German Post Offices. Naval Mail. 1886 Cover endorsed "frei!" sent by a member of the German Navy onboard "SMS Bismarck" at Chefoo and addressed to Neuwied, carried in closed bag to Berlin where it entered the regular mail with 1886-90 20pf, paying the single rate, tied by "BERLIN,C./15 11 86" cds, a very rare example of early naval bulk mailing from China. (Image)

1888 (April 4) Cover to Münster, unfranked on dispatch, exhibiting superb "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" CDS, charged on delivery for double the amount due with "40" in blue crayon, arrival cds on reverse, a very rare example of unpaid mail on dispatch. (Image)

1888 (June)-1889 (Nov) Two envelopes to Berlin (redirected to Dülmen) and Bremen, bearing different frankings incl. 1886-90 10pf pair and 20pf, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, showing on reverse neat bilingual imprint of "E.MEYER & CO TIENTSIN/CHINA." forwarding agent, arrival cds alongside, a rare forwarded mail from Tientsin before the opening of the German P.O. in 1889 (its postmark was introduced in 1893), very fine; the earlier item signed Pfenninger, H. Krause and Bothe. (Image)

1889 (Dec 27) Cover to Bremen, franked at double rate with 1886-90 20pf pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, with "E.MEYER & CO TIENTSIN/CHINA." forwarding agent imprint and arrival on reverse, sent during the "Postzweigstelle" period, very fine. (Image)

1890 (May 21) Parcel card form from Shanghai to Hamburg, paying the 3,5kg weight with 1886-90 20pf, single (on front) and vertical block of 15 (5x3) on reverse, all tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, Bremen and Hamburg cds's alongside, three faint tone spots of no importance for this spectacular and rare multiple franking. (Image)

1890 (July 25) Envelope from German Consulate in Hankow to Düsseldorf, franked by 1890-92 20pf (one corner perf. missing), tied "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, with receiving cds on back, a scarce forwarded mail from Hankow. (Image)

1890 (Aug 18) UPU 10pf postal stationery card to Berlin, cancelled by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" (29.8) cds, showing on reverse blue "I.G OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" (18.8), violet "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" (21.8) and "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (27.8) cds's; cash paid combination frankings on German postal stationeries are extremely rare; (ARGE €4'000). (Image)

1890 (Sept 19) Cover from Chefoo to Berlin, bearing marginal 1886-90 10pf vertical pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, backstamped on arrival, a rare forwarded mail from Chefoo, few tone spots; signed Steuer. (Image)

1891 (April 7) Cover to Bremen, uncommonly paying the single rate with single and strip of three of 1890-92 5pf, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, forwarded by "E. MEYER & CO TIENTSIN/CHINA." with corresponding imprint on back, where also a Bremen cds was struck, a very fine mail from the "Postzweigstelle" Tientsin before the introduction of its own postmark. (Image)

1891 (Dec 5) Cover to Bremen franked by 1890-92 20pf, neatly tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, with "E.MEYER & CO TIENTSIN/CHINA." forwarding agent hs as well as arrival on back, a very fine mail from the "Postzweigstelle" Tientsin before the introduction of its own postmark, cert. Steuer (2012). (Image)

1892 (Jan 29) Cover from Chefoo via Shanghai to Bredow, carried at double rate with 1890-92 20pf pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, alongside showing "FORWARDED BY/CHEFOO/H. SIETAS & Co" marking, a scarce forwarded mail. (Image)

1892 (March 22) Cover to Dresden with German "GESANDTSCHAFT DES DEUTSCHEN REICHES/PEKING" paper seal on reverse, where also the "I.G OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" (22.3), violet "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" (23.3, faint strike) and "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (28.3) cds's where applied, with Chinese 3 candarin stamp missing besides the area where a blue barred oval hs is visible, with the franking on front incl. 1890-96 10pf in pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, three vertical folds not affecting the stamps, a rare combination franking. (Image)

1892 (Oct 8) Large envelope endorsed "R.D.S." in ms. ("Reichsdienstsache") denoting official mail, franked on front with 1890-92 20pf single and vertical strip of three to pay the quadruple rate, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, with German "GESANDTSCHAFT DES DEUTSCHEN REICHES/PEKING" paper seal (defective) on reverse, together with Peking (8.10), Tientsin (9.10) and Shanghai (blurred strike) customs mail cancellations, all in blue, a very scarce cash paid combination franking on official mail; (ARGE €4'000 for official mail). (Image)

1892 (Nov 4) Registered cover from Tientsin to Bremen, unusuallly paying the quadruple rate with 1890-92 10pf, 20pf and 50pf, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds's, "E. MEYER & CO TIENTSIN/CHINA." forwarding agent hs and receiving cds on reverse, an exceedingly scarce registered mail from the "Postzweigstelle" Tientsin bearing an impressive three-colour franking; cert. Steuer (2001). (Image)

1893 (March 24) Cover to London bearing 1890-94 5pf and 20pf, each in vertical pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, and additionally 1886-90 10pf which remained uncancelled (except for three perforations at top) and was not accepted for postage as this issue was valid until 31.1.1891, being framed on three sides by blue pencil to highlight the erroneous usage and consequent tax to apply, paid with British "2 1/2/F.B." due marking, framed "T." at top left; two horizontal creases, one affecting the franking at top, a very rare postage due cover in a most unusual combination franking. (Image)

1893 (Oct 5) Cover from Chefoo via Shanghai to Ludwigsfelde, bearing 1890-96 10 pf pair, tied by "KAISERLICH/DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI" cds, faint strike of "FORWARDED BY/CHEFOO/H. SIETAS & Co" marking denoting this carriage, scarce. (Image)

Naval Mail. 1895 (April 4) Cover from the "S.M.S. Irene" at Chefoo sent to Karlsruhe, bearing 1890-96 10pf vertical pair (two slight perf. tone spots), tied by "SHANGHAI" cds's and backstamped on receipt, forwarded privately to Shanghai, rare. (Image)

1895 (May 22) Cover (slightly reduced on two sides) to Germany, carried at double rate with 1891-94 20 pf vertical pair, tied by "SHANGHAI" cds's, struck on back with "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" (22.5), "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" (23.5, faint strike) and "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (27.5) cds's, a very scarce combination cover; (ARGE €4'000). (Image)

1895 (Aug 23) Cover sent to London, franked on reverse by 1894 3ca Empress Dowager issue (Chan 24), tied by Peking seal oval hs and "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" cds, "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" cds adjacent, all struck in blue, transferred to the German mail with application of 1890-94 20pf, tied by "SHANGHAI" cds, with red receiver on reverse, only nine 'Dowager' covers are recorded in combination with Germany in the first two years of the German P.O.; signed Bothe; (Tony Kwan census A-1895-114). (Image)

1896 (April) Commercial envelope from an iron and steel company (matching cachet also on back) in Hankow to the Krupp in Essen, bearing pair (two stamps with few short perfs.) and two singles of 1892-98 5pf, tied by "SHANGHAI" cds's, arrival on back, a scarce mail forwarded from Hankow; signed Steuer. (Image)

1896 (May 1) Shanghai Local P.O. 1c postal stationery card datelined in Jiangyin Fortress, cancelled by circle of bars, in combination with German "Vorläufer" 1890-1901 10pf, tied by German Shanghai cds, Hamburg receiving cds at left, a very rare and visually impressive mixed franking. (Image)

1896 (Sept 18) 10pf postal stationery card from Shanghai to Berlin, cancelled by "SHANGHAI" cds, with previous involvement of the Local Post with application of 1893 Typo 1/2c pair (defective, Chan LS157) at left, cancelled by circle of bars with matching "SHANGHAI/J/LOCAL POST" cds at right and "1S" postman hs, these three struck in red, German receiving cds tying the Chinese franking; an extraordinary combination featuring a German postal stationery and Local Post stamps, with certainly less than five items recorded. (Image)

1897 (Jan 15) 10pf postal stationery card with paid reply (without text) to Neustettin, bearing blue "CUSTOMS/TIENTSIN" (15.1) and brown "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (28.1) cds's, cancelled by German "SHANGHAI" cds, with blue "POSTAGE PAID" straight-line hs adjacent which was into use from 1st January to 20 February 1897, this being a very rare usage of this Chinese postmark denoting postage paid in cash; cert. Steuer (2000). (Image)

1897 (Feb 15) UPU 10pf postal stationery card to Frankfurt, datelined at Wuchang and posted at Hankow, cancelled by "CUSTOMS/HANKOW" and "SHANGHAI" cds's, brown "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" cds at top left and German arrival below, with the portion of the journey between Hankow and Shanghai being paid in cash, a very rare combination cover; (ARGE €4'000). (Image)

1897 (March 8) Envelope to Düsseldorf franked by 1893-98 20pf tied by "SHANGHAI" cds, showing blue "I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING" (8.3) cds, with very fine strike of brown "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" (15.3) cds on reverse, the distance between Peking and Shanghai being free of charge, wrinkles at top, a very rare combination cover; (ARGE €4'000). (Image)