1890 and 1891 Postal Cards from Maruyama of Sanuki Province

Postmarked May 28, 1890, and November 22, 1891, from Marugame, Sanuki (讃岐丸亀)—now Kagawa Prefecture—are two intriguing postal cards. They were sent by someone named Maruyama (full name unclear) of Marugame Street (讃岐丸亀通~内外) and addressed to Maeda Yoshihiko. Both cards have unreadable messages, leaving their purpose unknown.

One unusual detail is Maruyama’s description of Maeda’s address as "West Railroad Crossing" (踏切西~入). This precise phrasing is unlike anything we’ve encountered before in Maeda’s correspondence. It raises the possibility that he lived near a railroad crossing, though we can only speculate based on a Google Maps image of Maeda’s block today.

neighborhood of Shimo-Yamate-Dori (Kobe) where Maeda Yoshihiko lived

These small details, while puzzling, offer a glimpse into the practical and localized way people addressed mail during the Meiji era. They suggest a time when familiar landmarks guided deliveries instead of formalized street names. It’s a reminder of how differently communication and daily life were organized back then.