Hong Kong, French Mailboats : 1863-71 96c. ("HSB" perfin), 1880 10c., and 1882-96 10c. dull mauve and 10c. green cancelled by "Poss. An./Paq. Fr. N No 1" (96c. is No 4) octagonal d.s. (RRR) in black, blue (10c. dull mauve) and red (10c. green), small faults, very good to very fine strikes; also included is 1863-71 wing margin 12c. cancelled "B62" with edge of "No. 4" octagonal d.s. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 19, 30, 36, 37a.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

Hong Kong, 1880 5c. and 1882-96 10c. green (2) cancelled by "Cor. D. Arm./Lig. N Paq. Fr. No" c.d.s. (Salles fig. 1.947) in blue (5c. showing "No 6") and black (with first 10c. showing "No 4"), fine, very rare. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 29, 37a.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Hong Kong, 1882-96 5c. blue cancelled by almost complete "Corr. d'Armées/Paq. Fr. (No)" octagonal d.s. (18.9.84; Webb type Q, RRR), very fine. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 35.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Hong Kong, 1863-71 4c. slate and 30c. mauve with "HSB" (Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank) perfin, cancelled by "Yokohama/Paq. Fr. S No." octagonal d.s. (30c. 27.8.81; Salles fig.1.972), 30c. small scuff and couple trivial faint short creases, otherwise fine, exceedingly rare. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 9b, 16.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000

This cancellation is mentioned in Webb (p. 359), but not recorded by him or in the Supplement on Hong Kong stamps. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

Hong Kong, 1874 Postal Fiscal $2, 1882-96 10c. green and 1863-71 96c. brownish grey cancelled by "Ligne S/Paq. Fr. No." 1, 2, 3 c.d.s. respectively (Webb type T; RR) in black ($2 and 96c.) and blue (10c.), the $2 and 10c. each with "HSB" perfin and the 96c. with blue security h.s., faults on the first two including some scissors-trimmed perfs., a rare trio showing all three paquebot numbers. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 19, 37a, F1.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

Hong Kong, 1880 10c. on 24c. green, cancelled by large part "Poss. An./Paq. Fr. S No 1" octagonal d.s. in blue (Webb type U), good to fine strike of this exceedingly rare cancel (only two examples recorded in the Webb Supplement), fine. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 27.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

Hong Kong, 1882-96 5c. pale blue cancelled by bold part "Hong Kong/Saigon" c.d.s. (Webb type W), very fine; together with Q.V. 10c. purple on red with apparently the same cancellation and "Hong Kong" c.d.s., and Q.V. 5c. pale blue and K.E.VII 20c. cancelled by "Tourane/Annam" c.d.s. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 35, 38, 83.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

Hong Kong, 1877 (8 Mar.) envelope (opened out for display) to France (13.4) "Per el Vapor Esmeralda" bearing 24c. green tied "B62", with "Poss. An./Paq. Fr. N No 2" octagonal d.s. (8.3) in red (rare in this colour) adjacent and "Hong Kong/A" despatch c.d.s. on reverse, tear at right, fine. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 14.
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,500 Est. HK$1,200-1,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,500

Hong Kong, 1878 (16 June) stampless envelope to Berlin, Germany (31.7) showing "Hong Kong/A" origin c.d.s., with "Poss. Angl./Paq. Fr. N No. 6" octagonal d.s. in blue (22.6) and "T" in circle postage due h.s. (Proud UP3) adjacent, charged "60" pfennig on arrival, very fine, rare.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000

THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE ACCORDING TO SALLES.

Although Salles records the above Ligne N datestamp between 1870-87, he records its use in blue at only eight vessel ports of call - seven in Hong Kong and one in Aden.

Carried by Ligne N Yangtse Hong Kong (22.6) to Marseille (29.7). Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

Hong Kong, 1887 (22 Feb.) Q.V. 3c. brown stationery card to Copenhagen, Denmark (27.3) cancelled by "Hong Kong/A" c.d.s., with rare "Poss. An./Paq. Fr. N No 2" octagonal d.s. in red (22.8) adjacent, very fine. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. Yang P5.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000

The French mark appears to have been applied at this time in red principally by the Australian-line French paquebots (Ligne T) impressed into Ligne N service because of a rash of wrecks, fires and breakdowns to the Ligne N fleet. The card was carried on the first return voyage (after commissioning to Ligne N) of the Océanien.

See lot 4730 for a collection of picture postcards of vessels that served Ligne N. Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

Hong Kong, 1862(c.)-1937 collection of French mailboat cancellations on Hong Kong adhesives, including "5104" (Shanghai) on 1862 24c., Anchor on 1863-71 24c. (damaged), rare "Poss. An./Paq. Fr. No. 1" octagonal d.s. in blue on 1874 Postal Fiscal $2, "Poss. Angl./Paq. Fr. No." octagonal d.s. in red and black (3), "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No." octagonal d.s. in black (approx. 50, showing vessel numbers 1 through 10), red and blue, "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No" c.d.s. in black (24, including 1874 Postal Fiscal $2 and $3) and red (2), "Kobe à Marseille" octagonal d.s. on K.G.V 20c., and Marseille à Yokohama and Yokohama à Marseille octagonal d.s., many fine to very fine strikes with a number of multiples, a fine and very interesting assembly collected over decades by a keen student (approx. 110). From the Philippe Orsetti collection.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

Hong Kong, 1881-1938 collection of envelopes and cards showing French maritime transit cancellations, including postal stationery cards and Treaty Port origins, as well as cards (3) with adhesives cancelled by the maritime marks and a few fronts including a couple unusual usages such as 1881 taxed unfranked usage, a fine and interesting collection worth careful inspection (approx. 50). From the Philippe Orsetti collection.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

Hong Kong, Japanese Markings : 1863-71 30c. mauve, 1880 5c. on 18c. and 1882-96 5c. pale blue showing "Ship" h.s. (2 different types), and 1882-96 10c. purple on red cancelled by cork, fine. From the Philippe Orsetti collection. S.G. 16, 24, 35, 38.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, Chinese Steamer Box Mail : 1932 (15 Sept.) envelope to Canton (2.1) bearing K.G.V 5c. tied by "From Steamer Box/Punyu" (Canton) bilingual c.d.s., very fine.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

Hong Kong, 1908 (23 Nov.) postcard to New Jersey, U.S.A. bearing K.E.VII 4c. carmine-red tied by "Honolulu/Hawaii" duplex with magenta "Packet Boat" h.s. adjacent, card is annotated "Hong Kong 2 Nov. 08" on view side, very fine, the "Packet Boat" handstamp rated D" (rare) by Hoskings.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, 1910-64 envelopes showing paquebot usages of Hong Kong stamps, including U.S. Presidents Line, as well as 1933 China Tan Yen-kai 2c. Canton-Shanghai envelope cancelled by Hong Kong "Paquebot" h.s., an interesting selection (11). From the Philippe Orsetti collection.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

Hong Kong, U.S. Naval Covers : 1928-41 collection of envelopes and cards cancelled by U.S. warships while in Hong Kong waters, most bear U.S. adhesives (but a number are stampless), with a range of frankings and warships; also included are 1926-31 larger pieces (6) with U.S. adhesives similarly cancelled, an extensive collection of this esoteric area that Mr. Orsetti has studied and detailed in a monograph on the Hong Kong Study Circle website (approx. 125). From the Philippe Orsetti collection.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Hong Kong, Cancellations : 1863(c.)-1941 collection of maritime, paquebot and arrival cancellations on loose adhesives, including Austrian, Dutch, German (including illustrated apparent 21.1.88 predating Webb's earliest), Japanese and U.S. sea posts, many China usages, Siam mail steamer cancellations on Q.V. to K.G.VI adhesives, Australian "Loose/Ship/Letter" (2) and "Bangkok" British P.O. c.d.s. on 1882-96 10c. green, few adhesive faults (as to be expected), another interesting assembly worth careful examination (approx. 380). From the Philippe Orsetti collection.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Hong Kong, 1900(c.) Great Britain ½d. stationery envelope (unsealed as printed matter) to Hong Kong, cancelled "FB" (Foreign Branch) showing "Received/in/Forward/Bag" circular h.s., envelope centrally folded vertically, fine, very rare handstruck marking.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500

The origin of this rare mark is unclear. It is suggested that it is a Fleet Mail Office marking used on mail missorted either in Hong Kong or by the marine sorters in route to Hong Kong. Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, 1946 (28 Feb.) envelope to Sydney, Australia, bearing K.G.VI values to $1, tied by RAF Post/S.S. Asia" c.d.s., fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000