French Post Offices. 1863 (March 21) Stampless cover to Valréas, bearing "SHANG-HAI/Bau FRANÇAIS" cds, red Suez French entry and ms charge of 90c on receipt, an unusual unpaid mail.

Incoming Mail. 1863 (Dec 12) Cover endorsed "French closed mail" from Boston to Shanghai, franked by U.S. 1861-66 30c orange (Scott 71), tied by cork cancel with red "BOSTON BR. Pkt/27PAID" cds at left, boxed "P.D.", French transits on front and reverse, with receiving cds of the French P.O. of Shanghai on back, very fine and infrequent usage via French mail. (Image)

1864 (May 5) Envelope to Bordeaux, franked by 1862 10c, 20c (top left corner defective) and 40c, each tied by "5104" numerals, with matching "SHANG-HAÏ/BAU FRANÇAIS" cds at left, red entry on front, transit and receiving cds's on back. (Image)

1865 (Nov 21) Incoming cover from Marseilles to Shanghai, sent stampless with dispatch cds, charged on receipt with "9" decimes due hs, with French Shanghai arrival cds on reverse, a rare usage of a tax pmk; cert. Roumet 2003). (Image)

1870 (Sept 15) Double rate cover from Shanghai to Hamburg, franked by 1867 80c strip of three (one stamp affected by small tear), tied by "5104" lozenges with corresponding "SHANG-HAÏ/BAU FRANÇAIS" cds in centre, backstamped with machine cancel arrival. (Image)

1871 (Nov 22) Cover to Lyon carried at single rate by British packet with 1853 10c & 40c, as well as very fresh and large margined 'Bordeaux' 80c, tied by dotted "5104" lozenges with "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds alongside, backstamped on receipt, a rare usage in Shanghai of the 'Bordeaux' 80c; signed Roumet; (Yvert €4'000 for the 80c). (Image)

1872 (Aug 3) Double rate cover via French packet to St. Etienne, bearing 1863-71 80c pair and 1870-71 40c, tied by dotted "5104" lozenge, with"SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds at left, transit and receiving backstamps, very fine; signed Lamy. (Image)

1873 (Sept 20) Cover to Paris endorsed "Via Brindisi" (by British packet), bearing 1870-71 40c single and strip of three and 1871-7580c strip of three and 10c (2), tied by dotted "5104" lozenges, showing "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" and red entry cds's alongside, some imperfections affecting one 40c and one 80c, a very spectacular and most rare franking paying the triple rate; cert. Roumet (2012). (Image)

1873 (Nov 27) Cover via Marseilles at single rate to Lyon, franked by very fresh 1871-75 25c type I strip of four, tied by dotted "5104" lozenges and "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds, arrival on reverse, very fine. (Image)

1874 (Nov 27) Mourning envelope to Munich (Bavaria), via French packet with 1871-75 30c strip of four (second stamp from left faulty at top), tied by dotted "5104" lozenges and matching "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds below, receiving cds on back, an unusual destination. (Image)

1875 (June 19) Envelope to Munich franked by 1871-75 80c strip of three, tied by dotted "5104" lozenges, "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds at left, French transits and receiver on reverse, a rare double rate cover to Bavaria. (Image)

1875 (Sept 18) Cover from Shanghai via Brindisi to Lyon, franked by 1870-75 10c brown on rose, 40c and 80c, each tied by "5104" lozenge, showing corresponding French dispatch cds in centre, red entry cds in France alongside, and receiver on back, an attractive three-colour franking. (Image)

1876 (Jan-April) Two covers to France, one via Brindisi franked by 1871-75 30c & 80c (signed Roumet), the other via Marseilles addressed to the famous collector of Asian art who founded the Cernuschi Museum in Paris, with 1871-75 10c (2) and 80c, both with "5104" cancels and "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds, a duo of great appearance to show the British and French packet rates. (Image)

THE MOST IMPORTANT COVER OF THE FRENCH MAIL IN CHINA 1876 (Nov 4) Opened envelope to Port-Vendres, readdressed to Perpignan, dispatched at Chefoo showing "CUSTOMS/CHEFOO" cds on reverse, transferred to the French P.O. bearing 'Cérès' 80c and 1871 10c tête-bêche pair, tied by "5104" lozenges with "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds at left, French transits and receiving cds's on reverse; an extraordinary and unique cover as a result of the following features: the only item known bearing a tête-bêche -which is the most significant franking in the French mail in China- in conjunction with a pre-philatelic Chinese postmark; regardless of this fabulous combination, just four covers are recorded exhibiting the Chefoo cds in the stampless period of Chinese philately, this representing the earliest usage of a Customs cds in combination with France, and only about five covers are known bearing a tête-bêche (also featuring the perf. 'Empire' 80c) used in the French P.O.; the assembly of these characteristics make this, the most important item of the French mail in china, as well as a most desirable postal-history top rarity for the advanced collection of China, since this item can be considered as the most important Customs Post cover in the pre-stamp period; cert. J.F. Brun (2021), signed Pfenninger; (Yvert €25,000 for the French franking only). (Image)

1877 (July 7) Envelope to Marseilles via Brindisi franked by 1870-71 40c, tied by gros chiffres "5104", bold strike of "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds at left; cert. Roumet (2010).

1878 (March 14) Envelope to Mulhouse (then Germany), franked by 1871-75 5c pair and 15c pair, tied by gros chiffres "5104" with matching "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds adjacent, red "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR. N°10" cds below, Naples transit and Mulhouse receiver on reverse; a scarce combination to make up the 35c rate; cert. Roumet (2010); (Yvert €1'000 for the 5c on cover). (Image)

1878 (July 27) Cover to Madrid with red "LEGACIÓN DE ESPAÑA/EN/CHINA" hs, franked by Type Sage 5c with gutter margin at right and 40c, each tied by "5104" lozenge with matching "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds adjacent at right, French transits and receiving cds on back, a scarce destination. (Image)

1880 (Jan 15) Envelope to Madrid, with red "DELEGACION DE ESPAÑA/EN/CHINA" cachet in red at lower left, franked by 'Sage' 35c tied by "5104" lozenge with matching "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds alongside, showing on reverse China 'Large Dragon' 3ca which does not belong to the cover, Madrid bs, a very scarce destination; signed Drahn on front an reverse (despite the Chinese franking not originating on this cover). (Image)

1880 (May 11) Envelope via Brindisi to Oldenburg (Ruhstrat correspondence), bearing 1871 Cérès 30c and Type Sage 5c, each tied by "5104" numeral with corresponding "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" cds at left, red French entry cds alongside and arrival on reverse, a scarce Cérès-Sage mixed franking on one of the earliest covers from the famous Ruhstrat correspondence. (Image)

1881 (March 22) Illustrated envelope showing a design about the tea and addressed to Würzburg (Germany), franked by Type Sage 35c tied by dotted "5104" lozenge, "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" cds at left, backstamped on arrival, a scarce usage of this value with the gros chiffres cancellation, further enhanced by the delightful and unusual illustrated cover; (Yvert €1'800+). (Image)

1881 (May 8) Cover (opened for display) to Halle (Germany), fully prepaid on departure with, on reverse, China 1878 Large Dragons thin paper 1ca (one short corner perf.), 3ca and 5ca (Chan 1-3), tied by blue Peking seal cancel, with matching "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" cds, "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (13.5) and arrival cds's also on back, where offsets of the "5104" lozenge are also found, entering the French P.O. with Type Sage 5c and 30c on front, tied by dotted "5104" cancel with matching "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" cds at left; addressee erased, a very rare combination cover including the complete set of the first Chinese issue; signed Holcombe. Provenance: Mochi (CHF15'000 hammer price by David Feldman, lot 40612, Oct. 1984). (Image)

1881 (July 1) Cover to Mainz (Germany) bearing Type Sage 2c, 4c and 15c grey (2), being overpaid by 1c for the single 35c rate, franking tied by dotted "5104" lozenges with "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" cds adjacent, backstamp on receipt, a probably unique combination from China; signed Calves; (the 2c is unrecorded in Yvert with the GC cancel). (Image)

1885 (July 29) Fully prepaid cover (opened for display) to Le Mans, redirected to Mont Cenis, franked on reverse on dispatch with China 1885 Large Dragons Dragons on thick paper, 3ca rough perf. (Chan 11), tied by blue Peking seal cancel, with matching "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" cds alongside, together with "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (2.8) cds and French transits on reverse, transferred to the French P.O. for external transmission and franked with Type Sage 25c bister and yellow, tied by scarce "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" Daguin duplex, repeated adjacent, faint strike of red French entry, a very rare China first-issue combination cover; signed Holcombe. Provenance: Alex Droar, "Ming" collection. (Image)

1885 (Dec 30) Cover to Berlin franked by Type Sage 25c bistre and yellow, tied by "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" Daguin duplex, backstamped on receipt, a rare cancellation.

1886 (Sept 9) Official cover initially sent free of charge bearing blue "I.G./Mail Matter" oval hs, with blue "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" (9.9) and black "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" cds's on reverse, Type Sage 25c bistre and yellow (top right corner defective) applied on obverse, tied by scarce "SHANG-HAÏ/CHINE" Daguin duplex, an exceptional combination. (Image)