Takanawa Tōgū Palace with Warship and Installation Stamps 1916 - 1921

This vintage Japanese postcard shows the former Takanawa Tōgū Palace (also known as the Takanawa Imperial Residence or East Palace/Tōgū Gosho) in Tokyo. The gate and exterior of the Takanawa estate served as the residence for Crown Prince Hirohito starting in 1913.

Shown at the lower left of this postcard is a 1 1/2-sen Japanese postage stamp, which was one of four definitives, issued on 3 September 1921, to commemorate the return of Crown Prince Hirohito from his tour of Europe. It depicted two Japanese battleships, representing the warships Katori and Kashima used during the royal voyage.

The red 3-sen commemorative postage stamp on the right was issued in 1916 (Taishō 5) for the Enthronement of Crown Prince Hirohito (Rikkaiseirei), featuring a design with an imperial crown or ceremonial hat in red and yellow. It was one in a series issued.

The hand-stamped red postmark  decorative circular cancellation markings reading Kyoto (京都) in traditional kanji. Whereas the hand-stamped purple postmark, with the same central motif of the Imperial Phoenix (Ho-o) paired with stylised clouds, was used to indicate a connection to an important Imperial or state ceremony.