2c Black, F. Grill (93). Two, each cancelled by Yokohama "X" chop, stamp at lower left tied on printed Hiogo and Osaka Prices Current and Market Report datelined at Hiogo-Osaka July 24, 1869, imprint "Forwaded [sic] Textor & Co.", addressed to J. B. David in St. Etienne, France, sender's directive "via San Francisco"--carried on the PMSS China, departing Yokohama August 2, 1869, and arriving San Francisco August 19--no United States transit markings applied as this was printed matter, red "15" decimes due handstamp, Paris-to-Clermont (September 8, 1869) and St. Etienne (September 9) backstamps, very fresh and pristine condition

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED COVERS FROM JAPAN WITH 2-CENT BLACK JACK STAMPS PAYING THE PRINTED MATTER RATE AND ONE OF THREE BLACK JACK COVERS FROM JAPAN TO A DESTINATION BEYOND THE UNITED STATES--THIS IS THE ONLY ONE TO FRANCE.

A review of past auctions and The Philatelic Foundation records located only seven 2c Black Jack covers originating in Japan. Two have the "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, and on each the 2c stamp is used with two 10c stamps for the combined 10c steamship rate and 12c treaty rate to England. Two have five 2c stamps paying the 10c rate and the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval (one is offered in lot 2081). Three are printed matter rates with one or two 2c Black Jack stamps, and of the three this is the only one addressed to a destination beyond the United States. It is also one of only three Black Jack covers from Japan to a destination beyond the U.S., and the only one to France. We have not factored the grilled-issue aspect into our statistics.

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 142). This cover appears to have been unknown to American postal historians until it appeared in a Lahitte-Marsanoux auction in Lyon, France, in 2005.

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