations of plate letters with printing variations allow detailed study of the printing history. This system of documentation gives early Japanese stamps an unusually rich bibliography compared to contemporaneous issues from other countries.

The Wisteria Design

The Wisteria Issue stamps use an elaborate border design incorporating wisteria vines and flowers. The central inscription provides the denomination. The printing is multicolor typograph, with the border and central design using different colors. The overall effect is highly decorative and reflects the Meiji era's negotiation between traditional Japanese aesthetics and Western postal standards.

The stamps were issued in several denominations: 1/2 sen, 1 sen, 2 sen, 4 sen, 6 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, and 30 sen. Each denomination has its own color scheme. The complete set is a significant collecting achievement.

Condition Challenges

Early Japanese stamps present specific condition challenges:

• Perforations on 1870s Japanese stamps are often irregular and can be short at one or more sides

• Paper quality varied between printings, and some show aging, toning, or color fading

• The relatively coarse printing of some values means color irregularity is more common than in contemporaneous European issues

• Used examples with legible Japanese cancellations are both historically interesting and challenging to find in clean condition

Large margins, clean perforations, and bright unfaded color are the key attributes for premium condition stamps from this series.

Values and Market

Early Japanese stamps are collected by a dedicated international community, particularly active in Japan and among serious Asia philatelists globally. Values depend on denomination, condition, and whether the syllabic marking is clear:

Values vary significantly by denomination. Higher denominations (20 sen, 30 sen) are significantly more valuable than lower denominations, while certain color varieties and unusual cancellations command premiums.

Why Collect Early Japanese Stamps

The 1873 Wisteria Issue occupies an interesting position in world philately: it is genuinely old (150 years), visually distinctive, produced under historically momentous circumstances (the rapid modernization of Japan), and documented in detail through the syllabic plate system. For collectors who want early world stamps with a strong historical narrative, early Meiji Japanese issues provide that narrative in abundance.

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