REMARKABLE EARLY MAIL TO JAPAN FROM SWITZERLAND; 16 Mar. 1864 env. (small faults, mainly on rear) 'By Overland mail via Marseilles' to the 'Counsellor the Swiss Commercial Legation in Japan' care of a firm in Shanghai. Franked seated Helvetia 60c + 30c (perf faults) and tied by Bern cds with additional strike at top right and with "SUISSE AMB. MARSEILLES" transit cds also on front. Rear with Geneva and two strikes "SHANG-HAI/BAU FRANCAIS" cds. Endorsed on rear flap as being received at Yokohama on 18 May. Exceptional destination and important exhibition item. Ex 'Nostalgia' (2016) Cross Reference : JAPAN, SWITZERLAND (Image)

VERY EARLY CUSTOMS CHEFOO DATESTAMP; 25 Oct. 1877 env. (minor blemishes) to the Ship 'G.H.Wappaus' Hong Kong franked Germany 20pf pair tied by Hamburg cds and redirected to 'Chefoo'. the rear with Brindisi, "HONG-KONG/SINGAPORE-TO/HONG-KONG/ MARINE-SORTER" and "CUSTOMS/CHEFOO" ds and unusually early thus. Rare and attractive. Cross Reference : GERMANY, REDIRECTED MAIL, HONG KONG, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

MULTI-REDIRECTED & RETURNED POSTCARD EX GERMANY; 24 Dec. 1889 10pf PC to Tientsin, indicia with "ARNSTADT" cds with "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" (18.2.1890 - small '90') arrival d.s. on front. Redirected back to Arnstadt and sent via Shanghai with "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" cds on front and rear with "SHANGHAI" and German PO in Shanghai cds. A framed "To Pay." h.s. has also been applied for the redirection charges.Upon arrival in Arnstadt over a year later, the card has been redirected once more to Berlin. A very unusual journey. Attractive. Cross Reference : GERMANY, CHINA - GERMAN POST OFFICES, GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD, REDIRECTED MAIL (Image)

INCOMING POSTCARD MISSENT TO NEW ZEALAND; 5 Mar. 1892 German 10pf PC (small corner defect at top right) to Chefoo and used at Hanover with two strikes of cds on front and a fine circular "MISSENT/TO/DUNEDIN" h.s. and datestamps for Dunedin, Bluff & Invercargill also on front. Hong Kong and Shanghai transit h.s. also on front or rear. Impressive card suitable for China, Germany and New Zealand specialists. Cross Reference : GERMANY, MISSENT MAIL, NEW ZEALAND, HONG KONG (Image)