Cherry Blossom 1 Sen Blue, Syllabic 1 ('i')

Japan · 1875 · 1 Sen

This stamp is part of the Cherry Blossom series, one of Japan's earliest and most iconic issues. The design features a central cherry blossom (sakura) surrounded by intricate patterns, with the denomination indicated by Japanese characters. This specific variety is distinguished by the syllabic character 'イ' (i) in the corner, indicating its printing plate position.

Issued during the Meiji period, this stamp represents Japan's modernization and the establishment of a national postal system. The syllabic characters were an early method of plate identification before plate numbers were used.