Japanese Koban-series 1 sen stamp in green.

Updated August 7, 2026

This is a genuine Japanese Koban-series 1 sen stamp in green.IdentificationCountry: Japan (Japanese Empire)Series: Koban issue (primarily the UPU Koban / New Koban group)Denomination: 1 senColor: Green (to blue-green)Design: Central Imperial chrysanthemum crest, “1” and “SN” in the corners, Japanese characters, and the standard Koban frame. The heavy circular cancel shows parts of “IMPERIAL JAPANESE POST.”Year / Period:This belongs to the 1883 UPU Koban issue (and subsequent printings). Japan released the UPU Koban stamps in 1883 to comply with international color standards, and the 1 sen green was part of that series. These designs continued in use for years afterward.(The earlier Old Koban period of 1876–1879 had different colors for the low values; the green 1 sen with this style is the later UPU/New Koban version.)ConditionUsed with a very heavy, somewhat messy cancel that covers much of the design. Perforations are complete. The stamp shows typical aging and some soiling. The reverse is not shown in detail, but from the front it appears to be a standard used example.ValueCommon used 1 sen green Koban stamps in this condition are low-value.Typical market value: $2 – $8.

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