Rare New Year’s Postmark Error from Tokyo 1889 Morimoto Seizō

On January 1, 1889 (Meiji 22), 森本清蔵 (Morimoto Seizō)—an educator and graduate of both Kobe Normal School and Tokyo Higher Normal School—sent a postcard to Maeda Yoshihiko, a prominent Western-style painter based in Kobe. While seemingly a routine correspondence, this postcard bears a striking postmark error, offering a rare glimpse into the evolving postal system of Meiji-era Japan. In addition, a second name also appears on this card. It looks like 小林月新, but we are not 100%.

The Postmark Anomaly

The postmark, issued from 武蔵東京本郷 (Musashi Tokyo Hongō), displays the date as: 年ニ廿月一 (read right to left). Instead of placing the Meiji year (22) at the top, the month (January, 月一) appears first, followed by the year (廿二, 22)—a clear deviation from protocol. The correct format would have been: 月一年ニ廿. The mistake likely occurred due to New Year’s rush and human oversight.

The sender’s address—Ushigome-ku Yaraicho 26 banchi—and the recipient’s connection to Kobe’s artistic circles add further provenance value, making this postcard a fascinating artifact for postal historians and Meiji-era researchers.

Given the scarcity of such errors, this piece serves as a tangible reminder of a postal system in transition—one where tradition met innovation, occasionally with charming imperfections.