1863 (8 Nov) FL from Shanghai to Ipswich, Mass, USA, sent by George T. Heard (of Augustine Heard & Co., well known forwarding agents), to his mother in USA, red "Shanghae Paid" on front, also "Shanghae Nov 8, 63" departure pmk, "Hong Kong Nov 13, 63" transit in blue, red "London Paid" (Jan 9, 64), various ms crayon markings ("44" British transit fee, "16", "French" and others), handstamped "10" due USA, with Boston Jan 27 arrival, fine letter from the British Post Office in Shanghai to USA (delivered in 80 days) (Image)

Est.US$250

1864-65 two stampless covers, one from London to Shanghai, sent in 1864 via Southampton and Hong Kong, charged 2sh in ms, with appropriate transit and arrival pmks. The second cover was sent from Shanghai to USA, with Shanghai Bau Francaise pmk, various transit and arrival markings, minor toning and faults, interesting pair of covers (Image)

Est.US$250

1866 (10 Aug) FL from London to a bank manager in Shanghai, franked with 1p, 4p (plate 8) and 1sh (plate 4), red "1d" (Hong Kong transit fee), London departure and Shanghai arrival (Sep 26) on back, filing folds and cover tear tape reinforced, otherwise fine incoming mail (46 days in transit) (Image)

Est.US$250

1884 (6 May) cover (opened for display) sent from the Imperial Japanese Post Office in Shanghai, via Yokohama and San Francisco to New York, franked with 5sen ultramarine, tied by cross-roads pmk, supported by "I.J.P.A. Shanghai" cds, with transit and arrival pmks alongside, fine (Image)

Est.US$500

1900 (18 Dec) cover from Tientsin to Dijon, franked with 4c and 10c CIP Coiling Dragons, tied by blue departure pmk, repeated below, sent via the French Post Office in Shanghai (31 Dec 00), where 25c "Chine" was added to pay for further transmission to France, arriving 1 Feb, 01, tape stains on back, ex-Newbury (Image)

Est.US$250

1901 (17 July) registered cover from Peking, franked with 30c CIP, tied by oval registry departure pmk and corresponding "Registered" handstamp, sent via French Post Office in Shanghai where 25c and 50c "Chine" were added for further transmission to the Hague, Netherlands, French maritime and arrival pmks on back (Image)

Est.US$500

1901 (7 Feb) Grunberg & Reilly card from Port Arthur to Chicago, franked with Kitai 1k and 3k canceled at Chefoo, sent via the Russian Post Office in Shanghai where another 1k was added, with framed "Paquebot" and Nagasaki transit, unusual winter routing, some toning, otherwise fine (the "Grunberg & Reilly Port Arthur China" return address was one of the legitimate cover names for the famous British agent Sidney Reilly, the "Ace of Spies" legendary secret agent employed by Scotland Yard and the British Secret Bureau. Reilly profited greatly as the clouds of war formed with Japan. It is believed that Ian Fleming used Reilly as the model for James Bond) (Image)

Est.US$500

1880 "Min Hsin Chu" - "People's letter carrying agencies" (for non-government mail) operated within China, owned privately by Chinese merchants, red-band cover from Shanghai to Hong Kong, chop reads "Lun h'uan Hsin Chu" (wheel boat letter service), Ch'uan T'ai Sheng (name of the Steamship Line), with address on reverse with instructions in Chinese characters "Important letter, please deliver to Hong Kong", v.f. (in addition to mounted and foot couriers, mail service to native Chinese was also available by Inland and Coastal Steamers) (Image)

Est.US$1,000

1907 (7 Aug) official government Mounted Courier System ("I Chan"), large envelope sent by "Tsai Governor of Shankaikuan" to German Consulate at Newchwang (Yin K'ou) posted on 7th day, 8th month of the 33rd year of the Reign of Emperor Kwang-hsu (Aug 7, 1907), v.f. (Image)

Est.US$1,000

1907 "Min Hsin Chu" - "People's letter carrying agencies" (for non-government mail) operated within China, owned privately by Chinese merchants, pink envelope carried by "Min Chu", Agency Chop on reverse, sent from Lungshan to Hangchow, red characters read "Lungshan Yun Ho Yu Ki" (Lungshan Letter Service), fine and very rare (Image)

Est.US$1,000