China, Customs Mail Matter/Hankow : 1883 (17 Dec.) envelope to New York (2.2.84) via Yokohama, showing "Hankow Customs/Mail Matter" small unframed oval h.s. with seriffed letters (type II) in red, matching "Customs/Hankow" double-ring origin d.s. of "Dec 17 83" and "Customs/Shanghai" (20.12) double-ring transit d.s. of "Dec 20 83" in blue, both on reverse, and bearing on front Large Dragons 1ca., 3ca. and 5ca., cancelled by Shanghai seal and Japan Koban 5s., cancelled by "crossroads" cork type, with matching "I.J.P.A./Shanghai" c.d.s. (2.1.84) adjacent, the Large Dragon 5ca. has been removed before arrival in Japan and the "Yokohama" transit c.d.s. struck over the area where the stamp was originally applied, the stamps have faults and the envelope opened out for display. A rare and exceptional combination of the Customs Mail Matter handstamp and Large Dragons.
Estimate 150,000 - 200,000

Provenance: Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 316
Paul K.S. Chang, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 10.5.2001, lot 18.

References: Paul Ke-Shing Chang, History of Postal Cancellation of China, Part I (1989), p. 163.
James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of the Large Dragons (Taipei, 1997), pp. 377-378.
Customs Daters (1875-1913), Philatelic Writers' Club (Taiwan, 2008), p. 65.
Jeffrey S. Schneider, "A Survey of Customs Mail Matter Handstamps Used During the Large Dragon Period, 1883-1887", Asian Philatelist, Vol. 2 (R.P.S.L.: Suzhou, 2011), p. 34.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR LARGE DRAGON COVERS RECORDED WITH CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER HANDSTAMPS.

The rate to the U.S. through the Japanese Post Office was reduced to 6 candarins in November 1882, so it is not clear why 9 candarins of Chinese postage was originally affixed. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000

China, Customs Mail Matter/Peking : 1886 (12 Oct.) envelope from "E. Ruhstrat, Chinese Customs Service, Peking, China" to Berlin (23.11), redirected internally (24.11), showing "I.G./Mail Matter" oval d.s., matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. and black "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (17.10) on reverse, France Peace and Commerce 25c. applied over the Mail Matter h.s. and cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (20.10), fine usage from this famous Customs official during the Large Dragons period.
Estimate 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 (5 Feb.) registered envelope to Peking (26.4) via London (8.2), New York (22.2), St. Paul (25.2), Winnipeg (26.2), Vancouver (2.3), and Shanghai (20.4) bearing France Peace and Commerce 10c. and 40c., cancelled by c.d.s., with appropriate transits including San Francisco registered label, and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Apr 20 97" in brown and "I.G. of Customs/Peking" arrival double-ring d.s. of "Apl 26 97" in blue, the envelope marked "Inconnue à Peking" in crayon and returned to the French P.O. in Shanghai for eventual return to sender in Paris, with "Shanghai" dollar dater (21.6) in brown with French P.O. "Retour/à l'Envoyeur/5104" instructional h.s. and "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (23.7), "Modane à Paris" French entry c.d.s. (30.8) in red and Paris arrival c.d.s. (1.9). A remarkable example of returned mail, as well as routing from Europe to China by Atlantic Ocean, North American overland and Pacific Ocean mail.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1897 (11 Sept.) decorative envelope to Vienna (23.10) via Shanghai (16.9), showing "Paid" bilingual h.s. in brown, matching "Peking" dollar dater (11.9, "S" in "Sept" reversed), and bearing France "Chine" 25c., cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (17.9), light vertical central letter fold crossing the "Paid" handstamp, nevertheless fine to very fine.
Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1898 local Shanghai envelope, showing "Paid" bilingual framed h.s., with "Shanghai/Local Post/C" double-ring d.s. on reverse, fine and late usage as a postage paid marking on local mail.
Estimate 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500