Three stamp issues have paid tribute to Commodore Perry on the occasion of the centenary of the opening of Japan to foreign traders. The United States issued a single 5 cents stamp; the Ryukus Islands have brought out two and a commemorative set of four stamps comes from Yokasuka City, Japan. In 1638 Japanese ports were closed to the majority of foreign vessels except those from China and a few from Holland. Japanese oceangoing junks were kept in home waters and the construction of further craft of this type was stopped. For over two centuries Japan remained isolated but in 1852 the United States attempted to break the embargo. Commodore Matthew C. Perry, U.S.N., was chosen as an envoy and given command of a fleet of four ships— the USS. Susquehanna, Mississippi, Saratoga and the Plymouth. The fleet anchored off the town of Uraga, 27 miles from Yeddo, now Tokio. On July 13, 1853, after several days of negotiating, a letter from President Fillmore of the United States was eventually delivered to the ruler of Japan. As a result, on March 31, 1854, a draft treaty was signed and Japan once again was open to foreign ships and resumed trade across the seas. Each of the three stamps carries an inset portrait of Commodore Perry and his ships.
USS. Susquehanna was the Flag-ship. A barque-rigged paddle steamer, she was built at the Phila¬delphia Navy Yard, where she was launched in April 1850. She was 250ft. in length .with a beam of 45f t. and had a displacement of 3,284 tons at her load draft of 19%ft. Armed with three 8in. and six 32-pounder guns, she was the first American steam warship to make a cruise around the world. The U.S.S. Mississippi was also built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was launched on May 6, 1841. She was completed the following year. A steam frigate, her dimensions were 229ft. x 40ft. x 1911. with a displacement of 3,220 tons and she had an armament of two loin, and eight 8in. shell guns. The third vessel, the Saratoga, was a sloop-of-war, built at Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Navy Yard and launched in 1842. She was 146.4ft in length and had a moulded beam of 35.5ft. and a tonnage of 882. She carried 18 32-pounders, four 8-in shell guns and others. She was broken up in 1907 after being used as a cadet ship for many years.
Also a sloop-of-war, the Plymouth was considered to be the finest ship in her class of any navy when she was commissioned. Laid down at the Boston Navy Yard in 1843, she was completed the following year. She was 147ft. between perpendiculars with a moulded beam of 37.3ft. and a tonnage of 889., She carried 18 medium 32-pounder and four 8-in. shell guns. Her career came to an abrupt end on April 20, 1861, when she was set on fire during the burning of the Norfolk Navy Yard. It is a simple matter to distinguish the Mississippi and the Susquehanna on the two stamps as the artist has plainly shown (and correctly) the funnel of the Mississippi set abaft and that of the Susquehanna forward of the paddle-boxes.
SG1018 Sea Breezes 12/53