1885-1888 Small Dragons used group with 1c (6 inc. two singles slightly overlapped) with "CUSTOMS" cds or oval datestamp for Tientsin, Amoy or Peking and one with bold seriffed "R" h.s.), 3c (2 - Chefoo or Peking Customs cds) & 5c tied to a piece by large part "CUSTOMS/ANPING" cds, the majority dated 1894/96. (9 stamps) (Image)

SPECTACULAR TAXED FOREIGN POSTCARD DRAGON FRANKING; Remarkable 18 Nov. 1891 German 5pf PC to Hamburg uprated 1888 Perf 11½-12 3c Mauve (2) Small Dragons each tied by Chinese character cancels and with rare double-ring "CUSTOMS/NEWCHWANG" with additional unrecorded variety of month expressed as a numeral datestamp on front, sent via the German PO in Shanghai with matched cds of two days later (20.11.1891) cancelling the indicia. Taxed on arrival with framed seriffed "T." h.s. and ms. '10' (pf) charged i.e. double deficiency rule despite China not yet being a UPU member. RPSL Cert. (2019) notes genuine but unable to ascertain why the additional franking was applied. The card paying 2c internal postcard rate which was introduced 2 months prior and we believe the sender has attempted to pay the 5pf deficiency for the international charge to Germany. Note: Less than ten examples of the Dragon issue are recorded on postcard mail and of these this is the only taxed example believed to exist. Extraordinary postage due article and German PO Abroad item. Exhibition centrepiece. Cross Reference : GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD, GERMANY, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS (Image)

SHANGHAI LOCAL - RED BAND COVER; 1893 Shanghai local cover franked with the Local Post's 2c green issue (defects), tied with a blue Local Post handstamp. (Image)

WUHU LOCAL POST - RED BAND COVERS; 19 Nov. 1894 pair of local covers from Wuhu to Shanghai franked with 5c red & 40c brown, respectively both tied by fine blue ''WUHU/19 NOV 94'' c.d.s.'s & receiving marks to reverse. (2 covers) (Image)

REVEREND & MRS MATTOX CORRESPONDENCE TO HANGCHOW; 1895/1900 selection of either 1c Shanghai Local Post PC, Imperial Chinese Post 1c PC or Japan 4s PC (with Hong Kong & Shanghai transit cds on front) to Mrs or Reverend Mattox. Two have printed 'Presbyterian Mission Press/Shanghai' headers on the rear, a further two (of 1895/96) headed on the reverse 'Ningpo' and another headed 'Chefoo' also on reverse. Mostly fine. (5 cards) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

VERY RARE HANGCHOW DOLLAR DATESTAMP; 20 Dec. 1897 Imperial Chinese Post 1c PC (fainly toned, at left) to Hangchow, headed 'Shanghai' on reverse, the indicia cancelled with the double-ring "SHANGHAI/LOCAL POST" cds with additional strike below and mostly clear "HANGCHOW" dollar datestamp for "21 DEC 97"centrally struck. Exceedingly rare marking on Imperial Post postal stationery and important exhibition item . Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

VERY RARE HANGCHOW DOLLAR DATESTAMP; 29 Dec. 1897 Imperial Chinese Post 1c PC (faintly toned) to Hangchow, with printed 'Presbyterian Mission Press/Shanghai' on reverse, the indicia cancelled with the double-ring "SHANGHAI" dollar datestamp for "29 DEC 97" and mostly clear "HANGCHOW" dollar datestamp for "31 DEC 97"struck at lower left. Exceedingly rare combination of these markings on Imperial Post postal stationery. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

VERY RARE TUNGCHOW TOMBSTONE MARKING; May 1900 Imperial Chinese Post 1c PC (faintly toned on rear), reverse headed 'Tungchow, near Chefoo' to Hangchow, the indicia cancelled by large Chinese character Black Tungchow tombstone chop. and with bilingual English/Chinese Chefoo transit and Hangchow arrival cds also on front. Very seldom seen example of this chop, more so on Imperial Post postal stationery. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

PEKING - RED BAND COVER; 1901 Peking cover (defects) franked with 4c carmine coiling-dragon tied with a fine oval ''PEKING*NOV 9 - 1901*'' bilingual h.s., limited usage hence rare. (Image)

RARE TAM MEI KAI CIRCULAR DATESTAMP; Nov. 1903 photographic PPC (Horse Guards, London) to Foochowfoo franked GB KEVII 1d tied by Chelsea SW cds. "VICTORIA/HONG KONG" transit cds, Red two Chinese character Chop (Kin Ling), rare "TAM MEI KAI" Chinese character transit cds and Foochowfoo arrival cds all on front. Fine. Similar examples have sold in recent Hong Kong auctions for £2000+ Cross Reference : PICTURE POSTCARDS, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

RARE TAM MEI KAI & KIEN NING FOO CIRCULAR DATESTAMPS; Jan. 1904 photographic PPC (St Luke's Church, Chelsea, London; few creases) to Foochowfoo franked GB KEVII 1d tied by Chelsea SW cds. "SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG" cds, Red two Chinese character Chop (Kin Ling), rare "TAM MEI KAI" and "KIEN NING FOO" Chinese character transit cds and Foochowfoo arrival cds all on front. Fine. Similar examples have sold in recent Hong Kong auctions for £2000+ Cross Reference : OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

TAXED POSTCARD GROUP TO FRANCE; July/Sep. 1904 trio of PPC's to Ardeche each franked China 2c on front or rear and tied by Shanghai cds with bold seriffed "T" h.s. and franked 5c pair, 10c or 2 x 10c French p.dues, the latter due to redirection. Attractive. (3 cards) Cross Reference : FRANCE, PICTURE POSTCARDS, REDIRECTED MAIL (Image)

1907 POSTCARD WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC REAR; 16 Sep. 1909 use of the 1907 1c Yellow-Green PC 'via Siberia' to Manchester uprated 2c + 1c tied by Tientsin bilingual cds and with French PO in Tientsin transit cds of the following day also on front. Believed to be the only example of this card with a photographic rear; the message refers to the photo as an 'Imperial Edict in our favour'. Very unusual. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

PEKING TO HENAN PROVINCE - 1912 ''REPUBLIC OF CHINA'' ISSUE ON RED BAND COVER; 1912 Peking cover (defects) to a shipping company in Henan franked with 3c green coiling-dragon optd. ''Republic of China '' in red tied by one of two fine Peking c.d.s.'s., reverse with chops & receiving c.d.s's. (Image)

PEKING TO QING-HUA UNIVERSITY - 1912 ''REPUBLIC OF CHINA'' ISSUE ON RED BAND COVER; 1912 Peking local cover (defects inc. centre fold) to Qing-Hua (sic.Tsinghua) in Peking franked with ½c brown coiling-dragon optd. ''Republic of China'', tied by one of two good Peking c.d.s.'s., reverse with small postman's mark. (Ex Springfield) (Image)

Mint and used range on leaves inc. 1913-33 Chinese Empire used Junk & related issues to $2 with denominations to 15c in blocks of four or larger, 1915 Sinkiang opts set ½c - $1 mint (SG £525), 1916-19 incomplete mint & used group to $5 1924-36 incomplete mint set to $1 etc., c1932 Official Presentation Folder containing 1932 Manchukuo ½f - 1y mint set (SG £375) and associated postal stationery (few hundred) Cross Reference : JAPAN, CAMBODIA, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

TIENTSIN CITY TO SHANGHAI - RED BAND COVER; 1915 red band cover (opened out for display) from Tientsin City to Shanghai franked with 1912 President Yuan Shih-kai 1c yellow (3) tied by ''TIENTSIN CITY' bilingual c.d.s.'s (4), alongside a ''TIENTSIN CITY/No.1'' & Shanghai c.d.s. Attractive franking. (Image)

REGISTERED AR JUNK FRANKING; c1917 linen-lined OHMS env. (three wax seals on rear; some defects) from the British Consulate in Kashgar to Yarkand franked 10c Junk with Sinkiang (Chinese Turkestan) type 2 (6 inc. a block of five) on rear and tied by "SHUFU/KASHGAR" cds. The front with framed Chinese character reg. and "AR" (acknowledgement of receipt) h.s. and very scarce thus. Unusual example of reg. mail. Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE (c.1950/1) TO HONG KONG, AIRMAILS (INC. WWII), ETC.; 1933-c.1951 covers inc. 1933/41 Airmails (5; one WWII & one with stamps removed), and an unusual missionary correspondence (20 envs., no contents) all from Shanghai/Taipeh/Canton areas to various Catholic ministers in HK with unusual Communist China frankings & cancels. (26 covers) Cross Reference : HONG KONG, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL, MILITARY - WWII (Image)

MODERN GROUP: Small mint & used 1960s/80s group on stock cards, noting 1965 (Jan) Tsunyi Conference set of 3 unmounted mint SG 2235/37 (£200). (18) (Image)

SCARCE FRENCH PO IN SHANGHAI MAIL TO SPAIN; 24 Aug. 1878 env. (small faults; from the Spanish legation in China) to Madrid franked France 30c Ceres + 5c Peace & Commerce each tied by diamond dotted '5104' lozenge cancels and with "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds below. Rear with French transit or 'MARSEILLES A LYON' TPO and Madrid arrival cds. Very uncommon destination. Cross Reference : SPAIN, FRANCE, FRENCH POST OFFICES ABROAD (Image)

SCARCE FRENCH PO IN SHANGHAI MAIL TO SPAIN; 21 Sep. 1878 env. (small faults; from the Spanish legation in China) to Madrid franked France 30c + 5c Peace & Commerce each tied by diamond dotted '5104' lozenge cancels and with "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" cds alongside. Rear with French transit and Madrid arrival cds. Very uncommon destination. Cross Reference : FRANCE, SPAIN, FRENCH POST OFFICES ABROAD (Image)

FRENCH PAQUEBOT MAIL MARKINGS EX CHINA; 4 Mar. 1868 EL 'via Marseilles' to Paris franked France 80c + 40c (2) each with dotted lozenge anchor cancels and with a Red double ring French Paquebot cds nearby (possibly Ligne N) and framed "P.D." h.s. on front. The rear with Shanghai, Hong Kong & Paris cds. Attractive. Cross Reference : FRANCE, PAQUEBOTS (Image)

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)