10c Green (68). Horizontal strip of four, well-centered, rich color, tied by four strikes of quartered cork cancel with duplex "San Francisco Cal. Dec. 23" (1868) circular datestamp on cover from Francis Hall in Yokohama, Japan, to Frank Hall, Elmira, New York, sender's directive "Per P.M..." (Pacific Mail steamer) partly covered by strip--carried on the PMSS Great Republic, departing Yokohama November 29, 1868, and arriving San Francisco December 22--clear strike of pinkish red "China and Japan Steam Service" oval handstamp, slight wrinkling around edges which is evidence of two ounces of enclosures requiring quadruple 10c rate

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 10-CENT 1861 STRIP OF FOUR ON THIS COVER IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EXTANT MULTIPLES OF THE UNITED STATES 1861-68 ISSUE USED FROM JAPAN.

The only comparable 1861-68 Issue frankings from U.S. post offices in China and Japan known to us are found on covers from Shanghai to New York City (four 10c 1861 singles) and Kanagawa-Yokohama to Italy (10c 1861 strip of three and two singles), shown in the Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (pp. 96 and 130, respectively). Covers with large frankings of the 1869 Pictorial and 1870 Bank Note Issues are known.

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 137).

Ex Perlman.

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