China - U.S. Offices, 1860's-1890's Mateer U.S. and Europe correspondence. Over 440 Covers (many with original letters) that make up the remainder of the Mateer Family Correspondence, all within the U.S. (about 400 from 1860's to about 1900) or Europe (43); many Missionary oriented, interesting items include a letter written on the way from Japan and then posted in Pacific Grove, Ca and a letter (1894) written on Canadian Pacific Railway Co. R.M.S. "Empress of Japan" stationery "600 miles" from Yokohama, Japan, most letters are not checked for content of correspondence, Fine, a interesting lot (no photo). Estimate  $500 - 750. $0

China - U.S. Offices, 1871 "China and Japan Steam Service". Red oval postmark on cover to Pennsylvania franked with 10¢ Banknote tied to cover by fancy cork cancel and with San Francisco cds at left, includes original letter datelined 1871 and written from the steamship (mentions C.W. and Julia Mateer), this letter was probably transferred from the original ship going East to a Westbound ship which was not an uncommon occurrence, Very Fine, a spectacular cover and a great rarity. Scott No. 150  Estimate $4,000 - 5,000. Banknote Issue usages with the China & Japan Steam Service oval have reportedly existed on only 2 or 3 covers. It appears, however, that this cover may be the first Banknote franked usage to be publicly offered - a great rarity and the highlight of any Banknote issue exhibit collection! . $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1871-74 U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai covers. 4 covers from Shanghai to U.S. (2 with original letters), franked with 10¢ Banknotes, one Consulate General postmark, two with original enclosure, condition mixed, almost Fine. Scott No. 150, 161  Estimate $400 - 500. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1872 "U.S. Postal Agc'y Shanghai, Feb 19". Cds on 1872 "American Presbyterian Mission Press" corner card cover to Pennsylvania, fancy circle of wedges cancel tying 1870 10¢ brown, bold magenta "San Francisco, Paid, March 24" entry backstamp, with original printed letterhead enclosure, slight cover soiling, otherwise Very Fine. Scott No. 150  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1872 "U.S. Postal Agc'y Shanghai, Apr 12". Cds on 1872 missionary corner card cover to Pennsylvania, fancy circle of wedges cancel tying 1870, 10¢ brown, San Francisco May 16 backstamp, with original 8 page enclosure, Very Fine and attractive. Scott No. 150  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1872 "U.S. Postal Agc'y Shanghai, Jul 26". Cds on 1872 missionary corner card cover to Pennsylvania, fancy circle of wedges cancel tying 1870, 10¢ brown, San Francisco Aug 31 receiver, with original 6 page enclosure, cover with rough opening at right, F.-V.F. Scott No. 150  Estimate $400 - 500. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1872 "U.S. Postal Agc'y Shanghai, Oct 12". Cds on ca. 1872 missionary cover to Pennsylvania, fancy circle of wedges cancel tying 1870, 10¢ brown (edge faults), "San Francisco, Cal., Nov 15" receiver, small cover faults, original enclosure with silk cloth sample, F.-V.F. Scott No. 150  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1873 "U.S. Postal Agc'y Shanghai, Aug 29". Cds on ca. 1873 missionary cover to Pennsylvania, fancy circle of wedges cancel canceling 1873, 10¢ brown, San Francisco Sep 29 receiver, small cover faults, F.-V.F. Scott No. 161  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1881-99 Japanese Foreign Mail correspondence. 55 covers from the Mateer correspondence, particulars including 14 covers franked with 5s brown (Scott #59) (3 with Shanghai Local Post postmarks), 39 covers franked with 41 of the 5s ultra (Scott #74) (23 with Shanghai Local Post postmarks) and 2 covers franked with 10s brown orange (Scott #79), correspondence includes a variety of cities (most are Shanghai, but includes Chefoo, Nagasaki, etc.), cancels, frankings and postal markings, changes in cancels and rates during this time period, condition a little mixed overall, many with original letters, F.-V.F. overall, a tremendous philatelic opportunity of great historical significance. Estimate  $7,500 - 10,000. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1883 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, May 18". Red cds on 1883 cover to Pennsylvania, matching red grid cancel tying 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, red "San Francisco, Cal., Pd.All, Jun 11" backstamp, original letter from Wei Hien, Very Fine. Scott No. 205  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1884 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Jan 17". Red cds on 1884 cover to Pennsylvania, matching target cancel tying 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, red "San Francisco, Cal., Pd.All, Feb 18" backstamp, original letter from Wei Hien, minor toning around stamp, F.-V.F. Scott No. 205  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1884 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Feb 20". Red cds on 1884 cover to Ohio, matching target canceling 1882, 5¢ yellow brown and "Too Late" handstamp alongside, reverse with blue Shanghai Local Post, red San Francisco entry and receiving backstamps, with original enclosure, Very Fine, a very scarce usage of the "Too Late" handstamp. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1884 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Jul 1". Red cds on 1884 cover to Ohio, matching target canceling 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, San Francisco entry and receiving backstamps, with original lengthy 9 page enclosure from Tsingchow; stamp with pre-use wrinkle, otherwise Extremely Fine. Scott No. 205  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1884 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Dec 3". Red cds on 1884 cover to Ohio, matching target canceling 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, reverse with blue Shanghai Local Post, red San Francisco entry and receiving backstamps, with original enclosure from Tsingchow, small cover faults, F.-V.F. Scott No. 205  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1884-1885 U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai covers. 8 covers, each with red "U. S. Postal Ag'cy" Shanghai cds' and with various red cancels; 1 with blue Shanghai Local Post postmark; 7 of 8 with original letters; condition mixed, almost Fine. Scott No. 205  Estimate $400 - 500. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1885 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Aug 9". Red cds on 1885 cover to Pennsylvania, matching grid tying 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, reverse with bold blue Shanghai Local Post and red San Francisco transit backstamps, with original enclosure from Wei Hien, small stamp faults, otherwise Very Fine. Scott No. 205  Estimate $400 - 500. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1885 "U. S. Postal Ag'cy, Shanghai, Oct 13". Red cds on 1885 cover to Ohio, matching grid canceling 1882, 5¢ yellow brown, reverse with red San Francisco entry and receiving backstamps, with original enclosure from Tsingchow, Very Fine. Scott No. 205  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1887 "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai, Aug 19, 87". Purple oval postmark on cover to Ohio, grid canceling 1882, 5¢ yellow brown (s.e.), red San Francisco entry and receiving backstamps, cover with light tone spot on reverse, otherwise Very Fine, a nice strike of the Shanghai oval postmark. Scott No. 205  Estimate $100 - 150. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1891 "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai, Nov 13, 91". Purple oval date stamp on cover to Ohio, grid tying 1891 5¢ chocolate (s.e.), N.Y. entry and receiving backstamps, cover rough opening at left, F.-V.F. Scott No. 223  Estimate $75 - 100. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1892 U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai. Three 1892 covers; each franked with single 5¢ chocolate and neatly tied by U. S. Postal Agency Shanghai duplex cancel, blue Shanghai Local Post postmarks on back, all with original letters from Wei Hien, slightly rough opening (not affecting stamps or postmarks), F.-V.F. Scott No. 223  Estimate $250 - 300. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1895 Hong Kong and Chefoo Local combination cover. To U.S. franked with strip of 3 and 2 singles of Hong Kong 2¢ rose (Scott #36) and 2 singles Chefoo ½¢ green; Hong Kong stamps tied by May 15 Shanghai cancels and Chefoo stamps tied by neat Local Post cancel, additional postmarks include Kobe, Japan, Chefoo and probably Shanghai Local Posts, San Francisco transit, Carthage, Ohio arrival, cover wear, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare combination. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1895 U.S. and Chefoo Local mixed franking cover. The nicest of the four examples; U.S. 1890 5¢ chocolate on cover to Ohio, with 1¢ Chefoo stamp neatly tied by "Feb. 2, 1895 Chefoo Local Post" postmark and both tied by "U. S. Postal Agency Shanghai Feb. 18" duplex; 5 different postmarks on back including Chefoo and Shanghai Local Post, Shanghai duplex, San Francisco cds and Wooster, Ohio cds, with the original letter (dateline Wei Hien), couple tone perf and minor cover edge wear, otherwise Very Fine, a great mixed franking cover and exhibition item. Scott No. 223  Estimate $5,000 - 7,500. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1895 U.S. and Chefoo Local mixed franking cover. Second nicest of these rare covers, with original letter (dateline Wei Hien) - Chefoo stamp tied by Chefoo Local Post Cancel (probably Aug. 13th) and both tied by neat strikes "U. S. Postal Agency Shanghai Aug. 17" duplexes; on back are Chefoo Local Post, Faint Shanghai Local Post, San Francisco cds and Wooster, Ohio cds, few tone spots and rough cover opening at left, otherwise Very Fine. Scott No. 223  Estimate $3,000 - 4,000. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1895 U.S. and Chefoo Local mixed franking cover. The first of the not so nice is a nice looking cover (couple of tears below stamps have been hinge reinforced) - with original letter (dateline Wei Hien); - Chefoo stamp tied by Chefoo Local Post cancel (probably May 26th) and U.S. stamp tied by U. S. Postal Agency Shanghai April 11 duplex; on back are Chefoo and Shanghai Local Post cancels, San Francisco cds and Carthage cds, nearly Fine, not a bad cover, that could be put into an exhibit now, but with a little restoration. Scott No. 223  Estimate $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

China - U.S. Offices, 1895 U.S. and Chefoo Local mixed franking cover. Last of the combination covers, faulty from rough opening at right - with original letter (dateline Wei Hien); Chefoo stamp tied by Feb. 2, 1895 Chefoo Local Post cancel and both tied by U. S. Postal Agency Shanghai duplex; 5 different postmarks on back including Chefoo and faint Shanghai Local Post, Shanghai duplex, San Francisco cds and Carthage cds, a V.G. cover, a real rarity begging for restoration to make it an exhibitable cover. Estimate  $500 - 750. $0 (Image)