First Japanese Postage Stamp, 48 Mon Dragon

Japan · 1871 · 48 Mon

This is Japan's first postage stamp, issued in 1871. The design features two dragons facing each other, a powerful symbol in Japanese culture, with the denomination '48 Mon' inscribed in the center. The stamp is hand-engraved and printed on native, hand-made laid paper, giving each example a unique character.

Issued at the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, this stamp represents Japan's rapid modernization and the establishment of a national postal system, replacing the centuries-old courier system.