The Customs Mail Matter Handstamps of China, 1883- Wuhu
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2068
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
1887 (Feb.) envelope from Wuhu to Stockholm, Sweden, showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in brown, matching "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring datestamp, with black "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring datestamp (2.25) on reverse, bearing France "Chine" 5c and 20c, canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (2.11), with "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 8" c.d.s. (2.27) alongside, "Stockholm" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, the cover roughly opened at left affecting the Wuhu Customs dater, otherwise Fine to Very Fine appearance. Est. HK$15,000-20,000
Est. HK$15,000-20,000
Opening HK$ 11,000.00
Sold...HK$ 12,000.00
Closed..Dec-15-2021, 10:41:30 EST
Sold For 12000
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2069
Symbol: C
1891 (Feb.) registered envelope from Wuhu to Singapore, via Hong Kong (3.3) and returned to Wuhu (5.2), showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in red, matching "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring datestamp adjacent and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit datestamp (2.23) on reverse, and bearing on front Hong Kong 1891 surcharge 7c on 10c green pair applied over the Wuhu Customs dater and canceled by "Shanghae/C" c.d.s. (2.23), with "R" in circle handstamp adjacent, small part "Singapore" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, manuscript endorsement "Not Claimed, Return to Sender, 17/4/91", the return to Wuhu via Hong Kong (4.23) and the British and Customs Post Offices in Shanghai (4.29), with "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring arrival datestamp (5.2) in red on reverse, opened out for display and part of back (mostly at the flap) missing, Fine to Very Fine, a remarkable and visually stunning usage.
Provenance Adolphous Diercking, H.R. Harmer (London), Nov. 5-6, 1956, lot 501. Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), Oct. 19, 1972, lot 51. Ryohei Ishikawa, Sun Philatelic Center (San Francisco), Dec. 15, 1979, lot 349. "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), Mar. 25, 1987, lot 5032. Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), Nov. 11, 1999, lot D58. Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Opening HK$ 20,000.00
Sold...HK$ 40,000.00
Closed..Dec-15-2021, 10:42:25 EST
Sold For 40000
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2070
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
1892 (Feb. 1) registered envelope from Wuhu to Stuttgart, Germany, showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in red, matching "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring datestamp and black "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring datestamp (2.3) on reverse, and bearing France Peace and Commerce 25c pair applied over the Customs Mail Matter handstamp and canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s.(2.5), with "R" framed handstamp and "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 5" octagonal datestamp (2.6) both in red adjacent, "Stockholm" arrival c.d.s. (3.11) on reverse, insignificant piece of flap at back missing, Very Fine and handsome. Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Opening HK$ 26,000.00
Sold...HK$ 26,000.00
Closed..Dec-15-2021, 10:43:14 EST
Sold For 26000
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2071
Symbol: C
1892 (Oct. 26) registered envelope from Wuhu to Stuttgart, Germany, showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in red, matching "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring datestamp and blue "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring datestamp (10.28) on reverse, and bearing France Peace and Commerce 25c pair applied over the Customs Mail Matter handstamp and canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (10.28), with "R" framed handstamp and "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. [?]" c.d.s. (10.29) both in red adjacent, "Stuttgart" arrival c.d.s. (12.3) on reverse, insignificant piece of flap at back missing, Very Fine and appealing. Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Est. HK$25,000-30,000
Opening HK$ 28,000.00
Sold...HK$ 28,000.00
Closed..Dec-15-2021, 10:44:11 EST
Sold For 28000
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2072
Symbol: C
1896 (Nov. 11) "Dr. E.H. Hart, Wuhu, China" corner card envelope to "Major William McKinley, President Elect of the U.S.A." at Canton, Ohio, via Yokohama (11.20), showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in red, matching "Customs/Wuhu" double-ring datestamp and blue "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit datestamp (11.13) on reverse, and bearing Japan Prince Arisugawa 5s, canceled by "Shanghai/I.J.P.O." c.d.s. (11.15), with "Canton, Ohio" arrival c.d.s. (12.10) on reverse, Fine to Very Fine, and an extraordinary usage to the 25th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1901. Est. HK$50,000-60,000
Est. HK$50,000-60,000
Opening HK$ 50,000.00
Sold...HK$ 75,000.00
Closed..Dec-15-2021, 10:45:17 EST
Sold For 75000
Sale No: 34
Lot No: 2073
Symbol: C
1897 (Oct. 10) envelope from Wuhu to Boston, via Yokohama (10.18), showing "Wuhu Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval handstamp in brown, matching "Customs/Wuhu" dollar dater adjacent, "Shanghai" transit dollar dater (10.12) in blue on reverse, bearing Koban 5s pair, canceled by "Shanghai/I.J.P.O." c.d.s. (10.12), with Boston arrival c.d.s. (11.11) on reverse, Very Fine usage at the new postal rate.
The rate for mail to the United States had been increased to 10 sen (10 cents) on October 1 in conformity with the U.P.U. rate, thereby effectively replacing the old 5-cents preferential rate to the United States through the Japanese Post Office.
Provenance Allen Correspondence, Harmers (London), Apr. 5, 2005, lot 361. Est. HK$20,000-25,000
