Hong Kong, 1841 (8 Mar.) entire letter from Colonel Edwards, H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Canton River to Trincomalee, Ceylon, showing on reverse "Singapore/Ship Letter" (across the join) and "Calcutta/Ship Letter/Bearing 1/8" framed d.s. (20.4). Letter discusses ship and troop movements, as well as his own unit's movements and developments on the Canton River front. A fine early letter from the First China war.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000

See lot 3394 in "Macau" for an April 1841 "Eastern Expedition" from Col. Edwards written at Macao. Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

Hong Kong, 1842 (8 Dec.) "Eastern Expedition" entire letter from Army officer Gerald Harvey at Hong Kong to his brother, Madras, India (28.1.43) showing fine "Hong Kong Post Office" Royal Arms oval h.s. in red with "G.P.O./1843 Jan 28" red framed h.s. adjacent and "Madras/1843 January 28/Bearing 3 As." framed h.s. on reverse (with "Inland 1 As. [=] 4 As." below), containing a spirited account of hostilities in China; together with a manuscript copy of Sir Henry Pottinger's 23 Nov. 1842 Proclamations at Amoy, concerning the executions by the Chinese Authorities in Formosa of the British passengers and crew of the Nerbudda and Sun that were wrecked in Sept. 1841 and March 1842, enclosed in the original letter. A fine example of this popular early mark recorded between June 1842 and March 1844 from a member of the British forces in the First China War, being one of only six China Expedition-endorsed Hong Kong Arms covers recorded in Dr. Andrew Cheung's Hong Kong Philatelic Society survey.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Sir Percival David. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

Hong Kong, 1846 (31 Jan.) entire letter from C.W. Wild, Hong Kong to his parents, Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.A., "Care of Chas. Humberstow Esq., Liverpool. England" showing "Paid" framed h.s. in red, with U.K. d.s. (31.3/1.4) and "Boston/Ship" arrival c.d.s. (21.4) adjacent and "Hong Kong" double arc despatch d.s. on reverse (over the join), rated "2/-"; this first letter from Mr. Wild from Hong Kong to his parents recounts his voyage on the Medora and arrival earlier in the month at Macao, his passage from Macao to Hong Kong by "fast boat" (noting that they had "paid our regular pirate pals" and were not troubled by them) and his initial business contact. A fine, very early letter from Hong Kong to U.S.A. sent via U.K. forwarder.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

Hong Kong, 1847 (28 Sept.) entire to Semarang, Netherlands East Indies, endorsed on reverse "Care of [Messrs.] A.L. Johnston & Co., Singapore" showing very fine large "Paid/at/Hong Kong" Crowned Circle (Webb type 6) with "Batavia" c.d.s. (3.10) adjacent and "Hong Kong" double arc despatch d.s. on reverse, rated "1/-" and "60", couple worm holes at right, fine usage of the scarcest Crowned Circle to an unusual destination.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Hong Kong, 1847 entire from Hong Kong (docketed sent 27 Sept.) to Fredk. Huth & Co., London (28.12) "Overland Mail via Southampton" showing "Hong Kong" double arc despatch d.s. (29.10) on reverse, rated "1/-" (packet rate via Southampton), small hole in address panel, very good usage.
Estimate HK$ 800 - 1,000 Est. HK$800-1,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800-1,000

Hong Kong, 1848 (27 Feb.) entire to London (30.4) "Via Southampton" showing "Hong Kong" double arc despatch d.s. on reverse, rated "1/-", trivial tiny ink erosion at right, fine usage.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1849 (25 May) duplicate entire letter from Hong Kong to Bombay (received 20.6 per docketing) showing fine medium "Paid/at/Hong Kong" Crowned Circle in red (Webb type 8) with circular "2" h.s. alongside and "Hong Kong" double-arc d.s. on reverse, rated "2/-", ageing (customary on Bombay mail) and some splitting along seams, fine usage.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

Hong Kong, 1851 (22 June) envelope to Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.A. "Via Southampton" and London (23.8) showing "Hong Kong" double-arc d.s. and "New York" transit c.d.s. (8.9) on reverse, rated "1/8" and "45"cents ("24" crossed out), fine (1s.8d rate to East Coast U.S.A. via Southampton).
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1852 (23 July) entire to New York "Via Marseilles" and London (18.9) showing light complete "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. on reverse, rated "2/11" and "54" cents with handstruck "75", fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1852 (17 Sept.) entire from Hargreaves & Co (per docketing) to Bolton, England (15.11) "via Marseilles" and London (14.11) showing "Ship Letter/Victoria Hong Kong" h.s., with "Hong Kong" double-arc d.s. (22.9), rated "2/2", very fine example of this scarce mark used on mail originating outside of Hong Kong.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

Hong Kong, 1857 (14 Jan.) linen-lined envelope to New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A. "via Southampton" and London (9.3) showing "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. on reverse and "New York/Am Pkt." c.d.s. (28.3) on front, handstruck "33", light ageing, fine usage.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1858 (4 May) entire letter from Hong Kong to New York (14.7) "Via Marseilles" and London (30.6) showing part "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. on reverse and "New York/Am Pkt." arrival c.d.s. on front, manuscript rated with handstruck "45", light overall ageing.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1858 (9 Aug.) entire letter from Hong Kong to Leyden, Netherlands (2.10) "p. Overland Mail via Triest" showing fine small "Paid/at/Hong Kong" Crowned Circle in red (Webb type 11) with "Vaucher Fréres/Hong Kong" blue sender's h.s. adjacent and very fine "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. and red "Leiden" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, manuscript ratings with handstruck (at Trieste) "6¼" framed h.s. in blue, some light creasing (as to be expected on a flimsy entire), fine usage of the Crowned Circle to a scarce destination via Trieste.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Hong Kong, 1858 (29 Dec.) envelope (opened out for display) to Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.A. "Via Southampton" and London (15.2.59) showing "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. on reverse and "New York/Am Pkt." c.d.s. (1.3) on front, handstruck "33", reduced at right on opening.
Estimate HK$ 800 - 1,000 Est. HK$800-1,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800-1,000

Hong Kong, 1859 (11 Jan.) envelope to Boston, U.S.A (17.3) "Via Marseilles" and London (1.3) showing "Hong Kong" double-arc despatch d.s. on reverse and "Boston/Am Pkt." c.d.s. on reverse, rated "24" cents with handstruck "45".
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1859 (25 Oct.) envelope to Boston, U.S.A (2.1.60) "via Marseilles" and London (15.12) showing "Hong Kong/C" despatch and "Boston/Br. Pkt" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, rated "34" and "39" cents, light ageing on front, fine usage.
Estimate HK$ 800 - 1,000 Est. HK$800-1,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800-1,000

Hong Kong, 1859 (14 Dec.) entire letter to Marseille (27.1.60) "p Ganges" showing grey-blue "Hong Kong/C" despatch c.d.s. on reverse, rated "16" (décimes).
Estimate HK$ 800 - 1,000 Est. HK$800-1,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800-1,000

Hong Kong, 1860 (14 Feb.) entire letter to New York (13.4) "Via Marseilles" and London (26.3) showing "Hong Kong/C" despatch c.d.s. on reverse, "42" cents rating with handstruck "84".
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1860 (6 May) envelope to Boston, U.S.A (9.7) "via Marseilles" and London (26.6) showing "Hong Kong/C" despatch c.d.s. (with "C" inverted) on reverse, manuscript rated with handstruck "45".
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1860 (28 Nov.) envelope to Philadelphia, U.S.A. (2?1.61) "Via Marseilles" and London (12.1) showing "Hong Kong/C" despatch c.d.s. on reverse, with "Philadelphia/Br. Pkt." c.d.s. on front, rated "1" (Colonial charge) and "34" cents with handstruck "39" cents charge to recipient, few mended tears at top and in backflap, very good usage of this rare Philadelphia exchange office marking.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

Hong Kong, 1861 (27 July) flimsy envelope to Glasgow, Scotland (16.9) "via Marseilles" showing "Hong Kong/Paid" c.d.s. in red and on reverse "Hong Kong/C" c.d.s., rated "9" and "8" (after 1d. Colonial credit), a little peripheral light creasing, very good usage (9d. quarter-ounce British packet rate to U.K. via Marseille).
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,500 Est. HK$1,200-1,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,500

Hong Kong, 1861 (16 Mar.) envelope to Newton Corner, Massachusetts, U.S.A. "Via Marseilles" and London (26.4) showing part "Hong Kong/Paid" c.d.s. in red (overstruck by "London/Paid" c.d.s.) with "N. York Br. Pkt./5" c.d.s. (9.5) adjacent and "Hong Kong/C" despatch c.d.s. on reverse, rated "1/8" and "1/7", some faint ageing.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1860 (15 Feb.) flimsy envelope to James Scott, Royal Marines, H.M.S. Queen, Portsmouth (26.3) "via Marseilles", redirected to Lisbon and ultimately returned to Portsmouth (20.4 per docketing) showing "Paid" framed h.s. in red, with "Hong Kong/C" despatch, initial Plymouth arrival (26.3) and London (27.3) c.d.s. on reverse.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500

Mr. Scott is believed the largest recipient of covers showing the scarce "Shanghai" double-arc datestamp, with this cover likewise in all likelihood originating in Shanghai as it is part of that same correspondence and immediately predates the covers with the double-arc datestamp. Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, 1860 (9 Aug.) entire letter from Hong Kong to Cadiz, Spain "via Gibraltar" (29.9) showing "Hong Kong/Paid" c.d.s. in red and on reverse "Hong Kong/C" c.d.s., rated "1/10", vertical file fold, fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

Hong Kong, 1862 (15 Jan) entire letter from Smith, Archer & Co., Hong Kong to New York (2?3) "Via Marseilles" and London (26.2) showing "Hong Kong/Paid" c.d.s. in red (with matching "Hong Kong/C" c.d.s. on reverse) and "N.York/Am. Pkt./5" c.d.s. (24.6), "16/cents" red h.s., rated "2/2" ("2/1" after deduction of 1d. Colonial credit).
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,500 Est. HK$1,200-1,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,500