British Post Office. 1875, Hong Kong QV 24c green tied by black "Y1" of Yokohama barred oval on envelope endorsed "per Geelong" to Dresden, Germany, additionally with "P.D." on front, on reverse "Yokohama A OC 4 75" cds, transit "Hong Kong OC 11 75" and arrival "Ausg 22 11 No. 1". Before November 1875, almost all recorded Yokohama treaty port covers bear a blue Y1 cancellation. From November 1875, igenerally the "Y1" cancellation is found in black ; this cover is not included in the Gurevitch census. In extremely fine condition. A very early usage in black of this dispatch postmark. Provenance: Knapp (Image)

British Post Office » Incoming Mail. 1869 (March 19) Entire letter from London to Nagasaki, franked by two singles and two pairs of 1858-76 2d blue pl. 12, tied by duplex datestamps on dispatch, with "Hong Kong My 6 69" cds on reverse. A very fine 1 shilling franking for the Southampton route (1861-1877). (Image)

1868 (July 17) Cover from London addressed to Bernard Eccard & Raud in Yokohama, franked by single and marginal strip of three of 1865-67 4d deep vermilion pl. 9, tied by "47" numerals, additionally by Calais transit, paying the 1s 4d rate, with blue London and "Yokohama 7 Sept. 68 Bau. Français" cds's on back. Mail from Great Britain is unusual with the arrival cds of the French P.O. in Yokohama, the Brühl or the "Magnolia" collection did not have any. (Image)

1872 (May 31) Cover from London to Yokohama, carried at double rate with 1871 3d rose pl. 7, two examples, and 1870 4d deep vermilion pl. 12, single, pair and strip of three, tied by London duplexes, backstamped in Hong Kong and Yokohama British cds's, the latter applied in blue. One of the most impressive frankings from the Raud correspondence. (Image)

1867-68 Trio of cover/entire letters from London addressed to western merchants in Yokohama, carried at 1s via Southampton and 1s 4d via French packet rates, with frankings including 1s single, 4d + 6d (2) and 2d + 4d (2) + 6d. Two items bearing very fine strikes of the French P.O. cds of Yokohama on reverse, the third struck in transit in Hong Kong. Mail from Great Britain is unusual with the arrival cds of the French P.O. in Yokohama, the Brühl or the "Magnolia" collection did not have any. A fine trio. (Image)

1872 (April 19) Envelope addressed to Major C.W. Burton in the Royal Marine Camp in Yokohama, paying the 1s 3d rate via Brindisi with 1871 3d rose pl. 7 and 1s green pl. 5, tied by "40" numeral within square with external bars cancel, with associated neat "Gravensend B Ap 19 72" dispatch cds at left. Very fine. (Image)

1869-74 Group of six covers or entire letters from London to Yokohama, originating from the Eccard & Raud correspondence, showing the 1s 3d, 1s 6d and the double 2s 8d rates. All with arrival cds of the British P.O. at Yokohama, in black or blue. In 1868 Joseph Raud joined the business of Bernard & Eccard, but in 1871 Mr. Raud founded his own merchant company, being active in trade until when he left Japan in 1877. One cover with corner torn off, otherwise very fine. (Image)