Japan 1871 500 Mon Inverted Center Dragon

Japan · 1871 · 500 Mon

This stamp is part of Japan's first definitive series, known as the Dragon series. It features a stylized dragon at its center, a powerful symbol in Japanese culture, surrounded by an ornate frame. This particular stamp is a famous error variety where the central dragon vignette was printed upside down in relation to the frame.

Issued during the Meiji Restoration, this stamp represents Japan's rapid modernization and the establishment of a national postal system. The inverted center error is one of the most significant rarities in Japanese philately.