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2nd OPIUM WAR - SHIP-TO-SHIP MAIL FROM THE CAPTAIN OF THE FLAGSHIP "H.M.S. CALCUTTA"; 1857/58 group of envs. & letters (8; incl. 3 without envs. or wrapper) addressed to Capt. Hon. G. Cochrane on "H.M.S. Niger" which was with the British Fleet blockading the Chinese ports at the time, all sent by Naval messengers (and so without postal marks), written and signed by "W. King Hall" who was the Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta in 1856/59 (this ship was the Flagship of the British fleet in China throughout the period). A difficult hand to read but with some good contents; one with types transcript about naval tactics, Chinese Prisoners, the Battle of Fatshan Creek, etc., etc. Rare ship-to-ship mail sent during the conflict. (8 items) PHOTO - see page no. £500
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2nd OPIUM WAR - SHIP-TO-SHIP MAIL TO THE CAPTAIN OF "H.M.S. NIGER" AT HONG KONG OR AT SEA; 1856/58 lot inc. group of envs. & letters (6; incl. 2 without envs.) addressed to Capt. Hon. G. Cochrane on "H.M.S. Niger" which was with the British Fleet blockading the Chinese ports at the time, all sent by Naval messengers (and so without postal marks), written and signed by various fellow-officers or friends with 23 Oct. 1857 env. (dusting) with GB 6d Lilac (some faults) ex London to the ship at "River Canton, China", 3 envs. with letters with full transcripts (25 June 1856 ex Barometer makers in London, 22 Jan. 1857? ex HMS Calcutta & 22 Feb. 1858 ex HMS Esk's Captain at "HK" ref. problems in Canton), and 18 July 1857 letter (no env.) ex HMS Calcutta ref. Gun boats and with mention of the Indian Mutiny slaughter at Cawnpore. Some difficult hands to read but with some good contents. Plus 4 related documents (2 1857 HK Wine merchant invoices, Prize Money list & manuscript Cantonese phrase-book sheet. Rare ship-to-ship mail sent during the conflict, etc. (13 items) PHOTO - see page no. £500
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OPIUM TRADE MAIL TO (CROWNED CIRCLE) OR FROM INDIA (1a BROWN FRANKINGS) WITH COMMENT ON THE "TREATY"; 10 Sept. 1858 env. (ink-etching affects address & some toning; contents mention "...the dealers, very few of whom have as yet returned to Canton...The Commissioners appointed to meet Lord Elgin at Shanghai to arrange the details of the Treaty had not by last accounts reached that port...") to Bombay "Per [Ship] Pekin" with mainly fine red small 3rd-Type "PAID/AT/HONG KONG" Crowned Circle; plus 3 fine Feb./Dec. 1858 ELs from Calcutta to Heard & Co. in HK (ref. Opium prices/shipments) by named ships each with India 1 Brown tied by "B/1" octagon. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £300
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EARLY USAGE "PAID" C.D.S. ON 1s-2d RATE 'MARKHAM' COVER TO U.S.A. VIA G.B.; 21 May 1859 env. (initialled "J.M.", John Markham - probably from Shanghai where he was British Consul at this date - opened out) to Wisconsin with a red crayon "1/2" rate beside a mainly very fine small red "HONG KONG/C/PAID" c.d.s. (Webb Type 14, 1st month of use recorded by Webb) on the front with offset (only) of London transit c.d.s. (19 July) on reverse with v. fine small HK c.d.s.; charged "5" with manuscript "16" Accountancy Marking (? carried by US ship from GB so 16c due to US). PHOTO - see page no. £140
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PHILIPPINES COVER TO G.B. VIA "HONG KONG" (PAID C.D.S.) & FRANCE; 8 Dec. 1859 E from "RUSSELL & STURGIS/MANILA" (double-oval red sender's cachet on front) to London "Via Marseilles" posted in HK with s red crayon "1/-" rate and a mainly very fine small red "HONG-KONG/C/PAID" c.d.s. (Webb Type 14, 14 Dec.; filing crease) on the front with London arrival c.d.s. (30 Jan.). Attractive. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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"VIA SOUTHAMPTON" 6d-RATE COVER TO G.B. WITH LARGE "PAID" "HONG KONG/PAID" C.D.S. (WEBB 14a); 14 Dec. 1859 env. to Essex "Via Southampton" and so with red crayon "6[d]" rate beside a mainly very fine Webb Type 14a "HONG KONG/PAID" c.d.s. with v. fine blue backstamps of HK and Colchester (4 Feb.). Attractive. PHOTO - see page no. £120
| HONG KONG 1860s PRESTAMP MAIL | |
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SMALL "HONG KONG/PAID" C.D.S. ON 1s-10d RATE COVER TO SPAIN VIA GIBRALTAR FORWARDING AGENT; 14 Jan. 1860 EL (minor toning) from HK to "Cadiz care of Sr. Dr. Jaime Barbaro Esq., Gibraltar" with red crayon "1/10" rate beside a very fine red "HONG KONG/C/PAID" c.d.s. (Webb 14) having a fine blue "GIBRALTAR" arrival c.d.s. (29 Feb.) alongside. Attractive cover to this unusual Gibraltar-routed destination. PHOTO - see page no. £140
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RARE USE OF SMALL "HONG KONG/C" C.D.S. IN RED IN ERROR FOR "PAID" C.D.S. ON COVER TO SPAIN; 14 Feb. 1860 EL from HK to "Cadiz" separately endorsed "via Gibraltar" without any Agent's name, with red crayon "1/10" rate beside a very fine red "HONG KONG/C" c.d.s. (Webb 13a) - very rare in this colour and clearly struck in error for the similar "PAID" c.d.s. (which is known used on this very date; see included photo) having a mainly very fine blue "GIBRALTAR" arrival c.d.s. (28 Mar.) alongside; there is also a very fine black "HONG KONG/C" c.d.s. (but Webb Type 13) on the flap. Attractive cover to this unusual Gibraltar-routed destination, and possibly a Unique Red Usage of the ordinary Hong Kong c.d.s. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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UNPAID 1s-8d RATE COVER TO U.S.A. VIA FRANCE & G.B. ROUTE; 9 Mar. 1861 env. (minor toning; red collector's mark foolishly applied to the front) to N. Chatham (Mass.) routed "via Marseilles" and so with black "1/8d" charge and matching "1" (1d due to HK for inland postage), having a fine red London backstamp (26 Apr.) and also - on the front - a black "40/CENTS" mark (due to GB from the US) overstruck by a fine "NEW YORK/.BR. PKT" c.d.s. (9 May) with the final h.s. "45[c]" arrival charge-mark. Plus 5 Dec. 1864 letter (no env.) from HK ref. life in Amoy, etc. (2 items) PHOTO - see page no. £120
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UNPAID COVER TO FRANCE WITH HONG KONG BLUE DIAMOND-FRAMED "GB/1F624/10c" ACCOUNTANCY MARK; 10 Aug. 1862 EL from Hong Kong to Paris with mainly very fine rare blue diamond-framed "GB/1F624/10c" Hong Kong Accountancy Marking on the front matching a very fine small blue "HONG KONG/C" c.d.s. on the flap, also having a very fine h.s. "18 [decimes]" arrival charge-mark on the front with a mainly fine red 2-ring French "POSS. ANG. V SUEZ/A MARSEILLE D" c.d.s. Rare use of this elusive Hong Kong diamond marking. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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PHILIPPINES COVER POSTED FROM HONG KONG WITH "PAID" C.D.S. TO SHANGHAI; 18 Apr. 1864 stampless env. (with contents; part flap lost) from "Manila" prepaid "4" (in crayon) to "Shanghae, China" (part blue arrival c.d.s. on flap) with red "HONG KONG/C/AP 27/64/PAID" c.d.s. on the front; unusual destination for mail from the Philippines at this early date. The use of stamps on mail from Hong Kong to the Treaty Ports was not compulsory until 1865. [Ex Cavendish Jan. 2004 auction, lot 153; realised £460.] PHOTO - see page no. £400
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SUPERB SCARCE DIAMOND-FRAMED HONG KONG "GB/1F66c" ACCOUNTANCY MARK ON COVER TO FRANCE; Fine 27 Sept. 1867 EL from Hong Kong to Rheims "a Marseille" with a superb black diamond-framed "GB/1F66c" Hong Kong Accountancy Mark nicely placed on the front matching the equally clear HK c.d.s. on the flap; there is also a mainly fine red French 2-ring "POS. AN. V SUEZ/P/ AN. A MAR..." c.d.s. (crease) with h.s. "10[decimes]" arrival charge-mark (crease) on the front. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £200
| HONG KONG 1860s STAMPED MAIL | |
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RARE "B56" MAILBOAT NUMERAL CANCEL ON G.B. 4d+6d COVER TO G.B. VIA FRANCE; [Sept.?] 1865 env. (minor edge stains) - thought to be from H.M.S. Pelorus [see enclosed 1994 letter from Fred Stubens] - to Devon endorsed "Officers Letter via Marseilles" with G.B. Small Letters 6d Lilac + 4d Vermilion (latter with faults) tied together by a single mainly very fine rare "B56" Numeral with tiny Hong Kong manuscript "1" (1d credit to HK P.O.) alongside; there is a Plymouth backstamp of 11 Nov. 1856. The "B56" Numeral was used on board the P&O Mediterranean steamer that carried this cover from Alexandria to Marseilles (probably the SS Syria). HMS Pelorus was engaged in fighting Chinese pirates along the Chinese coast at this date. [Ex Bill Scawin, Cavendish Jan. 1998.] PHOTO - see page no. £500
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32c-RATE COVER TO G.B. VIA FRANCE WITH 30c ORANGE + 2c BROWN TIED BY "B62" NUMERALS; 30 Dec. 1865 env. (overall dusting) to London "Via Marseilles" with 30c Orange + 2c Brown tied by partly fine "B62" Numerals with matching HK backstamps; there is a red manuscript "1" and "1/3" accounting on the front (1s-3d from the 1s-4d equivalent due to GB) along with a very fine London c.d.s. (13 Feb.). Early example of this rate. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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UNDERPAID 54c-RATE COVER TO U.S.A. VIA FRANCE & G.B. WITH 44c FRANKING & HK "INSUFFICIENTLY-PREPAID"; Attractive 14/15 Jan. 1866 EL from George Heard (mainly fine large red double-oval FAC of his firm, "AUGUSTINE HEARD & Co./HONG KONG" on flap) to Boston (Mass.) "Via Marseilles" with 18c Lilac (2) + 8c Pale Orange all tied/cancelled by fine matching fine "B62" Numerals, but also having a very fine Hong Kong "INSUFFICIENTLY-PREPAID [41/2]" mark (Webb Type Mii; issued Dec. 1864) on the front with red crayon "1/10" and "1" with superb red London transit "PAID" c.d.s. (27 Feb. 1866); even though the 44c prepaid rate was for the slower Southampton route, the 41/2d charge was apparently not collected and the letter still travelled via France. There is a very fine "BOSTON AM. PKT./21" arrival charge d.s. (12 Mar.) on the front. Remarkable underpaid cover and an attractive franking. PHOTO - see page no. £400
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54c-RATE COVER TO U.S.A. VIA FRANCE & G.B. WITH 48c RED + 6c LILAC & BLACK "B62" NUMERALS; Attractive 11 Aug. 1866 EL from Heard & Co. (with their very fine large red double-oval FAC "AUGUSTINE HEARD & Co./HONG KONG" on flap) to Boston (Mass.) "Via Marseilles" with 48c Red + 6c Lilac tied/cancelled by very fine matching black "B62" Numerals with matching backstamp, also having red crayon "1" (credit to HK) + "2/11/2" on the front with red "5/CENTS" (credit to US) plus London (28 Sept.) and "BOSTON BR. PKT./PAID" (12 Oct.) c.d.s.'s. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £500
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54c-RATE COVER TO U.S.A. VIA FRANCE & G.B. WITH 48c RED + 6c LILAC & BLACK "B62" NUMERALS; Attractive 26 Sept. 1866 E from Heard & Co. (with their mainly very fine large red double-oval FAC "AUGUSTINE HEARD & Co./HONG KONG" on flap) to Boston (Mass.) "Via Marseilles" with 48c Red + 6c Lilac (light crease) tied/cancelled by very fine matching black "B62" Numerals with matching backstamp, also having red crayon "1" (credit to HK) + "2/11/2" on the front with red "21/CENTS" (credit to US) plus London (12 Nov.) and "BOSTON AM. PKT./PAID" (26 Nov.) c.d.s.'s. Exhibition Quality and a fine match for the previous lot showing the different credits for GB/US ships. PHOTO - see page no. £400
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SINGLE FRANKING 8c-RATE "B62" COVER WITH 8c ORANGE BY NAMED SHIP TO INDIA; 5 Nov. 1867 env. (toned) to Bombay "Pr [Ship] Ellora" with 8c Orange (wrinkle; wing margin) tied by a mainly very fine black "B62" Numeral with matching HK c.d.s. on reverse overstruck by Bombay c.d.s. (1 Dec.). PHOTO - see page no. £100
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RARE 32c-RATE COVER TO G.B. VIA FRANCE EX PHILIPPINES - 8c ORANGE + 24c GREEN & BLUE "B62" NUMERALS; 5 Dec. 1867 EL (minor tone-spots) from "Manila" to Saddleworth with Hong Kong 1863-71 8c Orange + 24c Green both tied by very fine blue "B62" Numerals matching the very fine blue "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. across the join on the reverse; on the front there are also the sender's very fine private marks "STAMPED BY/KERR & CO./MANILA" and boxed "Overland via Marseilles" showing that the Manila merchants kept their own stocks of HK stamps. Rare Philippines origin at this early date and of Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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8c-RATE COVER TO INDIA WITH 4c GREY PAIR & BLACK "B62" NUMERALS; Attractive 9 July 1868 env. (with contents ref. opium trade; minor edge wear) from HK to Bombay "Per [Ship] Delhi" with 4c Grey Vertical Pair just tied by mainly very fine "B62" Numerals, one also tied by the red crayon "4" (sterling equivalent of the 8c franking) with partly fine HK backstamp and red Bombay arrival c.d.s.(9 Aug.). PHOTO - see page no. £150
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16c-RATE COVER TO INDIA BY NAMED SHIP WITH 12c BLUE + 4c GREY & BLACK "B62" NUMERALS; Attractive 6 Aug. 1868 env. (minor edge wear; pencil note "Ex Shanghai" but no evidence for this) "Per [Ship] Malacca" to Bombay with 12c Blue + 4c Grey (latter with corner scuff) both tied by very fine black "B62" Numerals matching the HK c.d.s across the flap on the reverse beside a very fine red Bombay arrival c.d.s. (31 Aug.). Unusual franking for this double rate. PHOTO - see page no. £240
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8c-RATE COVER TO INDIA WITH 4c GREY (2) & BLACK "B62" NUMERALS; 28 Apr. 1869 env. (toned, some ink-etching, etc. & opened out) from HK to Bombay "Per Steamer China" with 4c Grey (2) tied by partly fine "B62" Numerals also having red ink "4" (sterling equivalent of the 8c franking) alongside; there are mainly very fine HK and fair red Bombay (23 May) backstamps. With fine modern print of a painting of the 'China'. PHOTO - see page no. £140
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RARE 8c-RATE COVER TO SWATOW WITH UNUSUAL 2c BROWN (2) + 4c GREY FRANKING & BLACK "B62" CANCELS; Attractive 7 June 1869 env. (opened out for display) to "Swatow" endorsed "Per [Ship] Kwang Hong(?)" with 2c Brown (2) + 4c Grey franking (slightly overlapped) all tied to each other by very fine black "B62" Numerals matching the fair HK backstamp beside a very fine sender's blue oval "FORWARDED BY/SMITH ARCHER & Co. HONG KONG" cachet (matching the red wax "ASA & Co" seal); there is also a red ink "4" (sterling equivalent of the 8c rate) and a faint black "A/SWATOW" (straight name) c.d.s. on the front. Exceptional destination for a stamped cover from Hong Kong at this early date. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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SINGLE FRANKING 8c-RATE "B62" COVER WITH 8c ORANGE BY NAMED SHIP TO INDIA; 15 Nov. 1869 EL to Bombay "Pr [Ship] Rangoon" with 8c Orange tied by a mainly very fine black "B62" Numeral with matching HK c.d.s. on reverse alongside red Bombay c.d.s. (1 Dec.). Good contents (full transcript) ref. opium prices/trade, etc. Attractive. PHOTO - see page no. £150
| HONG KONG MAIL, 1870-89. | |
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EXCEPTIONAL SOLDIER's 10c CONCESSION RATE COVER WITH RARE RED OVAL "REGISTERED/HONG KONG" D.S. TO G.B.; Very colourful 21 Mar. 1870 env. in very fine condition addressed to the sender's wife near Lutterworth in G.B., headed & countersigned for a "Staff Sergeant J.F. Pegg" by a Royal Artillery Lieutenant "For C[ommander] R[oyal] A[rtillery] in China"; franked most attractively by 1863-71 2c brown and 8c orange each centrally cancelled by a very fine "B62" numeral but both also tied by a light "REGISTERED/LONDON" oval d.s. (6 May) with a very fine rare red oval "REGISTERED/HONG KONG" d.s. alongside and a red crayon "5[d]" (sterling equivalent of the 10c franking). The postal rate consisted of the Soldier's Concession Rate of only 2c plus the normal 8c registration fee. Only two other Registered Hong Kong Concession Rate covers are known (both from this correspondence, one of which - without a fully convincing tie - was in the Gerald Sattin collection) and this is one of only a handful of Registered Concession Rate covers recorded from any country and from any period (there were no examples in the Willcocks Collection). Important Exhibition Centre-piece. [With copy of Oct. 2001 BPA Certificate; ex Vivien Sussex, Cavendish Mar. 2002 auction, lot 344, illustrated on the front cover of that catalogue; realised £5,290.] One of the most Important Hong Kong QV covers extant. PHOTO - see page no. £5,000
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RARE 8c-RATE SINGLE FRANKING (8c ORANGE) COVER TO SAIGON (FRENCH INDO-CHINA) WITH "B62" NUMERAL; Attractive 4 Nov. 1871 env. ("CARLOWITZ & Co. CHINA" imprint on reverse; small corner repair & part flap lost) from Hong Kong to a French ship Captain ("Capitaine du Jacques Securin" at Saigon endorsed "Par [Ship] Alex Lavallez" with 8c Orange tied by a very fine black "B62" Numeral with red ink "4[d]" (sterling equivalent of the 8c rate) along with a very fine black h.s. "4" [decimes] delivery charge-mark that matches the overstruck 2-ring "COCHIN CHINE/SAIGON" c.d.s. on the reverse. Exceptional destination at this date. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page no. £240
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TRANS-PACIFIC 8c ORANGE SINGLE-FRANKING COVER TO U.S.A. BY NAMED SHIP; 27 May 1874 env. (ink mark behind stamp at top corner) to "Bristol County" (Mass.) "P. Pacific Mail St[eame]r. Alaska" with 8c Orange tied by a mainly fine black "B62" Numeral, lovely strike of the red "HONG KONG/PAID ALL" c.d.s. on the front alongside a 28 June San Francisco transit c.d.s. Plus later PPC of the ship. (2 items) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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12c-RATE COVERS (DIFFERENT FRANKINGS) TO AUSTRALIA OR TO U.S.A. VIA PACIFIC; 3 Apr. 1877 env. (stained and with faults) to Melbourne by "Bowen (S.S.) via Torres Straits" with 6c Lilacs (2; faults) tied by very fine black "B62" Numerals with v. fine HK c.d.s. alongside and Melbourne backstamp (3 May); plus 23 Mar. 1881 env. (slight stains) to "Medfield, Mass." endorsed "Pr Str. Oceanic" with 10c Lilac + 2c Brown tied by poor black "B62" Numerals having a San Francisco transit backstamp (17 Apr.). Scarce pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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VERY RARE RED "R" IN CIRCLE WITH UNRECORDED RED "VIA BRINDISI" ON COVER REGISTERED TO GERMANY; Attractive 20 Feb. 1883 env. ("CARLOWITZ & Co./HONG KONG" flap imprint) "Registered" to Magdeburg with three 10c Lilacs (perfins) just tied by very light "B62" Numerals or (for one stamp) by crossed manuscript lines, also having a matching very fine HK c.d.s. alongside with a very rare Hong Kong "R" in circle (Webb had only recorded a single example in this colour, dated 30 April 1880) and a matching red handstruck "VIA BRINDISI" mark (not recorded by Webb); there is a fine German arrival c.d.s. (27 Mar.). Exceptional and Important item. PHOTO - see page no. £750
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UNRECORDED "O.H.M.S." OVERPRINT ON BOTANIC GARDENS USAGE 3c BROWN POSTCARD TO G.B., ETC.; Remarkable commercial 10 Sept. 1886 usage of the 3c Brown Hong Kong Postal Stationery PC (minor toning) with "O.H.M.S." overprint above the U.P.U. heading to the Kew Gardens Director in G.B. from "BOTANIC GARDENS, HONGKONG" without HK postal marks but with the stamp cancelled by handstruck signature of "R.G.W. Herbert" - who was in the Colonial Office in London at this date, which suggests that the card was Missent to the Colonial Office where he applied his G.B. authorising signature, and having a superb London arrival Squared Circle (19 Oct.) on the address side. Unique; no other OHMS Overprinted UPU card has been recorded. Plus normal commercial 12/13 Mar. 1883 usage of the same PC but without overprint from "Fatshan, Canton" to London cancelled by a very fine "HONG KONG" c.d.s. with red London arrival c.d.s. Good pair. (2 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £300
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RARE "62B" CANCEL ON 10c-RATE COVER TO AFRICA WITH BLUE "WIELER & Co." F.A.C.; Very fine 3 July 1884 env. to "Cape Town, Cape Colony" endorsed "Via England" (but with no GB marks) with 10c Green tied by a light but readily recognisable large barred "62B" Special Purposes Numeral with a superb small "HONG.KONG" c.d.s. alongside as well as a very fine blue oval-framed (unrecorded by Webb) "FORWARDED/BY/WIELER & Co./HONG KONG" cachet also on the front; there are backstamps of "PORT/ELIZABETH" (6 Oct.) & "CAPE TOWN/CAPE COLONY" (8 Oct.). Doubly rare; a most unusual destination and probably the only recorded "62B" cover to Africa. Webb recorded "less than a dozen" 62B covers. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £500
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THE RARE "PAID" IN CIRCLE MARK (WEBB TYPE X) ON O.H.M.S. COVER TO INDIA; Long 11 May 1885 env. (minor staining & edge wear) to Lahore with "O.H.M.S./Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong" imprint having a very fine red "PAID" in circle (partly affected by a contemporary ink mark) beside a very fine small black "HONG.KONG" c.d.s. with varied Lahore/Calcutta backstamps but endorsed "Unclaimed" in red on the front. This rare PAID mark may have been intended for OHMS and/or bulk printed matter mailings but it is recorded from 1882 to 1902 but only seven covers including this one had been recorded in a 1984 HKSC census (copy included). One of Hong Kong's rarest P.O. markings. PHOTO - see next no. £200
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VERY RARE "62B" NUMERAL ON 5c-RATE COVER TO NAGASAKI WITH 5c BLUE SINGLE-FRANKING; Fine and attractive rice-paper 23 Sept. 1887 env. to "Nagasaki" with 5c Blue tied by a mainly very fine rare "62B" Numeral and by part of the very fine matching "HONG.KONG/B" c.d.s.; there is a 25 Sept. "NAGASAKI/JAPAN". Webb recorded "less than a dozen" covers with this rare Special Purposes Numeral cancellation, and this usage to Japan may be unique. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £750
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"B62" NUMERAL ON 20c-RATE COVER TO NAGASAKI WITH 10c GREEN (2) FRANKING; Rice-paper 9 Sept. 1887 env. (some stains and edge faults all well clear of the stamps and markings) to "Nagasaki" with 10c Green (2) tied by very fine normal "B62" Numerals with a very fine matching "HONG.KONG" c.d.s. alongside; there is a 15 Sept. "NAGASAKI/JAPAN" c.d.s. backstamp. Good pair to the "62B" cover in the previous lot. PHOTO - see page no. £140
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8c-RATE COVER TO U.S.A. "VIA SAN FRANCISCO/& OVERLAND" EX PHILIPPINES WITH 8c ORANGE; Oct. 1887 env. (slight opening tears at foot) from "RUSSELL & STURGIS/* MANILA *" (firm's double-oval cachet on the front) to Boston with Hong Kong 8c Orange tied by mainly fine black "B62" Numeral with a fir red "HONG KONG/PAID/ALL" c.d.s. (13 Oct.) alongside also having sender's very fine private "PR. P.M.S.S. COY./VIA SAN FRANCISCO./& OVERLAND" mark on the front; the Manila merchants kept their own stocks of HK stamps. Rare and attractive Philippines origin cover. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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POSTAL STATIONERY CARD USAGES INC. RARE "HONG.KONG/TOO LATE" C.D.S., ETC.; 1883/89 commercial trio with fine 19 Dec. 1888 usage of the 3c Brown PC (old mount remainders on back; small closed tear at top) to USA cancelled by small HK c.d.s. but with a very fine rare "HONG.KONG/C/TOO LATE" c.d.s. also on the address side, 17 Apr. 1883 usage of the 3c Brown PC to Germany, and 31 Oct. 1889 usage of the 1c Green PC to "CANTON" (v. fine "A"-code arrival c.d.s. on reverse. Good trio; the Too Late item of Exhibition Quality. (3 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £300
| HONG KONG MAIL, 1890-99. | |
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POSTAL STATIONERY CARD USAGES - TO BATAVIA, HOLLAND, CANTON, HUNGARY & GERMANY; 1891-99 lot inc. 1891 3c Brown PC (message ref. postage stamps; light stains) from "Money Order Office, GPO, HK" to a P.O. official at "Batavia" redirected locally with faint "N.I. AGENT SINGAPORE" transit c.d.s., fine 1895 1c Green to "CANTON" (fine *-code c.d.s. on back), and 1897/8 4c Grey PCs (4) to Hungary (ex "H.M. Naval Yard, HK"), Holland or Germany. Good group all with HK c.d.s. cancels. (6 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £140
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POSTAL STATIONERY 1c GREEN POSTCARD COMMERCIAL USAGES TO JAPAN, MACAU, PAKHOI OR CANTON; Mainly very fine 1890/5 lot with 20 Jan. 1890 to Canton cancelled both by HK c.d.s. and - most unusually at this late date - also by a fine worn "B62" Numeral, 29 July 1890 to "Pakhoi", 6 Jan. 1891 to Nagasaki (same addressee as the "62B" cover above) and 23 Oct. 1895 to Macao (v. fine Portuguese P.O. backstamp). Good group. (4 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £120
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ROYAL ENGINEERS SOLDIER's 4c CONCESSION RATE COVER TO G.B.; 11 Aug. 1890 env. (overall dusting and wear; small repair at top right corner) headed and countersigned for the Soldier's Concession Rate to G.B. with a Pair of 2c Reds (one with ink stain) tied by mainly fine large "B62" Numerals with a faint HK c.d.s. alongside. This 4c rate was the equivalent of the scarce 2d Concession Rate. Rare in any condition. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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SINGLE FRANKING SURCHARGE 7c ON 10c GREEN OR 20c ON 30c GREY PAIR OF COVERS TO EUROPE; 11 Mar. 1891 env. (slight toning) to Germany "Per French Mail" with 7c on 10c Green tied by a fair worn "B62" Numeral; plus fine 20 Nov. 1893 env. (HK Hotel Co. imprint on front) to Zurich with 20c on 30c Grey tied by a fine HK c.d.s. Scarce pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £160
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RARE 2-RING "CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" D.S. ON 20c-RATE COVER FROM "CUSTOM HOUSE" TO GERMANY; Remarkable 16 Jan. 1892 env. (embossed oval "CUSTOM HOUSE/KOWLOON" flap; slightly reduced at top) to Hanover "Per N.D.L. Str. Stuttgart" (rare named German ship annotation) with Hong Kong 14c on 30c Lilac (scarce on cover) plus three 2c Reds all tied by two fine large scarce 2-ring "CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" datestamps overstruck in transit by mainly very fine "B62" Numerals (late usage) matching the partial 16 Jan. "HONG.KONG" c.d.s. alongside; there is a 17 Feb. Hanover backstamp. Clearly sent by an Official of the Customs at Kowloon and so not needing separate Chinese franking as an Official cover. Also a very early use - possibly the earliest known? - of this Kowloon mark which Webb (p.206, footnote) only records from 1893. Colourful and Important Exhibition Piece. PHOTO - see page no. £500
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14c-RATE (REGISTERED) & 20c-RATE (VIA C.P.S.S.) COVERS TO G.B. OR U.S.A.; 10 May 1894 env. regd. to GB "Pr English Mail" with Hong Kong 5c Blue (2) + 2c Red (2) tied by Hong Kong c.d.s.'s with mainly very fine matching Hong Kong black "R" in circle alongside; plus 25 Nov. 1895 env. to New York endorsed "Per Empress of India" with 5c Blue Strip of Four tied by fair HK c.d.s.'s. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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RARE RED "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" 2-RING D.S. ON 4c ON 3c POSTCARD FROM HONG KONG; Fine 10 Apr. 1895 usage of the Hong Kong Postal Stationery 4c on 3c Brown PC from "Hong Kong" to "tientsin" cancelled by a very fine HK c.d.s. but also having a partly fine rare red 2-ring "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" c.d.s. on the front and a British P.O. "SHANGHAE" c.d.s. (15 Apr.) on the back. Only Tientsin is recorded as having used its Customs c.d.s. in red, and few examples are known; it is thought that the colour was sued as a kind of "Free Delivery" mark for mail that did not require Chinese postage (such as mail to Customs officials). Rare usage. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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COMMERCIAL COVERS AT 80c-RATE (REGD. TO U.S.) OR 10c-RATE (TO G.B.); 4 Jan. 1896 env. (minor faults) to New York with Hong Kong P.O. "R" in circle and private purple "[Per] CITY OF RIO" mark franked for the 80c rate with scarce "20 CENTS" o.p. 30c Grey-Green Vertical Strip of Three with 10c Purple on Red (2) all tied by mainly fine HK c.d.s.'s; remarkable franking. Plus 27 Feb. 1896 env. to London with private purple "PER ENGLISH MAIL" mark having 4c Grey (2) + 2c Red for the 10c rate. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £200
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RARE PRE-1897 USAGE OF THE 2-RING "KOWLOON/CUSTOMS" C.D.S. CANCEL ON 4c ON 3c REPLY PC (COMPLETE); 9 Sept. 1896 usage of the complete 4c on 3c Postal Stationery PC (used outwards only) to Austria from an official of the "Imperial Maritime Customs, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China" (ref. stamps?) cancelled both by a very fine large 2-ring "CUSTOMS.KOWLOON" c.d.s. and a mainly fine Hong Kong P.O. c.d.s. with a somewhat messy arrival c.d.s. alongside. Rare example of the 'Combination' use of the Reply card; Official Customs usage so no need for Chinese postage. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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8c-RATE COVER TO "TURKS ISLAND" + 20c ON 30c GREY-GREEN COVER TO G.B.; Fine 1 Dec. 1899 env. (Government House, HK flap) to Turks Island with 4c Grey Pair tied by fine "HONG-KONG" c.d.s.'s with a mainly very fine small "TURKS-ISLAND" c.d.s. alongside; exceptional destination for 19th century Hong Kong mail. Plus 17 Dec. 1897 env. (some edge wear) to GB endorsed "English Mail" with 20c on 30c Grey single-franking tied by mainly fine HK c.d.s. Unusual pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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RARE USAGE OF THE STAMP DUTY $1 ON $2 DULL BLUISH GREEN ON COVER REGD. EX H.K. P.O. TO FRANCE; 18 Feb. 1898 long "O.H.M.S./GENERAL POST OFFICE/HONGKONG" env. (toned at left end where folded under) endorsed "Registered" to Paris and franked solely by a "ONE/DOLLAR" o.p. Stamp Duty $2 Dull Bluish-Green tied (by clear indentation through stamp and cover) by a single fine central "HONG KONG" c.d.s. (unusual "O" code) with a matching very fine Hong Kong "R" in circle mark alongside as well as a partial red 2-ring "[MOD]ANE A PARIS" T.P.O. c.d.s. (19 Mar.) also on the front. Very few covers are known with this $1 overprint. (SG "from" £2,800) Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page no. £750
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RARE 2-RING "CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" D.S. ON "Late fee paid" COVER WITH 20c ON 30c GREY-GREEN TO SHANGHAI; Remarkable 20 May 1899 env. (slight stains) to a barrister in "Shanghai" endorsed "Late fee paid" in blue crayon and so with a 20c on 30c Grey-Green tied by a mainly very fine rare large 2-ring "CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" d.s. and by a part 2-ring French "LIGNE N/PAQ. FR. No.2" c.d.s. of the same date (with a second v. fine strike nearby); there are backstamps of the French & Local Shanghai P.O.s, both for 23 May. There are no Hong Kong P.O. markings. It seems that this letter went straight from a French ship calling in to Kowloon and was paid extra to catch a ship leaving almost at once; the 20c rate was 10c postage plus 10c Late Fee. Unique usage? PHOTO - see page no. £300
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"CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" USAGE OF THE NORTH BORNEO 6c BLUE POSTCARD TO GERMANY; Fine 10 Mar. 1900 usage of the North Borneo 6c Blue Postal Stationery PC (its stamp uncancelled; the message in English to a Miss. Colombo) to Germany franked by HK 2c Red Pair tied by very fine HK c.d.s.'s overstruck on a partial rare large 2-ring "CUSTOMS/KOWLOON" datestamp. Remarkable and attractive item. [Ex Cavendish Sept. 2004 auction, lot 2549; realised £253.] PHOTO - see page no. £200
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LABEL-CARD ENDORSED "PICTURE" TO U.S.A. AT 16c-RATE (6C PRINTED MATTER + 10c LATE FEE?); 21 July 1900 printed "Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company" card (giving suggested trips to Canton/Macao; toning consistent with the card having been used as a label on a larger package - presumably with a printed "Picture" as endorsed on the address side) sent to "Blue Springs, Mo." with 2c Red Vertical Strip of Three (one partly over edge) with marginal selvedge 10c Purple on Red all tied by fine "HONG KONG" c.d.s.'s; it is thought that this rate was 6c for 6 ounces Printed Matter plus a 10c Late fee. Unique rate? PHOTO - see page no. £140
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