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Item Story & Historical Context
During the Taisho era, official imperial inspections by the Crown Prince—the future Showa Emperor Hirohito—marked pivotal milestones in the modern administration of state institutions. To celebrate the Crown Prince’s official visit to the Ministry of Communications, the central governing body overseeing postal networks, telecommunications, and maritime routes, this lavish commemorative presentation set was officially commissioned and issued.
While surviving postcards from this era occasionally appear, it is exceedingly rare to find one preserved alongside its original, matching presentation wrapper.
The centerpiece of this set is a masterpiece of early 20th-century luxury printing: a dramatic, high-relief embossed red-crowned crane soaring above a monochrome architectural rendering of the grand Ministry of Communications headquarters alongside the canal. In the foreground, an ornate imperial ceremonial drum framed by rich cinnabar-red railing evokes imperial majesty and solemn celebration.
The accompanying historical paper wrapper, crafted from textured mulberry-blend paper, bears classical vertical sumi ink calligraphy reading: “Commemoration of the Crown Prince’s Official Visit to the Ministry of Communications — One Piece.”
Preserved together in pristine, unmailed condition for over a century, this two-piece set offers an authentic, museum-grade time capsule of imperial state ceremony and graphic craft.
Condition & Details
- Type: Complete Imperial Commemorative Set (High-Relief Embossed Postcard + Original Calligraphic Presentation Wrapper)
- Origin/Context: Issued by the Communications Association, Printed by Tokyo Printing Co., Ltd., Taisho Era (c. 1920s)
- Markings:
- Postcard: Top header reading “Commemoration of the Crown Prince’s Official Visit to the Ministry of Communications”; publisher imprints on reverse; domestic 1.5-sen / foreign 4-sen stamp box.
- Wrapper: Vertical sumi brush calligraphy stating “Commemoration of the Crown Prince’s Official Visit to the Ministry of Communications — One Piece.”
- Condition: Exceptional vintage condition. The postcard features crisp, dramatic relief embossing on the crane and rich color pigments on heavy cardstock. The original wrapper exhibits an organic, warm-toned patina and natural fiber texture. Both items are completely unused and remarkably well-preserved.
- Includes: Both the original wrapper and embossed postcard, housed together in archival protective sleeves with rigid backing for safe transit and display.
Shipping & Payment
- Payment: Secure checkout powered by Stripe. All major credit cards accepted.
- Fulfillment: Ships directly from Japan via Japan Post with end-to-end tracking. Every order is dispatched within 3 business days, and your tracking number will be sent directly to your email as soon as it’s on its way.
- Shipping Notice: To ensure maximum care, archival safety, and accurate weight-based insurance for each distinct historical artifact, all items are packaged and shipped individually (no combined shipping available).