also: たかふだ
noun
official bulletin board (Edo period)
Historical term for a wooden board used by the shogunate or domain to post laws and official notices in public places. Primarily associated with the Edo period.
江戸時代、高札には幕府の法令が掲示されていた。
During the Edo period, shogunate laws were posted on the official bulletin board.
noun
highest bid; highest tender
Used in auctions and bidding contexts. The reading たかふだ is more common for this sense, but こうさつ is also used.
オークションで彼の入札が高札となった。
His bid became the highest bid at the auction.
noun
Only with reading こうさつ
Honorific term used to refer respectfully to someone's letter. Restricted to the reading こうさつ.
先日はご高札を賜り、誠にありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for your letter the other day.
Compound of 高 (high) and 札 (board, tag, or letter). The historical bulletin board sense derives from the practice of posting notices on elevated boards. The highest bid sense comes from the idea of a 'high tag' or 'high card'. The honorific letter sense uses 高 as a respectful prefix.