China, 1880 (22 Apr.) envelope from Lurgan to William Hancock, Imperial Customs, Peking bearing Great Britain line engraved 2d. blue and surface printed 1d. Venetian red strip of three, cancelled by "Lurgan/316" duplex, in combination with Large Dragons 3ca., rough perfs., with sheet margin at right, cancelled by "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "May 31 80", with another very fine strike of the Customs dater and "Singapore/To Hong Kong/A" marine sorter c.d.s. (22.5) on reverse, two Great Britain stamps have small faults due to application just over the edge of the envelope. A rare and alluring cover from the Hancock correspondence. A fantastic exhibition item. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 800,000 - 1,000,000

Provenance: J. Grant Glassco, Robson Lowe (London), 27.11.1969, lot 1393
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Zurich), 24.10.1984, lot 40623
"The Opening of China 1701-1885. A Study of Mail to and from China", Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 12.11.1987, lot 3129.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 138-139.
Jeffrey S. Schneider, "Incoming Mail from Overseas to China bearing Large Dragons Stamps," The Large Dragon Stamp and the Customs Post of the Qing Dynasty, 140th Anniversary (Beijing, 2018), pp. 171-175, 186.

ONLY TWENTY-TWO INCOMING COVERS FROM OVERSEAS ARE RECORDED FRANKED WITH LARGE DRAGON STAMPS TO PAY THE DOMESTIC POSTAGE. OF THESE, SEVENTEEN COVERS ORIGINATE FROM GREAT BRITAIN, AND ALL BUT THREE ARE FROM THE HANCOCK CORRESPONDENCE.

The British postage paid the 5d. (pence) overseas rate for ½ ounce letters, which was introduced for all routes sometime in February 1880. The Large Dragon 3ca. represented the domestic postage from Shanghai to Peking.

William Hancock's service with the Imperial Maritime Customs spanned more than thirty years, having begun in 1874. At the time of posting of this letter, he was the 3rd Assistant A at the Inspectorate General of Customs at Peking, a position which he had taken up on 1 October 1879, while also studying the Chinese language.

Since Hancock was a member of the Chinese Customs Service, mail addressed to him was treated as official mail and, therefore, exempt from ordinary postage; however, Large Dragon stamps were still applied to such mail, but the cost of the stamps were accounted for in a special ledger (Account A) maintained by the Customs, which was responsible for the expenses incurred for the carriage of such mail. Est. HK$800,000-1,000,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800,000-1,000,000

China, 1880 (5 June) envelope to St. Marcellin, France (27.7) bearing on reverse Large Dragons thin paper 3ca. red-brown, rough perfs., Setting I, horizontal strip of three [8-9-10] with sheet margin at right, cancelled by Peking seal in blue and additionally tied by matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Jun 5 80", "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring transit d.s. of "Jun 7 80" and French "Marseille à Lyon/Special" T.P.O. c.d.s. (26.7), with "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Jun 11 80" alongside, and on front France Peace and Commerce 5c. and 30c., cancelled by large figures "5104" and showing "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (14.6) adjacent, with St. Marcellin arrival c.d.s. on reverse, envelope opened out for display, patched tear through address panel and small part of reverse not affecting stamps or markings. A very fine and lovely second year envelope sent at an enigmatic rate. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 300,000

Expertisation: Signed M. Jamet in pencil
R(oger) Calves guarantee handstam.

Provenance: Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Zurich), 24.10.1984, lot 40611.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 146-148.

According to the "Postal Notification" of 1 November 1879, effective from 15 November, the rate to Europe was 8 candarins, so the envelope was overfranked by 1 candarin. Interestingly, the envelope was addressed to a French Minister Plenipotentiary. Had the envelope contained commercial papers sent via Italy, then 9 candarins would conceivably have been the rate. Nevertheless, this is one of the earliest recorded envelopes franked at 9 candarins, which from 15 November 1882 would become the standard Foreign members country rate. Est. HK$250,000-300,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$250,000-300,000

China, 1882 (2 Dec.) envelope to Exeter, England (30.1.83) bearing on reverse Large Dragons thin paper 1ca. and wide margins 3ca. and 5ca., cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. of "2 Dec 82" and additionally tied by "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring transit d.s. of "Dec 11 82" and "Exeter" arrival c.d.s., with "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Dec 18 82" in red alongside, and on front France 25c. bistre on straw, cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (20.12) and showing "Modane à Paris" French entry c.d.s. (28.1.83) in red adjacent, the France 25c. has a tiny corner fault, and, as is typical with many envelopes from the Bandinel correspondence which are on flimsy paper, this was originally tatty and subsequently has had some restoration mainly around the edges, as well as a tiny portion of the Tientsin Customs dater drawn in where the envelope was a little roughly opened. A highly desirable and appealing cover with this rare tricolour franking representing all three values of the Large Dragons, especially so with the wide margins 5 candarins. Chan 1, 5, 6.
Estimate HK$ 350,000 - 400,000

Provenance: H.B.R. Clarke, Robson Lowe (London), 22.4.1953 lot 42. A founder of the China Section of the City of London Philatelic Society (later the China Stamp Society) and Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London, "China" Clarke was quoted as saying: "If had spent as much effort and thought on my business as on collecting my stamps I should have been a millionaire."
Allen Gokson
L.Y. Woo
Joseph K.C. Wong
Robson Lowe (London) Rarities Auction, 8.5.1980, lot 44
Stanley Gibbons (Hong Kong), 26.11.1980, lot 199
David Feldman (Geneva), 13.4.1984, lot 2004.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 305-307.

The 9 candarins single rate to Europe

The sender, Jane Gill Bandinel, was the wife of James J.F. Bandinel, who had founded the Bandinel Company in 1881, which grew into an extensive commercial enterprise in both the import-export and shipping sectors in Manchuria. James J.F. Bandinel also held honorary consular positions in Newchwang for various countries including the United States. Est. HK$350,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$350,000-400,000

China, 1884 (27 May) neat envelope to Troy, New York bearing on reverse Large Dragons thick paper 3ca. red-brown, cancelled and tied by Ichang seal and additionally tied by "San Francisco, Cal./Paid All" c.d.s. (10.7) in red, with superb matching "Customs/Ichang" origin c.d.s. and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Jun 1 84" alongside, and on front U.S. Taylor 5c. blue, cancelled by barred cork h.s. in red and showing "U.S. Postal Ag'cy/Shanghai" matching c.d.s. also in red adjacent, with "Troy, N.Y./Rec'd." arrival c.d.s. on reverse, the envelope is opened out for display, extremely fine and flawless; among the rarest and most exceptional of all the combination covers. A stunning cover of immense grandeur and importance. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 1,500,000 - 2,000,000

Provenance: Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 2.5.1972, lot 68
James Huangco
Chen Sun-Sing
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Zurich), 24.10.1984, lot 40630
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.11.1996, lot A200.

References: James B. Whang, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons (Taipei: Whang's Philatelic Foundation, 1997), pp. 406-407.

ONLY TWO LARGE DRAGON COVERS ARE RECORDED USED FROM ICHANG. THE OTHER COVER (EX DR. WARREN G. KAUDER AND JAMES B. WHANG) IS FROM THE SAME CORRESPONDENCE AND IS DATED 19 AUGUST 1885, BUT THE LARGE DRAGON STAMP IS NOT TIED.

The 3 candarins domestic rate and 5 cents for foreign postage to the U.S.A. with both stamps applied by the sender at the time of posting.

A Brief Census of the Eleven Extant Large Dragon - U.S. combination frankings :
Chinkiang - 2
Ichang - 2
Tientsin - 5
Incoming - 2. Est. HK$1,500,000-2,000,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500,000-2,000,000

China, 1888 (21 Apr.) envelope ("Kaiserlich Deutsches Consulat/Tientsin" white on blue embossed paper seal on flap) to Peking bearing thick paper, rough perfs., 3ca. bright vermilion with part sheet margin at foot and 5ca. chrome-yellow Setting VIII, horizontal strip of four [6-4-16-24] and vertical pair [1/19], cancelled by Tientsin type 6 seal in blue, with matching "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. of "Apl 21 88" on reverse, the 3ca. has a 6.5mm. tear at lower left corner and the 5ca. stamp at right has a corner crease and light tones, nevertheless fine for such a large and impressive franking. Chan 11, 12.
Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 300,000

Expertisation: Signed Peter Holcombe.

A large linen diplomatic envelope franked at 33 candarins paying the 11 times weight domestic rate.

Based on its colour and position from the foot of the sheet, the 3ca. appears to be cliché [3] and could very well be from Setting IX, from which only eight positions have been identified to date. Since it is a single stamp and not a multiple, this cannot be stated with certitude. Est. HK$250,000-300,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$250,000-300,000