EARLY INGOING STAMPED COVER EX G.B. - 6d EMBOSSED ROUTED VIA AGENTS IN HONG KONG; 17 Sept. 1855 E from Salisbury to Shanghai "Via Southampton" with GB Embossed 6d Lilac (margins clear at top and foot; shaved at right and slightly into at left) well tied by fine "683" Salisbury Numeral; addressed "care of Messrs Rawle, Drinker & Co. Hong Kong, China" and so with partial 2 Dec. HK transit cds on top flap. Early ingoing cover to Shanghai. Cross Reference : OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, WILTSHIRE, FORWARDING AGENTS, HONG KONG (Image)

INGOING 3-COLOUR FRANKING 9d-RATE COVER EX G.B. VIA FRANCE WITH "LIVERPOOL/466" SPOONS; Attractive 9 June 1857 env. from Liverpool to Shanghai (to a Mrs. Bower c/o "Mess GC Schwabe & Co.") routed "Via Marseilles" and so with GB 1d Red + 2d Blue + 6d Lilac all tied by very fine "LIVERPOOL/466" Spoon Duplexes. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference : LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, SPOONS & SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES, ETC., OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

INGOING 9d-RATE COVER EX G.B. VIA FRANCE WITH "LIVERPOOL/466" DUPLEXES; 24 June 1858 E (very slight damp stains) from Liverpool to Shanghai ("Messrs. Shaw Bland & Co.") routed "Per Mail Via Marseilles" and so with GB 1d Red + 4d Rose-Carmine (2) all tied (LH 4d by indentation) by very fine and partial "LIVERPOOL/466" Duplexes with 6 Aug. transit HK backstamp. Cross Reference : OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL (Image)

2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - RED BOXED "PAID" COVER TO RARE DESTINATION - GERMAN STATES/POLAND; Attractive 14-28 Aug. 1859 env. (slight toning) from "Sh[anghai]." (filing note on flap) to "Breslau, Germany via Southampton" (Breslau was in Prussia at this time but was later part of Poland) with a mainly very fine scarce red boxed "PAID" on the front and a very fine small "HONG KONG" c.d.s. (sideways "C" code; 8 Sept.) on the reverse with manuscript "6[d]" rate in red but unusually endorsed "undercharged 1/2" on the front with a red "LONDON/PAID" c.d.s. (3 Nov.) and having a "BRESLAU" (5 Nov.) backstamp. The matching cover from this correspondence (Trieste routed) Cavendish's 11 Sept. 2014 'Eddie Lawrence' auction, lot 687, realised £457.] Exceptional destination for mail from the Far East; sent just after the attack on the Taku Forts, as hostilities contiinued. Cross Reference : GERMAN STATES, POLAND, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)

2nd OPIUM WAR PERIOD - BOXED "PAID" MARK ON COVER TO G.B. "VIA SOUTHAMPTON"; Fine May/June 1859 E (ex Missionary "J. Cox"; probably from Shanghai?) to London prepaid "6[d]" with a mainly fine boxed HK "PAID" mark (used on mail in transit in HK from the Treaty Ports) nicely placed on the front with mainly fine HK "C"-code backstamp (4 June); sent during the build up to the British Naval attack on the Taku Forts, as hostilities continued. Cross Reference : HONG KONG (Image)

RED "SHANGHAE/PAID" C.D.S. ON COVER TO FRANCE BY FRENCH PACKET WITH MENTION OF TAIPING "REBELS"; Fine 19/20 May EL (in English) from "Shanghae" to Lyons "P. Messageries Imperiales via Marseilles" with two rare red "SHANGHAE/C/PAID" cds's (faint and mainly fine) on the front along with red Marseilles "POSS. ANG. V SUEZ PAQ" octagonal d.s. and v. fine matching boxed "PD" on the front (1s-11d rate?), also with v. fine blue backstamps of "SHANGHAE/C" and "HONG KONG/C". The letter concerns the silk trade and notes that some silks "may prove more abundant than they were last season owing to the absence of the rebels in the districts where this latter Class of Silk is produced; a rare reference to the ongoing Taiping Rebellion (which mostly ended with the Fall of Nanking on 10 July 1864). Cross Reference : MILITARY, FRANCE, MARITIME MAIL (Image)

RARE 96c OLIVE-BISTRE USED IN SHANGHAI; 1865 QV 96c Olive-Bistre with superb and large-part "S1" bar cancel, minor wrinkle at right though far superior to the other five examples believed to exist which are damaged and/or with part or poor strikes. Important example of this rarity. Note: the overwhelming majority of the 50 sheets of this stamp issued were used in Hong Kong and use at Treaty Ports is very seldom seen. (Image)

SHANGHAI 54c-RATE COVER TO U.S. WITH STAMPS CANCELLED BY "B62" NUMERALS; 20 Sept. 1865 env. (minor toning) to USA franked by Hong Kong 6c Lilac & 48c Rose both tied by very fine "B62" Numerals with very fine London "PAID" transit cds (11 Nov.), red "BOSTON BR. PKT./24 PAID" cds (22 Nov.) and red "5/CENTS" Accountancy Mark alongside; there are fine "SHANGHAE" (blue; 20 Sept.) and fair "HONG·KONG" (26 Sept.) cds's on the reverse. Attractive cover from the 1864-8 Shanghai "B62" Period. Cross Reference : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL (Image)

RARE 4c-RATE NEWSPAPER WRAPPER TO INDIA WITH BLUE "S1" NUMERAL; April 1872 printed wrapper from Shanghai "Via Hongkong" to Bombay (11 May cds on front) with HK 4c Grey tied by a partly fine blue Shanghai" S1" Numeral with red crayon "1" alongside. Rare printed matter rate to India from a Treaty Port. (Image)

30c-RATE SINGLE-FRANKING COVER TO G.B. WITH 30c MAUVE & BLUE "S1" NUMERAL; 28 June 1873 env. (closed tear clear of stamp & marks, some creasing and stained corner) to London "Via Brindisi" with HK 30c Mauve tied by a single mainly very fine blue "S1" Numeral matching the very fine blue "SHANGHAE/A" c.d.s.on the reverse. There is a red London "PAID" arrival c.d.s. (20 Aug.) on the front. (Image)

24c-RATE COVER TO GERMANY WITH 3x8c ORANGE FRANKING WITH BLUE "S1" CANCELS, "VIA BRINDISI"; Colourful and attractive small env. to Dresden "Via Brindisi" with HK *c Orange (Pair & single) tied to each other by two mostly very fine blue "S1" cancels matching the very fine "SHANGHAE/A" cds on the reverse, also with small red "P.D." on the front and backstamps of Brindisi (18 June), and "AMBte BOLOGNA-ALA". Rare destination for an "S1" cover. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference : GERMANY (Image)

EXCEPTIONAL & IMPORTANT BLUE "S1" COVER TO G.B. WITH RARE RED OVAL "REGISTERED/SHANGHAE" & "REGISTERED/HONG KONG" D.S.; Beautiful 26 April 1876 env. (small fault at top well clear of stamps and marks; with complete contents - written in French) sent from "Pekin"to Kent with HK 30c Mauve & 8c Orange in opposite corners and each tied by a superb blue "S1" Numeral, but also having a very fine and very rare red oval "REGISTERED/SHANGHAE" datestamp (6 May) or "REGISTERED/HONG KONG" datestamp alongside (latter overstruck by light London oval d.s. of 21 June) with HK and London backstamps. This oval "REGISTERED/SHANGHAE" mark was not recorded by Webb, and Proud only records one other date for it (17 Oct. 1878) which may not have been on a cover. The Hong Kong oval REGISTERED mark is also very rare; Webb only recorded a few examples (from 1869 to 1877). The long and interesting letter concerns Russian and British diplomats and recent tours of the tombs of the Ming Emperors, the Summer Palace temple, etc. A remarkably early and attractive early registered letter from Peking. Important Exhibition centre-piece for any China, Treaty Ports or Hong Kong collection. [Ex Russell Muir.] Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL, HONG KONG, CHINA (Image)

32c-RATE COVER TO G.B. VIA BRINDISI WITH 8c+24c TIED BY BLACK "S1" NUMERAL + STAMPLESS TO U.S.; 7 Mar. 1878 mourning env. (central vertical crease) to London "Via Brindisi" with HK 8c Orange & 24c Green tied by a single very fine black "S1" Numeral matching the fine "SHANGHAE/A" cds (crease) alongside, having London & HK transit backstamps. Plus stampless (privately carried?) EL from "MELCHERS & CO./* SHANGHAI *" (purple oval cachet on front) to New York. (2 covers) (Image)

RARE EARLY HONG KONG 1c POSTCARD LOCAL USAGE TO PEKING WITH "S1" NUMERAL; Fine 24/29 June 1881 usage of the HK 1c Blue-Green P. Stat. PC from "Peking" to "the Netherlands Legation Peking" cancelled by a superb black "S1" Numeral with very fine matching "SHANGHAE/A" cds alongside; the message reports that "two letters for Holland" from the Legation had been duly received and forwarded (from Shanghai presumably) "with the Eng[lish] Mail". Rare and unusual usage of this card with a Treaty Port Numeral. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, CHINA, NETHERLANDS (Image)

LATER "SHANGHAE" C.D.S.-CANCELLED COVERS & CARD (1c GREEN UPRATED WITH QV 2c TO G.B.); 18 Mar. 1884 usage of the HK 1c Green P. Stat. PC (small tear at right hardly detracts) from "Chu[ng] K[in]g" to GB uprated with 2c Brown and both cancelled/tied by fine "SHANGHAE" cds's, 1896/8 pair of envs. to GB with QV 10c or 2x5c tied by mainly fine "C"-code cds's, (one with Chinese stamp removed at the time?) and 6 Nov. 1895 env. (some wear etc.) to Melbourne (Australia) with 5c cancelled by part cds. (4 items) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, VICTORIA (Image)

BALANCE OF A PRE-WWI SHANGHAI COLLECTION - Paquebot, CHINA PC EX PAO NING, P. STAT. & REGD.; 1895-1912 covers/cards inc. ingoing 1895/6 GB 1d Red PCs (2), Pao Ning missionary July/Aug. usage of China 1c P. Stat. PC uprated with 1c (corner fault) & 2c tied/cancelled by Chinese cds to GB, 1907 PC with GB ½d pair tied by v. fine "SHANGHAI/B.P.O" cds with mainly fine boxed matching "Paquebot" nearby, 1905/7 usages of the QV 2c newspaper wrapper (uprated with 2xKEVII 2c to Basel) and 4c Red p. stat env. (to Vienna) and 1912 env. (opened out) regd. to Peshawar with HK KEVII 4c Block of Four with 2c and fine boxed "R/SHANGHAI B.P.O./No.". (8 covers/cards) Cross Reference : CHINA, PAQUEBOTS, POSTAL STATIONERY, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION COVER REGISTERED FROM “Tong-shan/Post Office” TO G.B.; 23 Oct. 1898 env. (some edge wear and small closed tear just clear of HK stamps) registered to Gateshead with HK 10c Purple on Red Pair on the front (tied by blue crayon lines) with v. fine “SHANGHAI/C” cds (29 Oct.) having a very fine rare 2-ring bilingual “Tong-shan/Post Office” cds alongside with very large very fine red “R” mark and HK “R” in circle nearby. A pair of China 10c has been removed from the reverse which also has a partial Tong-shan cds and v. fine backstamps of “TIENTSIN” (2-ring type; blank at top), “SHANGHAI” (large bilingual type), HK & Gateshead. Rare Chinese village origin for a registered cover. Cross Reference : CHINA, COMBINATION COVERS, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION COVER REGISTERED TO GERMANY WITH PA-KUA CANCELS; 18 Jan. 1899 env. ("CENTRAL HOTEL/SHANGHAI" embossed flap; small fault at top centre, toning on reverse and some ?varnish affecting HK stamps & China 4c) registered from Shanghai to Leipzig with China 6-colour franking on the front (½c+1c+2c+4c+5c+10c) all tied or cancelled by Shanghai "121111" Pa-Kua cancels with very fine matching black "R" alongside, also with HK 10c Purple on Red Pair cancelled by fine "SHANGHAI" cds in the centre of the address with HK "R" in circle (part lost & pencilled in at top); there are Shanghai (large bilingual type) HK & Leipzig backstamps. Rare example of a Pa-Kua cover that has been registered. [With c.1965 auction catalogue description & photo of this cover.] [Ex Russell Muir.] Cross Reference : CHINA, COMBINATION COVERS, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD WITH CHUNGKING TIE-PRINT SENT FROM MISSIONARY TO G.B.; Rare 6-18 Sept. 1899 usage of the China 1c Red P. Stationery PC (slight toning) from a Missionary (interesting message) to Bournemouth with China 2c Pair all cancelled/tied by mainly very fine Chinese bilingual "CHUNGKING" cds's with Hong Kong 2c Red Pair cancelled (in different diagonal directions) by two very fine rare unframed tiny Chungking "I.P.O." tie-prints (Webb Type 2, showing three full stops) and tied by mainly very fine "SHANGHAI/C" cds's (29 Sept.) with v. fine bilingual Shanghai cds alongside. Rare and attractive genuine commercial usage; Chungking was the only P.O. to use an Unframed tie-print. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, COMBINATION COVERS, CHINA (Image)

BALANCE OF A SHANGHAI/SWATOW/TIENTSIN COLLECTION - COMBINATION PIECES, PAQUEBOT CANCELS, ETC.; May/Nov. 1899 pair of large pieces (ex Percival David collection) with China/HK combination frankings ex Peking (Peking IPO Type 1) or Paoting (Peking IPO type 2; to France), 1907/12 trio of PPCs to GB with GB KEVII/KGV 1d's tied by "SHANGHAI/B.P.O." cds's with mainly fine to v. fine boxed Shanghai "Paquebot" (2) or "PAQUEBOT" marks alongside, plus a good range of the various Shanghai cds's (1-ring or 2-ring) on 10 PPCs to GB, one env. to India, 2 ingoing PCs ex GB, and 11 pieces/stamps. Also 1910 PC to GB with v. fine "SWATOW/C" cds, part 1919 env. to US with v. fine red boxed "R/TIENTSIN B.P.O./No.", c. 1935 env. with "STEAMER BOX/SWATOW" cancels, 3 Tientsin cds PCs, 4 pieces/stamps, & 2 unused PPCs. Good variety. (24 covers/cards & 17 pieces/stamps) Cross Reference : PAQUEBOTS, COMBINATION COVERS, SWATOW, TIENTSIN (Image)

CHINA/HONG KONG COMBINATION CARD WITH SHANGHAI PA-KUA AND "I.P.O." CANCELS; 18 Nov. 1899 usage of the China 1c Red P. Stat. PC (minimal edge wear) to Germany (redirected from Kiel to Garden) cancelled by v. fine "SHANGHAI/LOCAL POST" c.d.s but also having China 1c+2c tied by Shanghai Pa-Kua marks with HK 2c Pair tied by transit cds being cancelled both by a partial "SHANGHAI" cds and a mainly fine very small boxed Shanghai "I.P.O." tie-print. Colourful usage. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, CHINA, COMBINATION COVERS (Image)

QV COVER REGISTERED TO SUMATRA + KEVII GROUP TO BELGIUM/G.B.; 9 Jan. 1899 env. (some wear;opened out for display) registered to "TANDJONG POERA" (Squared Circle backstamp) in "Sumatra" with HK 10c Purple on Red Pair 5c Blue all tied by fair to fine "SHANGHAE" cds's with v. fine "R" in circle alongside, also with Squared Circle backstamps of "MEDAN" & "N.I. AGENT SINGAPORE"; plus 1906/9 PPCS (3; of Shanghai or Hankow/"Soochow") and 1909/11 envs. (2; one regd.) with KEVII frankings tied by faint to fine "SHANGHAI/BR. P.O." or regd. oval d.s., and 1917/9 pair of envs. to GB without stamps ("T" in circle and GB 5d P. Due) or "CHINA" o.p. 10c. (8 covers/cards) Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL, BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS COLONIES, SQUARED CIRCLES (Image)

EARLY USAGE KEVII REGISTERED ENVELOPE TO CANADA VIA SAN FRANCISCO; 19 Aug. 1903 usage of the HK KEVII G-size regd. env. to "New Westminster, British Columbia" uprated with a Pair of QV 2c Red tied by a fine "SHANGHAI/C" cds (also cancelling the regd. stamp) with fine matching "R" In circle and San Francisco red transit regd. label alongside; with backstamps SF, Vancouver and New Westminster (partial). Unusual destination and a fine usage. Cross Reference : CANADA, POSTAL STATIONERY, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

BRITISH P.O. DATESTAMPS & "WAR BONDS" SLOGANS - REGISTERED, INGOING MAIL, ETC.; 1908-18 covers/cards inc. 1916 env. censored to Switzerland with HK KGV 4c (5) tied by regd. oval d.s. with boxed "R/SHANGHAI B.P.O/No." & censors, Mar.-Sept. 1918 ingoing trio ex GB with mainly v. fine boxed "BUY WAR BONDS...SHANGHAI" slogans, and a good range of the various single/2-ring "BR. P.O./B.P.O." cds's. (14 covers/cards) Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL, MILITARY - WWI, SWITZERLAND (Image)

CHINA OVERPRINT COVERS - RARE HK "BUY/TOMBOLA/SPILLS" SLOGAN, CENSORS, ETC.; 1917-22 covers/cards inc. rare 10 Apr. 1918 commercial env. to HK with 4c tied by 2-ring "SHANGHAI BR. P.O." cds having fine purple boxed "PBC" and very fine rare encircled "BUY/TOMBOLA/SPILLS" slogan (affected by glue mark) on the front, 15/18 April 1918 pair of pieces from HK with similar v. fine strikes of this short-lived "SPILLS" slogan, 2 other 4c on 1917 envs. to HK with purple boxed "P.B.C." marks, and 1920/2 sea-mail env. /PC to US/GB with 8c Pair or single 6c. (5 covers/cards + 2 pieces) Cross Reference : MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL, MILITARY - WWI, HONG KONG (Image)