1853-CENTENNIAL OF OPENING OF JAPAN-1953. A Sheet Of New U.S. Postal Centennial

[Washington D.C. 1953]. A plate block of 4 five-cent stamps unused, with block number, light green ink, with a view of Mt. Fuji in the background, portrait of Perry and his Flag Ships in the bay. As issued, fine condition. R A R E . *** **** *** . . . MINT, UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF . . . THE OPENING OF JAPAN 1853-1956 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE . * A very nice historical set of stamps, showing a portrait of Perry and Mt. Fuji in the background, with two Japanese in the fore-ground and two of Perry's "Black Ships" or steam paddle-wheelers at anchor in Tokyo bay. . Finely engraved work, as small work of art. With a typical Japanese pine tree in the foreground. . Nicely executed, suitable for framing and display. . These mint, unused U.S. postal stamps are now quite RARE & SCARCE. . *** COMMODORE MATTHEW C. PERRY [1794-1858]: . He was an American naval office, who commanded the expedition that established United States relations with Japan. . The brother of Oliver Hazard Perry, he began his naval career as Midshipman at the age of 15. He advanced to lieutenant in 1813 and to Commander in 1826. He supervised the construction of the first naval steamship, the Fulton, and upon its completion in 1837, he took Command with the rank of Captain. . He was promoted to Commodore in 1842. In 1846-47 he commanded the Gulf squadron during the Mexican War. . In 1853, Perry was sent to Japan, a country that had been closed to outsiders since the 17th century. On July 8, he led a squadron of four ships into Tokyo Bay and presented representatives of the Emperor with the texts of a proposed commercial & friendship treaty. . To give the reluctant Japanese court time to consider the offer, he then sailed for China. With an even more powerful fleet, he returned to Japan in February 1854. . The treaty, was signed on March 31, 1854 provided that humane treatment be extended to sailors shipwrecked in Japanese territory, that U.S. ships be permitted to buy coal in Japan, and that the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate be opened to U.S. commerce. . Perry's mission ended Japan's 400 years of self-imposed isolation, a prerequisite for its subsequent development into a modern nation. . Perry died in New York City on March 4, 1858. . *** Color scans are posted to our website. . .