Japanese Stamps Digital Museum

竜文切手 << 1871年(明治4年) 4月20日 >> みほん 1-1-1

Hand carved(Etched) stamps (Doragon Stamps Mon Unit) - Specimen -
Issued on April 20, 1871 (Meiji 4)

Japanese first Stamps Dragon Mon Unit 4 types - Specimen -
Issued on April 20, 1871 (Meiji 4)
Japanese postal system was first established at Asia in 1871, thirty years behind the United Kingdom (1840),when the postal system was first created. At that time, Japan's first postage stamp was issued.

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The above is only true for specimen stamps.
For more information and official printed stamps, see this.
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