China, 1878 (5 Oct.) linen envelope to "Messrs. Hall & Holtz, Shanghai" (12.10) "pr. Customs Courier", showing "Legacion del Peru/China Japon & Hawaii" sender's cachet in purple and bearing 1878 thin paper 5ca. yellow-orange pair and single, cancelled by "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Oct 5 78" in blue and additionally by "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Oct 12 78" in red, with "Shanghae Local Post/D" arrival c.d.s. (12.10) in blue and red wax seal of the Peruvian Legation on reverse, small opening faults at top and the pair has blunt or trimmed perfs. at top, fine and spectacular usage of the utmost importance for Chinese postal history. The iconic cover of the ultimate exhibition calibre. Chan 3.
Estimate 7,000,000 - 9,000,000

Provenance: H.C. Chen
T.C. Wong
T.C. Chen
Allen Gokson
Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 2.5.1972, lot 56
James Huangco
Chen Sun-Sing
James B. Whang, Christie's Swire (Hong Kong), 2.11.1994 lot 1789.

References: A Select Collection of Large Dragon Stamps and Postmarks (Taipei: Directorate General of Posts, 1981), p. 17.
James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 52-53. Illustrated.
Customs Dater (1875-1913), Philatelic Writers' Club (Taiwan, 2008), pp. 149-150. Illustrated.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE OF THE LARGE DRAGONS STAMPS ON COVER, AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER BEARING IMPERIAL CHINA STAMPS.

ONLY FOUR ENVELOPES BEARING LARGE DRAGONS ARE RECORDED USED IN 1878.

The "Postal Notification" of 1 May 1878 established the 5 candarins domestic rate for letters weighing ½ ounce mailed from Peking to Shanghai. The 15 candarins franking represents the triple rate.

There are three other covers recorded with Large Dragons stamps used in 1878. All are from the same correspondence as the Olsson envelope and similarly endorsed "pr. Customs Courier".

1.) 7 October 1878 envelope bearing 5ca. pair. Double rate.

Provenance
— Michael Newbury, Robert A. Siegel (New York), 6.2.1962, lot 119
— Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 39
— Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Genenva), 24.10.1984, lot 40578
— Lam Man Yin

2.) 30 October 1878 envelope bearing 5ca. vertical strip of three and singles (2). Five times rate franking.

Provenance
— Henry Everall, Stanley Gibbons (Australia), 20.2.1993, lot 39
— David Feldman (Geneva), 1-5.11.1994, lot 10872

3.) 23 November 1878 envelope bearing 5ca. cancelled by "Paid" framed h.s. in blue. Single rate. This is the only recorded cover with a Large Dragon cancelled by the "Paid" h.s. of Peking.

Provenance
— Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40579
— Lam Man Yin. Est. HK$7,000,000-9,000,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000,000-9,000,000

China, 1879 (Mar.) envelope to Paris (27.4) bearing on reverse 1878 thin paper 3ca. red-brown and 5ca. orange horizontal pair, both rough perfs., cancelled by Peking seals in blue, with "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring transit d.s. of "Mar 6 79" alongside, showing on front "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Mar 8 79" in red, in combination with France 35c., cancelled by large figures "5104", with matching "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (13.3) adjacent, the Large Dragons stamps just tied by French entry c.d.s. and "Paris/(60)" arrival c.d.s. (27.4), endorsed "Hart" in manuscript in the lower right corner of the envelope (most probably indicating Sir Robert Hart as the subject of the letter), the envelope opened out for display, extremely fine and one of the most important Large Dragons covers from this early period.
Estimate 1,000,000 - 1,200,000

Provenance: Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 23.11.1989, lot 2025
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.11.1996, lot A187.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 61-62. Illustrated.
Customs Dater (1875-1913), Philatelic Writers' Club (Taiwan, 2008), pp. 237-238. Illustrated.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED ENVELOPE SENT OUTSIDE CHINA BEARING LARGE DRAGONS.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED CHINA-FRANCE LARGE DRAGONS COMBINATION COVER.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE OF THE PEKING SEAL ON COVER.

The 13 candarins single rate to Europe via Brindisi, according to the "Postal Notification" of 1 November 1878.

Taking into account the absence of a Peking dater, this was most probably sent on 5 March.

Based on the manuscript docketing on the front of the envelope, the subject of the letter related to Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs in Peking.

From the famous correspondence to Gustave Vapereau, who was Inspector General of Primary Education in Paris, from his son, Charles Vapereau, who was Professor of French at Tungwen College in Peking. Sir Robert Hart later recommended that Charles Vapereau be appointed the Chinese representative of the 1900 Universal Exposition in Paris. Est. HK$1,000,000-1,200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000,000-1,200,000

China, 1880 (22 Apr.) envelope to Bath, Maine "Via Japan" bearing on reverse 1878 thin paper 3ca. brown-red, rough perfs., cancelled by Peking seal in blue, matching "Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Apl 22 80" in blue and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Apl 26 80" on reverse, and on front Japan Koban 5s. brown, cancelled by "crossroads" type, showing "I.J. Postal Agency/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. (1.5) and "Yokohama" transit c.d.s. (13.5) adjacent, with "San Francisco/Pd. All" transit c.d.s. (31.5) in red applied over origin dater on reverse, the envelope opened out for display, very fine and appealing usage. Chan 2.
Estimate 250,000 - 300,000

Provenance: "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 29.9.1988, lot 4107.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 137-138. Illustrated.

The 3 candarins single rate with China and Japan adhesives both applied in Peking at the time of posting by the sender in order to prepay the internal and foreign postage.

The preferential rate to the U.S.A. through the Japanese Post Office was 5 sen. The sender affixed a 3 candarins stamp to pay the domestic postage to Shanghai and his own Japan 5 sen stamp for transmission through the Japanese Post Office. Standard procedure was to affix 7 candarins of Chinese stamps at the post office through which the letter was being sent (in this case, the preferential rate to the U.S.A. through the Japanese P.O.), and, in exchange for this, the equivalent amount of foreign stamps would be applied by the Customs Post Office. Thus, there would be no domestic postage to pay. Est. HK$250,000-300,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$250,000-300,000

China, 1880 (13 Sept.) envelope to Chefoo bearing 1878 3ca. brown-red, cancelled by Tientsin large type 2 seal and showing matching "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. of "Sep 13 80" on reverse, the envelope opened out for display, fine and scarce domestic usage. Chan 2.
Estimate 100,000 - 120,000

Provenance: Dr. Warren G. Attwood, Harmer, Rooke (New York), 7.10.1954, lot 6 (no photo).
Michael Newbury, Robert A. Siegel (New York), 6.2.1952, lot 112.
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40619
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Corinphila), 15.5.1997, lot B81.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 161-162. Illustrated.

The 3 candarins domestic rate for letters weighing ½ ounce or less.

Only two covers to Chefoo bearing Large Dragons have been recorded. The other envelope was also mailed on 13 September 1880 and was in the Sir Percival David collection (Robson Lowe, 16.12.1964, lot 1081). Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1880 (26 Nov.) printed envelope to Paris bearing on reverse 1878 thin paper 3ca. brown-red, cancelled by Peking seal, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Nov 26 80" and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Dec 1 80" alongside, and on front France Peace and Commerce 35c., cancelled by large figures "5104", with "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (2.12) and red "Indo-Chine/Paq. Fr. Modane" French entry c.d.s. (9.1.81) adjacent, the envelope opened out for display (a little roughly at top and a few sealed tears at foot), fine combination cover.
Estimate 150,000 - 200,000

The 3 candarins single domestic rate with Imperial China and French adhesives both applied in Peking at the time of posting in order to prepay the internal and foreign postage.

From the famous correspondence to Gustave Vapereau, who was Inspector General of Primary Education in Paris, from his son, Charles Vapereau, who was Professor of French at Tungwen College in Peking. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000

China, 1882 (21 Nov.) envelope to Exeter, England bearing on reverse 1882 wide margin 3ca. brown-red Setting VI or VII, vertical strip of three [23/5/21] with small sheet margin at top and large sheet margin at foot, cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. of "Nov 21 82", showing "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Nov 25 82" in red, the strip additionally tied by "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 10" c.d.s. (5.12), and on front France 25c. bistre on straw cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (29.11), with another fine strike adjacent, small piece of flap at back missing and a few light climatic tones, fine typically flimsy envelope from the Bandinel correspondence.
Estimate 300,000 - 400,000

Provenance: Lyons Livingston, H.R. Harmer (New York), 4.12.1973, lot 45
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40617.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 297-298. Illustrated.

The 9 candarins single rate to Europe. Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, 1886 (27 Apr.) envelope to London (15.6) bearing on reverse 1885 thick paper 3ca. brown-red, rough perfs., Setting XIV, vertical strip of three [13/7/21], cancelled by Tientsin type 6 seal in blue and additionally tied by matching "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. of "Apl 27 86", showing "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "May 2 86" adjacent, and on front France 25c. bistre on straw, cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (7.5), with "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 2" c.d.s. (13.5), "Paris à Calais" c.d.s. (15.6) and red "London E" arrival c.d.s. (15.6), the last also tying the strip, the envelope opened out for display and some minor age spotting, fine to very fine example of mail addressed to England carried by a French steamer, the "Natal", which left Shanghai on 8 May and arrived in Marseille on 13 June.
Estimate 300,000 - 400,000

Provenance: Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 116
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40619
"Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4776.

References: A Select Collection of Large Dragon Stamps and Postmarks (Taipei: Directorate General of Posts, 1981), p. 70.
James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 516-518. Illustrated.

The 9 candarins single rate to Europe. Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, Hwa Yang Letter Agency : 1881 (Nov.) red-band envelope (with original enclosure) from Tientsin to the National Academy in Peking, showing on reverse two strikes of "Despatched by Hwa Yang Shu Hsin Kuan at Tientsin on 10th Month, 14th day" (6.11.1881) framed Horse and Dragon motif d.s. in red overstruck by similar dater of "10th Month, 15th day" (7.11.1881), with Hwa Yang Shu Hsin Kuan Peking arrival of "10th Month, 17th day" (9.11.1881) framed Horse and Dragon motif d.s. in red and matching two-line advertising h.s. which reads "Send reply as usual to the Hwa Yang Shu Hsin Kuan at Ta Mo Chang, Xi Tou Road, Yu Long Shop", small tear at lower left corner on reverse, fine to very fine strikes of these handstamps and a very late usage.
Estimate 150,000 - 200,000

Provenance: Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 26.10.1993, lot 1882.

References: Benjamin Y.K. Hwa, "A Study of the Postal History of the Hwa Yang Shu Hsin Kuan", Collector's Philatelic Annual Report, Taipei, 1992, pp. 227-260. This is cover number 21 in his listing.
Benjamin Y.K. Hwa, "What is 'Po Shu Ta Shu Hsin Kuan'", The Postal History Research Magazine. Taipei: Straits Postal History Research Society, No. 10, p. 7. Illustrated.

THIS IS THE LATEST RECORDED DATE OF THE TWENTY-ONE ENVELOPES RECORDED BY MR. HWA.

Established in July 1878 as a parallel native service under the auspices of the Customs Post, the Hwa Yang Letter Agency was viewed by Sir Robert Hart as a means of eliminating the civilian courier service which handled the mails of the Chinese; however, this experiment ended in 1882 with its closure and absorption by the Customs Post.

According to Mr. Hwa's definitive article published in 1992, there were twenty-one covers reported; today there may well be more. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000