Nagasaki Kaido

     During the Edo era (1603-1867) the Nagasaki Kaido (highway) was the route used to bring imported products from Nagasaki, the only port open to foreign trade) and Edo, the capital. The stamp shows the location of the highway on what appears to be an old map. There are also four small pictures which show scenes along the Kaido.
     The picture on the first stamp on the left is of Dejima, Nagasaki. The Dejima was an artificial island which was completed in 1836 to house the Portuguese traders, at first, and when they were expelled in 1637, the Dutch.
     The picture on the next stamp shows a small railroad train and several men who appear to be officials. A description of the strip on the internet says that it is Seirenkata, Saga. I have found no information for this stamp.
     The third stamp has a picture of an interchange on the Kyushu Expressway at Tosa. The stamps commemorated the opening of the Kyushu Expressway, which generally follows the Nagasaki Kaido.
     The last stamp has a picture of the Kokura Castle was built by Tadaoki Hosokawa in 1603. The castle was destroyed in 1868 and restored in 1959.
     The stamps are “furusato” stamps issued in 1997 for the Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki Prefectures. The map appears to be old, but it is not identified.

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