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RARE PREPAID COVER TO FRANCE VIA MARSEILLES WITH HONG-KONG DOUBLE-BOXED "PAID" MARK; 22 June 1846 EL from "Canton" prepaid "1/- to Paris with a very fine early red double-boxed Hong Kong "PAID" and a mainly very fine red "INDES OR./1 MARSEILLES 1" 2-ring transit c.d.s. (19 Sept.), having a mainly very fine sanserif "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. (23 May) on the top flap beside a poor Paris arrival c.d.s., charged "20" [decimes] on arrival. Rare cover to this destination from Canton at this early date. Exhibition item. PHOTO - see page no. £500
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EARLY PREPAID INGOING COVER FROM SINGAPORE WITH NEWS FROM "SARAWAK" OF A SHIPWRECK; 11/12 Mar. 1847 EL from "Singapore" prepaid "1/-" to "Canton" by "[Ship] Braganza" with an overstruck partly fine black boxed "SINGAPORE/Paid" d.s. on the top flap overstruck by a partly fine "HONG-KONG" sanserif transit c.d.s. The contents - mainly a detailed Prices Current - also includes unusual mention of the natives of Sarawak; "The Julia from Sarawak reports an American vessel lost of the coast of Borneo, crew saved; the news had reached Sarawak as a verbal report by Natives. It is supposed to be the Sooloo, Capt. Gliddings." Scarce place of origin for an early letter to China. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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RARE "SHIP LETTER/VICTORIA HONG KONG" ON COVER TO G.B. VIA FRANCE; 25 Aug. 1849 E to London "Via Marseilles" with a mainly fine rare "SHIP LETTER/VICTORIA HONG KONG" (slight fold) at top left matching the fine sanserif "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. (29 Aug.; filing fold) backstamp, charged "5/2". Good early example of this special Ship Letter mark only used on transit mail such as this from the Treaty Ports. PHOTO - see above. £200
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BLUE STEP-TYPE "DEAL/SHIP LETTER" COVER TO G.B. BY NAMED SHIP; Attractive 22 Mar. 1850 E from "Canton" (filing note) to Huth in London endorsed "Pr [Ship] Record" charged "8[d]" with a very fine blue boxed step-type "DEAL/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S8; scarce colour and late usage, just touched by file fold) nicely placed on the front. Rare thus. PHOTO - see page no. £120
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RARE RED UNDATED "CANTON/PAID" DOUBLE-ARC MARK ON "2/- [+] 6/-" RATE COVER TO INDIA; 25 Jan. 1854 long orange-paper env. to Bombay "per [Ship] Ganges" prepaid "2/- [+] 6/-" with a partly very fine red "CANTON/PAID" double-arc Undated Circular mark (known 1850-56) on the front, also having a mainly very fine black "CANTON" double-arc c.d.s. on the reverse with a poor "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s. nearby. Fine and attractive. Plus 21 June 1850 EL privately carried from "Canton" to Bombay sent "p. [Ship] Achilles" (ref. difficulties of selling opium). (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £400
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PAIR OF 'HEARD' COVERS SENT UNPAID FROM & TO CANTON/U.S.A. BY NAMED SHIPS - ONE VIA G.B.; Fine 3 June 1853 EL from "Canton" to New York "P [Ship] Richard Alsop" with a very fine NY h.s. "6" in circle (ingoing Ship Letter charge (contents concerning goods sent by this same ship); plus 24 Sept. 1855 EL from "New York" to "Canton, China" with v. fine "NEW-YORK/BR. PKT" c.d.s. on the front with v. fine matching h.s. "20", endorsed "Pr [Ship] Africa" to an agent in London ("Baring Brothers") charged "4/-" and then sent on by private means to China. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £200
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UNRECORDED HONG KONG F.A.C. ON INTER-PORT COVER FROM CANTON TO SHANGHAI; Unusual 23 Apr. 1855 EL from "canton" to a tea merchant in "Shanghae" endorsed "P Acmel" but without postal markings except for two Chinese characters on the front and a very fine large oval "FORWARDED BY/HONG KONG/ARMSTRONG & LAWRENCE" Forwarding Agent's Cachet (just affected by closed seal-tear) nicely placed on the top flap. This FAC has apparently not been recorded before. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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INGOING PREPAID COVER FROM THE U.S. VIA G.B., FRANCE "OVERLAND" & HONG KONG; 23 Oct. 1855 EL (partly printed detailed Prices Current) from New York to Canton (from the Heard correspondence) by "Overland Mail via Marseilles" to "Canton, China" endorsed by transatlantic ship "Canada" and so with a very fine red "NEW-YORK/BR. PKT." c.d.s. on the front with red ink "58" and pencil "63" rates with London transit "PAID" c.d.s. (5 Nov) on the front and a mainly fine "HONG KONG" backstamp (31 Dec.); endorsed as received on 1 Jan. 1856. Rare routing at this date and of Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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THE 2nd OPIUM WAR - CAMPAIGN LETTERS SENT IN CANTON RIVER DURING BRITISH OCCUPATION/ATTACK; 13 Dec. [1857] env. from "Dutch Folly" (the small island in the river opposite Canton City) to Captain Cochrane on "H.M.S. Niger" naturally without postal marks but endorsed "[By H.M.S.] Elk" and with interesting contents about Chinese ships etc.; "Close off the French Folly there are about 50 large Junks - this morning when the explosion took place near you, there were 100s of men with Flag flying ready for embarkation there...in case I see anything suspicious in that direction, I will give you warning by hoisting No.5 Flag on the North wall of the Fort...one of our men wounded one by a Rocket shot this morning...". Rare letter sent from the river fort to a nearby ship during ongoing unrest. Plus 24 May 1857 letter (no env.) to Cochrane (clearly on HMS Niger) from "H.M.S. Sybille" off Canton during the continuing bombardment; "A vessel is at anchor at the Bogue...I therefore intend to look into Escape Creek tomorrow...You have more important junks to look after...". (2 items) PHOTO - see page no. £200
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2nd OPIUM WAR - "PACKET LETTER" TO U.S. VIA G.B. WITH LETTER SIGNED BY FUTURE ARCTIC EXPLORER; 26/27 Oct. 1858 env. (opened out, some wear, reinforced folds and closed hole in address side) with letter (full typed transcript) from "H.M.S. Camilla, Canton River" from the 17 year-old (future Sir) A.H. Markham (who almost reached the North Pole in the 1870s) to his mother in Wisconsin sent to London by closed Naval Bag with m/s "6" and so with v. fine scarce small red "PACKET-LETTER" on the front (matching 22 Dec. c.d.s. on reverse; applied because the normal ship the SS Pera had broken down at Gibraltar and the mails sent on by SS Alhambra; rare thus) and then sent across the Atlantic with "NEW YORK/BR. PKT" c.d.s. (10 Jan. 1859) with black h.s. "33" (with m/s "28" - the rate due to GB for mail from HK). The letter includes detail of visits to occupied Canton; "We are now the only large vessel up here off Canton...there are lots of gunboats though...I believe they will have some more news with the Chinese as the Treaty of Peace...is not doing a bit of good though the Chinese here...are very civic and quiet, but I believe they are quite the reverse up northward..." Good historical letter from a future Explorer with unusual routing & markings. [Ex Martin Willcocks.] - see above. £300
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2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - OFFICER's COVER WITH RED BOXED HONG KONG "PAID" TO G.B.; 11/13 Nov. 1858 env. (with contents - full typed transcript - filing notes affect address side) from "Canton" to Aberdeen "VIA MARSEILLES" (red imprint at top left of address) prepaid "9[d]" with a mainly fine small red double-boxed HK "PAID" mark on the front and a fine large serif "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. (15 Nov.) on the reverse; there is a London transit c.d.s. of 29 Dec. on the front. The letter is from a British officer in charge of the Military Hospital who is living at the HQ to look after a lady invalid; he notes that "Lord Elgin is expected the end of this month, having completed satisfactory negotiations with the Chinese Commissioners about the tariff and now there only remains the money for the indemnity to be paid, when the [British] Force would leave Canton." Good contemporary comment on life with the British Forces in Canton. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - OFFICER's COVER WITH RED BOXED HONG KONG "PAID" TO G.B.; 20 Aug. 1859 env. (with contents - full typed transcript - filing notes affect address side) from the same Officer as the previous lot from "Hong Kong, Commercial Hotel" to Aberdeen "Via Marseilles" prepaid "9[d]" with a mainly very fine small red double-boxed HK "PAID" mark on the front and a fine small sanserif "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. on the reverse; there is an arrival c.d.s. of 20 Aug. on the reverse. The letter is from a British officer who had been in charge of the Military Hospital at Canton but who was "...having left Canton a week ago...[am] on my way to Calcutta with Invalid Troops from China". He describes 4 oil paintings of Canton that he is sending home by P&O and a truck of "curiosities" he is bringing from Canton. PHOTO - see page no. £240
| CANTON - Q.V. STAMPED MAIL, | |
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2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - INGOING OFFICER's LETTER 9d-RATE COVER FROM G.B.; 6 May 1859 env. (long family contents partly ref. Canton and in reply to letters similar to those in the previous two lots) to Canton "via Marseilles" at the special Officer's Letter rate of 9d with GB 4d Rose-Carmine Par + 1d Red 'Stars' tied by only two very fine "ABERDEEN/1" Experimental Duplexes, having a faint small blue "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s. on the reverse. Remarkable to find a correspondence going both to and from someone in China at this date. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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2nd OPIUM WAR - INGOING 3-COLOUR FRANKING OFFICER's 9d-RATE COVER TO "HEIGHTS OF CANTON" FROM G.B.; 25 Dec. 1859 env. (minor toning clear of stamps but with contents) addressed to a British Royal Marines officer at the "Heights of Canton, China" endorsed "Via Marseilles" and franked by Pl.7 2d Blue +1d Red 'Stars' +6d Lilac all tied by mainly very fine "CLIFTON/959" duplexes, having a very fine blue 11 Feb. 1860 "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare 2nd Opium War cover and an unusual 3-colour franking for the 9d rate. [Matching cover to that in Cavendish's 'Robert Johnson' auction, June 2006, lot 1497; which realised £950.] PHOTO - see page no. £300
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HONG KONG USAGE COVERS TO G.B./U.S. - 24c GREEN OR 10c PURPLE-ON-RED WITH "B62"/RARE BLUE C.D.S., ETC.; 12 Sept. 1873 env. (opened out and part flap lost) to GB "Via Southampton" with HK wing-margin 24c Green (rough at top) slightly tied by a fair "B62" Numeral having a very fine rare blue 'straight-line' "A/CANTON" c.d.s. on the side-flap; plus attractive 26 Jan. 1899 env. to Sacramento with HK 10c Purple on Red tied by a very fine 'curved name' "CANTON/*" c.d.s. Useful pair showing the different datestamp styles & colours. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £200
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RARE & VERY FINE "C1" NUMERAL ON LOCAL 1c POSTCARD TO HONG KONG; Very fine 5 July 1882 commercial Missionaries usage of the HK 1c Green PC to "Basel Mission, Hong Kong" (an order for Bibles etc.) cancelled by a lovely strike (inverted) of the rare tall "C1" Canton Numeral with a very fine 6 July HK arrival c.d.s. alongside. [The twin to the 1c o.p. card from this same correspondence, which had a poor "C1" strike, in Cavendish's Mar. 2003 'Richard Chan' auction - lot 137 - which realised £1,035.] Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £650
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RARE VERTICAL OVAL "C1" CANCEL ON COVER TO U.S.A.; 12 Dec. 1883 env. (minor toning and part flap lost) to U.S. "per [Ship] City of Tokio", franked by Hong Kong 10c Mauve (faded) tied by a very fine "C1" cancel in black (Webb Type A), matching the very fine "A/CANTON" c.d.s. (Type B) alongside. Very late usages of these two scarce Canton marks (Webb had only recorded covers up to 15th Oct. 1883, but one dated 3rd Jan. 1884 has since been found). Pearson recorded only 30 covers/fronts with black C1 cancels. Exhibition item. [Ex Norman Bennett, Cavendish May 2002, lot 931; realised £1.610.] PHOTO - see page no. £1,400
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LOCAL USAGES OF THE 1c GREEN PCs WITH S.LINE/CURVED NAME "CANTON" C.D.S. CANCELS; Good trio of commercial usages (17 Mar. 1883, 4 Nov. 1883 and 13 Apr. 1894) of the 1c Green Postal Stationery PCs from "Fat Shan", "Hong Kong" or "Canton" respectively (one to Canton, two to HK) cancelled by very fine or mainly fine straight-line "A/CANTON" c.d.s.'s (two; both 1883) or a very fine curved "CANTON/*" c.d.s. Rare trio. (3 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £240
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CANTON USAGE OF THE "4 CENTS" O.P. 3c BROWN P.C. TO SWITZERLAND (MISDIRECTED TO HK); Fine 27 Feb. 1895 usage of the scarce red "4 CENTS" o.p. 3c Brown HK POstal Stationery PC to "Bellingona" (originally address there at "Hong Kong" in error for Switzerland and so with Chinese characters address at top, subsequently crossed through when readdressed correctly) cancelled both by a very fine curved "CANTON/*" c.d.s. and by an overlapping very fine octagonal French Marine "LIGNE N/PAQ. FR. No.4" d.s. (6 Mar.). Rare Canton usage of this card and both an unusual destination & Misdirection PHOTO - see page no. £150
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"KEWKIANG" LOCAL POST CARD - CANTON 'COMBINATION' USAGE WITH HONG KONG 4c GREY TO GERMANY; Unusual 29 Dec. 1897 usage of the 1/2c Grey-blue "KEWKIANG" Local Post PC (staining) to Baden Baden uprated with a HK 4c Grey and both card and stamp cancelled/tied by two very fine curved-name "CANTON/*" c.d.s.'s. Philatelic but rare usage. PHOTO - see page no. £140
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION COVER TO SWITZERLAND WITH TINY 1st-TYPE BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; 24 Nov. 1899 env. (slight toning) to Switzerland franked by China 10c Green tied by v. fine bilingual "CANTON" c.d.s. plus a Hong Kong 10c Purple on Red tied by a very fine tiny 1st-type Canton boxed "I.P.O." tie-print (Webb type iii) and by a mainly very fine Hong Kong c.d.s. (25 Nov.). Fine Combination Cover. PHOTO - see page no. £240
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO SWITZERLAND WITH SMALL 2nd-TYPE BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; 25 Nov. 1900 PPC to Switzerland franked by China 4c Brown tied by v. fine bilingual "CANTON" c.d.s. plus a Hong Kong 4c Grey tied by a mainly very fine small 2nd-type Canton boxed "I.P.O." tie-print (Webb type i) overlapped by a very fine Hong Kong c.d.s. (24 Nov.). Fine Combination Card. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO GERMANY WITH SMALL 2nd-TYPE BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; 12 Jan. 1901 usage of the China 1c Red Postal Stationery PC to Switzerland uprated by China 2c Red + 1c Orange tied by v. fine bilingual "CANTON" c.d.s.'s plus Hong Kong 2c Dull Green Pair tied by a very fine small 2nd-type Canton boxed "I.P.O." tie-print (Webb type i) and by two fine Hong Kong c.d.s.'s (13 Jan.). Colourful Combination Card. Plus 1912 PPC (of Canton River) used to Canada with HK KEVII 4c tied (on the picture side) by a partly fine large "CANTON/*" c.d.s. (2 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £240
| CHEFOO | |
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LOCAL POST LETTER CARD FRONT TO G.B. UPRATED WITH HONG KONG 10c ADHESIVE; 8 Sept. 1894 usage of the "CHEFOO LOCAL POST" 1c Red "LETTER CARD" (front only; vertical fold clear of stamps) from "H.M.S. Linnet, Chefoo, Tientsin, China" to Windsor uprated with Hong Kong 10c adhesive tied by very fine "E" code Hong Kong single-ring c.d.s.'s (25 Sept.). Interesting contents include "We arrived here after some difficulty 30th August to protect British interests, there are 2 other gunboats here and an American one is coming". Fascinating item. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO CANADA WITH RARE CHEFOO BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINTS; 8 Oct. 1899 PPC to Manitoba (Kobe, Yokohama & San Francisco transit c.d.s.'s) franked by China 4c Brown tied by partly fine bilingual "CHEFOO" c.d.s. plus two Hong Kong 2c Reds tied by mainly very fine small rare Chefoo serif boxed "I.P.O." tie-prints and partly fine "SHANGHAI" c.d.s.'s (13 Oct.). The Chefoo tie-print is seldom seen and pre-1900 Chefoo items are rare; the Canadian destination is also unusual for a Combination item. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO ROME WITH "T" MARK STRUCK IN ERROR; 7 Dec. 1900 PPC (of Chefoo) to Rome franked by China 2c Red tied by fair bilingual "CANTON" c.d.s. and a large matching handstruck "T" mark, plus a Hong Kong 2c Red tied by a mainly fine "SHANGHAI" c.d.s. (17 Dec.); the "T" mark was cancelled in pencil when it was realised that the card had a short message and so could pass at the 2c rate. Unusual Combination Card to a scarce destination country. PHOTO - see page no. £160
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DOUBLE-RING "CHEFOO/BRITISH P.O." C.D.S. ON UPRATED 1c HONG KONG PC TO TSINGTAU; Fine 10 Nov. 1903 usage of the Hong Kong 1c Green P. Stationery PC (no message) uprated with a Hong Kong 4c Red tied/cancelled by a single mainly very fine "C"-code "CHEFOO/BRITISH P.O." 2-ring c.d.s. with a mainly fine Tsingtau German P.O. arrival c.d.s. on the front. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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DOUBLE-RING "CHEFOO/BRITISH P.O." C.D.S. ON LOCAL 1c HONG KONG PC; 1 Nov. 1904 usage of the Hong Kong 1c Green outward Reply P. Stationery PC (no message; slight corner fault) to "Beach Hotel"; plus 11 Sept. 1907 PPC (of HK) from Shanghai(?) to a Missionary at "Chefoo, N. China" with China 2c Red tied by an unclear Chinese characters c.d.s. with mainly fine "SHANGHAI" bilingual transit c.d.s. and v. fine bilingual "CHEFOO" c.d.s. alongside. (2 cards) [The 1904 item ex Richard Chan, Cavendish Oct. 2003, lot 278; realised £200.] PHOTO - see page no. £150
| FOOCHOW | |
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2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - RARE LETTER FROM "FOOCHOW" TO TASMANIA PREPAID 1/- FROM HONG KONG; Fine 19 Nov. 1861 EL (interesting market summary report; folds to show internal heading alongside address-panel) from "Foochow" to "Launceston, Tasmania" endorsed "P. Mail" with v. fine small red "HONG KONG/C/PAID" c.d.s. (20 Nov.) on the front beside red crayon "1/-" rate, also having a very fine small black HK c.d.s. on the top flap slightly overlapped by the diamond-framed Launceston "SHIP LETTER/INWARDS FREE" d.s. (14 Jan. 1862). The contents include reference to continuing Chinese unrest; "Blk efd. Congous [teas] are said to be in diminished supply owing to continued Rebel disturbances in some of the producing districts." Very few pre-1865 covers from Foochow have been recorded and this Australian destination is exceptional. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £300
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48c-RATE (LATE FEE?) "B62" COVER FROM "THE CAMP, FOOCHOW" TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA; 23 Dec. 1874 EL (family letter - full typed transcript - ending "...the Mail closes in less than a couple of hours and the distance is 5 miles to the Post Office") from "The Camp, Foochow" (a tea plantation?) to Melbourne "Via Galle"; franked by HK 24c pair tied by neat Hong Kong "B62" numerals with v. fine "HONG KONG" backstamp (26 Dec.) but no Foochow marks. The double rate may be explained by the writer's hurry to catch the post; was there a 24c Late Fee at Foochow? Scarce thus and attractive. [Ex Norman Bennett, Cavendish May 2002, lot 937; realised £276.] PHOTO - see page no. £240
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INGOING U.S. 5c-RATE COVER WITH BLACK "FOOCHOWFOO" BACKSTAMP; 14 Sept. 2885 env. from New Hampshire to Wingate at the "U.S. Consulate, Foo Chow, China" routed "Via San Francisco" with US 5c Brown tied by "EXETER/N.H." Duplex, having backstamps of San Francisco, Hong Kong (v. fine; 28 Oct.) and "FOOCHOWFOO" (mainly v. fine; 3 Nov.). Rare destination. from U.S. at this date. PHOTO - see page no. £100
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PAIR OF 3c OR 4c POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS TO G.B. WITH "FOOCHOWFOO" DATESTAMPS; 14 Aug. 1891 commercial usage (ordering mattresses) of the 3c Brown PC (some speckling) from "Kuliang" to London and 30 Aug. 1897 usage of the 4c Grey PC (light stain) to Ireland; each cancelled by a mainly very fine "FOOCHOWFOO" c.d.s. (code "A" and uncoded). Rare pair. (2 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £120
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PAIR OF 10c-RATE COVERS TO G.B. WITH C.D.S. CANCELS & DIFFERENT FRANKINGS; Attractive pair of 12 May/2 Aug. 1898 envs. (latter with slight stains) to Brighton/London franked by Hong Kong 10c Purple on Red or 2c Red (2) + 4c Grey all tied by mainly very fine small "A"-code "FOOCHOWFOO" c.d.s.'s. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page no. £200
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2c-RATE & 4c-RATE POSTCARDS TO HONG KONG/RUSSIA WITH C.D.S. CANCELS; 21 Nov. 1898 usage of the Hong Kong 4c Grey Postal Stat. PC to St. Petersburg cancelled by a mainly very fine small uncoded "FOOCHOWFOO" c.d.s. with a very fine blue St. Petersburg arrival c.d.s. beside the stamp; rare destination. Plus 3 Oct. 1904 PPC (view of Foochow; overall dusting) to Hong Kong with HK QV 2c Green tied by the similar "A"-code c.d.s. Russia is an unusual destination from Foochow. (2 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO GERMANY WITH FOOCHOW SERIF BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; Attractive 11 Mar. 1900 usage of the China 1c Red Postal Stationery PC (minor dusting & slight edge wear) to Saxony uprated with China 1c Orange (2) + 2c Red tied by very fine Pagoda Anchorage barred Pa-Kua cancels and also uprated by Hong Kong 2c Reds (2) tied by very fine rare boxed Foochow "I.P.O." serif tie-prints and by very fine "HONG-KONG" transit c.d.s.'s. Foochow Combination covers are rare. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £400
| HANKOW | |
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VERY RARE "D.29" NUMERAL WITH "S1" CANCEL ON RARE FORMULA POSTCARD WITH 3c ON 16c YELLOW; Fine 6 Mar. 1880 usage of the red U.P.U. Hong Kong Postal Stationery Postcard (hinge remains on reverse) with scarce HK "3/CENTS" surcharge on 16c Yellow tied both by a fine rare "D.29" Hankow Numeral and by a mainly very fine Shanghai "S1" Numeral (the strikes overlapped) with a mainly very fine "HANKOW/A" c.d.s. alongside and backstamps of "SHANGHAF" [sic; 12 Mar.], HK (15 Mar.) & Stainland (22 Apr.). This card is very rare used from the Treaty Ports, and it is reported that only two other such usages from Hankow are known; the D.29 Numeral is very rare on cover or card. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £2,000
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"HANKOW/*" C.D.S. CANCEL ON 1c CARD TO JAPAN WITH "SHANGHAI/I.J.P.A." DATESTAMP; 16 Feb. 1891 usage of the Hong Kong 1c Green Postal Stat. PC (central horiz. crease clear of marks) to Tokyo cancelled by a very fine "HANKOW/*" c.d.s. with a very fine small "SHANGHAI/*I.J.P.A.*" c.d.s. (26 Feb.; 1901 year error!) alongside. Rare usage and destination. Attractive. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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"PER FRENCH MAIL" COVER TO G.B. WITH HONG KONG 5c BLOCK OF SIX + SINGLE TIED BY C.D.S.'s; 8 May 1894 env. (opened out; minor faults mainly along edges, slightly reduced) to London "per French Mail" franked for the 35c rate by a Block of Six and a single Hong Kong 5c Blues (one stamp of the Block rubbed) tied by mainly fine (for these) "C"-code "HANKOW" c.d.s.'s; there are backstamps of "SHANGHAF" (sic; 11 May), HK & London (18 June). QV Blocks are rare used on cover from the Treaty Ports. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see p. no. £200
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POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS WITH C.D.S. CANCELS TO INDIA, CANTON & GERMANY; 29/30 June 1900 usage of the black "4 CENTS" surcharge HK 3c Brown "REPLY" [deleted in pencil] PC to India "[Per] German Mail" with a superb Chinese bilingual c.d.s. on the front (cash-paid 'Combination' usage) but cancelled in transit by a mainly fine "SHANGHAI" c.d.s. - intriguing message from a Missionary during the Boxer Rebellion period - plus 1886 usage of the 1c Green PC to Canton with inked-in "HANKOW/A" c.d.s. cancel, and 1 Mar. 1895 usage of the red "4 CENTS" surcharge HK 3c Brown PC from "Hankow" (sender's purple oval cachet back and front) to Germany cancelled by blue crayon line and part "SHANGHAE" transit c.d.s. Scarce trio. (3 cards) PHOTO - see page no. £160
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD TO NORWAY WITH 1st-TYPE BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; Spectacular 15 Nov. 1899 usage of the China 1c Red Postal Stationery PC (some creasing and minor toning) to the exceptional destination "Molde, Norway, Europe" uprated with China 1c Orange (3) all cancelled and tied by mainly v. fine Chinese bilingual "HANKOW" c.d.s.'s but also with Hong Kong 2c Red Pair tied by a very fine small serif boxed Hankow "I.P.O." tie-print (Webb Type i) and by a mainly very fine "SHANGHAI" c.d.s. (20 Nov.); there is also a very fine 2-ring Germano-Swedish "SASSNITZ-TRELLEBORG/*B*" ferry-routing c.d.s. on the front. We cannot recall having seen a China Combination Cover to Norway before! Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see page no. £400
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION COVER ("H.A.P.A.G." SHIPPING LINE IMPRINT) TO GERMANY; Fine 15 May 1901 env. (HAPAG flap and pictorial Steamship imprint at top left of address but partly beneath stamps) to Stettin with China 4c Brown (2) + 2c Red (3) all tied by fair to very fine Chinese bilingual c.d.s.'s, along with Hong Kong QV 5c Blue Pair just tied by a part "SHANGHAI" c.d.s. (20 May). Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £240
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QV POSTCARDS & RARE NEWSPAPER USAGES TO TSINGTAO & CONTINENTAL EUROPE; 29 Sept. 1903 usage of the Hong Kong 2c Green Newspaper wrapper to "Tsingtao, Kiautchou" cancelled by v. fine "HANKOW/A" c.d.s. (rare Treaty Port usage), fine 11 Aug. 1902 usage of the HK 4c Red PC to Switzerland, and 1902/3 pair of PPCs to France/Italy with HK 2c Green or 4c Red tied by fine or fair "HANKOW/A" c.d.s.'s (the latter also with red oval "R.M.S.P./Posted on the high Seas/SOUTHAMPTON" cachet. Scarce group. (4 items) PHOTO - see page no. £150
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION USAGE OF H.K. POSTCARD EX HANKOW TO G.B. VIA KULING; Commercial 23 Sept. 1904 usage of the Hong Kong 4c red Postal Stationery PC (toned; itself uncancelled) to Manchester (ref. sending Xmas presents "per Parcel Post" to the writer's children in England) franked by China 1/2c Brown (2) + 1c Orange + 2c Red all tied by very fine Chinese bilingual "KULING" c.d.s.'s, having similar v. fine "KIUKIANG" & "SHANGHAI" transit c.d.s.'s nearby on the front. Rare thus and spectacular. PHOTO - see page no. £200
| HOI HOW | |
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CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION POSTCARD TO GERMANY WITH BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT; 1 July 1902 PPC (Thailand imprints above address with views of "Bangkok"! - some light staining) from "Hoihow" to Germany with China 4c Brown tied by partly fine Chinese bilingual "KIUNGCHOW" c.d.s. and with Hong Kong QV 4c Grey tied by the Chinese c.d.s. which is also tied by a fair rare small boxed Hoihow "I.P.O." tie-print and by a light 2-ring "VICTORIA/HONG-KONG" c.d.s. Rare. [Ex Cavendish Sept. 2004 auction, lot 2466; realised £368.] PHOTO - see page no. £200
| KIUNGCHOW | |
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RARE KIUNGCHOW BOXED "I.P.O." TIE-PRINT ON HONG KONG 10c PAIR ON FRONT TO U.S.A.; 24 June 1902 front to Cincinnati with HK QV 5c Blue Pair tied by mainly fine rare Kiungchow boxed "I.P.O" tie-print and by two mainly fine 2-ring "VICTORIA/HONG KONG" c.d.s.'s having a mainly very fine Chinese bilingual "KIUNGCHOW" c.d.s. in the opposite corner. One of the rarest tie-prints of which few covers are known. PHOTO - see page no. £100
| LIU KUNG TAU | |
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UNUSUALLY FINE C.D.S. CANCELLATION ON HONG KONG 4c RED ON CARD TO G.B.; Fine 12 Nov. 1901 PPC (view of Nikko) to Norwich with Hong Kong QV 4c Red tied by an excellent strike of the rare "LIU.KUNG.TAU" c.d.s. with a mainly very fine 2-ring "VICTORIA/HONG-KONG" transit c.d.s. alongside. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see page no. £150
| MACAO | |
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EARLY "INDIA LETTER/PLYMOUTH" COVER TO G.B. FROM CHINESE INTERPRETER JOHN MORRISON; Fine 4/5 Nov. 1835 EL (long family letter partly cross-written) from "Macao" (folds to display internal heading beside the address-panel) to Bath "Pr Royal Admiral" charged "1/3" with a mainly fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/PLYMOUTH" on the reverse. It seems that this letter was carried direct to GB by this ship so the Ship Letter mark should have been applied; as the letter did not pass through London the error was not spotted. Very early for an overseas letter from Macao. Written by missionary, John Morrison who was an important interpreter in China in the years leading up to the First Opium War and in the early years of Hong Kong (see D.N.B. entry; copy included). PHOTO - see above. £200
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RIVER LETTER TO CANTON FROM A MEMBER OF THE MARKWICK FAMILY WHO RAN THE BOAT SERVICE; 25 May 1836 EL from "Macao" to Canton without postal marks but with a Chinese endorsement on the top flap; signed by "Charles Markwick" whose family ran the Macao/Canton Boat Service at this time. Probably the equivalent of a 'Free' letter carried by the service with no need for a "Cents" marking. PHOTO - see page no. £200
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"SHIP LETTER/WEYMOUTH" MARK IN RED ON COVER TO G.B. BY NAMED SHIP; 31 Dec. 1837 EL (in Portuguese; folds with internal heading beside address) to London "P [Ship] Lady Nugent" charged "1/6" with a very fine framed downward step-type "SHIP LETTER/WEYMOUTH" on the top flap slightly overlapped by the London arrival c.d.s. (4 June 1838); fine early letter to an unusual port-of-call from the Far East. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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"FALMOUTH/SHIP LETTER" MARK IN RED ON COVER TO G.B. BY NAMED SHIP; 8 Jan. 1839 EL (in Portuguese; folds with internal heading beside address) to London "P. [Steamer] W. Jardine" charged "1/8" with a partly very fine framed downward step-type "FALMOUTH/SHIP LETTER" across the join on the reverse beside a London arrival c.d.s. (27 May); fine early letter to an unusual port-of-call from the Far East. PHOTO - see page no. £150
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