Hong Kong, Official Seals : 1894 (25 Jan.) registered envelope to the Postmaster General, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands (15.2) "pr Oceanic" bearing Q.V. 10c. purple on red (2) tied by "Hong Kong/A" c.d.s. with "R" in circle h.s. adjacent, showing on reverse "Officially Sealed" label (type 1) on reverse affixed for security reasons and tied by c.d.s. and initialed, very fine, an important exhibition item and the only recorded usage of the labels for their original purpose to seal a cover for security reasons (as opposed to the subsequent usage to reseal damaged envelopes). Ex Eric Etkin. Winner of the 2016 Hong Kong Study Circle Wilde Cup for the best new discovery. Illustrated on p. 2 of Mr. Orsetti's monograph.
Estimate HK$ 30,000 - 40,000

THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE OF A HONG KONG OFFICIALLY SEALED LABEL. Est. HK$30,000-40,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$30,000-40,000

Hong Kong, 1894 (16 Oct.) local envelope bearing Q.V. 2c. carmine, tied "Hong Kong/C" c.d.s. and manuscript, showing "Officially Sealed" labels (type 1) at top and on reverse affixed to reseal envelope "opened by mistake", the earliest recorded usage of an officially sealed label to reseal a cover. Illustrated on p. 3.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000 Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

Hong Kong, 1914 (6 Oct.) "Carlowitz & Co." envelope (opened out for display) to New York, bearing K.G.V 10c. ultramarine (with "C&C H" perfin) tied by "Hong Kong c.d.s., with "Officially Sealed" labels (type 2) at top applied to reseal censored envelope and "O.F.I." (Opened for Inspection) violet framed h.s. on reverse. Illustrated on p. 5.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

Hong Kong, 1934 registered airmail envelope from Serbalawan, Sumatra to Macau (7.4) via Hong Kong (6.4) bearing Netherlands Indies 5c. and Airmail 10c., 20c. and 50c. on 150c. showing "Officially Sealed" label (type 12) at left tied by "Registered/G.P.O. Hong Kong" c.d.s., fine and colourful. Illustrated on p. 10. Property of Another Vendor.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

Hong Kong, 1935 (23 Dec.) airmail envelope from Swansea, England to the Chief Inspector, Hong Kong Police Force from the "City of Khartoum" airplane crash, showing on reverse "Officially Sealed" label (type 14) tied by "Received Damaged/at Hong Kong" framed h.s. and "Victoria/Hong Kong" c.d.s. (19.1.36), adhesive floated off and label torn through on opening, fine usage. Illustrated on p. 13. Web Airmail No. 35.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000

The Imperial Airways Short S8 Calcutta flying boat "City of Khartoum ", on a flight from England to Australia, crashed on 31 December 1935 when landing at Alexandria. It apparently ran out of fuel, all the engines stopped at an altitude of 600 feet and it dived into the sea. 71 bags (390 kilos) of mail were recovered.

See lot 4636 under Mr. Orsetti's Collection of Japanese Occupation for the only recorded usage of the Officially Sealed label printed by the Occupation authorities. Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Hong Kong, 1941 (30 Apr.) registered "Air Mail to Hong Kong" envelope from Hunan to New Jersey, U.S.A. (16.6) bearing on reverse Dr. Sun Yat-sen 20c. (tear at foot), 50c. and $2 (2) showing "Officially Sealed" labels (type 15) at top and foot tied by "Registered/G.P.O. Hong Kong" c.d.s. (12.5) with "Not Opened/by/Censor" violet h.s., faults including couple officially sealed labels partly torn though, fine and scarce usage. Illustrated on p. 14.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Hong Kong, 1951 and 1952 airmail envelopes, the first also registered and sent to Trinidad and returned to Hong Kong, bearing K.G.VI $1 (2) and 30c. showing portions of "Officially Sealed" labels (type 16) at upper left and on reverse applied on its return, tied by "Hong Kong/Registered" c.d.s. (20.5. 52); and the second to Osaka bearing K.G.VI 50c. showing "Officially Sealed" label (type 20) at left, small faults, an interesting pair. Illustrated on pp. 18, 20.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, 1954 (10 Mar.) airmail envelope from Sydney to Hong Kong from the Constellation "Belfast" airplane crash, bearing Australia 2s., 1s., 6d. and 3d., showing framed "Salvaged Mail/Aircraft Crash/Singapore 13.3.1954" h.s. in red, showing "Officially Sealed" labels (type 20) at left and foot, envelope slightly singed as customary and faults, fine usage unusually destined for Hong Kong, further enhanced by the application of the official seals and the high franking. Illustrated on p. 21. Webb Airmail No. 147.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500

The BOAC Lockheed Constellation "Belfast" crashed on landing at Singapore on 13 Mar. 1954. 33 people were killed, and the airplane was destroyed by fire. Most of the mail on board, which mainly was destined for the U.K. from Australia and New Zealand, was saved although partly burnt. Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

Hong Kong, 1954 (11 Mar.) airmail envelope from Auckland, New Zealand to Hong Kong from Constellation Belfast crash, with "01/9" meter mark, showing framed "Salvaged Mail/Aircraft Crash/Singapore 13.3.1954" h.s. in red, torn at left, and with "Hong Kong Post Office" Officially Sealed blue on white label, another fine usage. Property of Another Vendor.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

Hong Kong, 1894-1951 unused and used collection of the "Officially Sealed" labels, including (unused unless otherwise indicated) type 1 blocks of four and eight, used single (5.6.94), and unused single showing missing background (type 1a, the only recorded example), type 5 (4, showing different colours), recently discovered type 8A, types 13 (7) and 14 (5) showing the progressive printing deterioration in the labels, and type 18 on piece, generally fine to very fine and no doubt the authoritative collection of the subject (46).
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

Hong Kong, 1894-1950 assembly of unused and used "Officially Sealed" labels, together with a few usages of the labels on part envelope or piece, including type 1 (22, with partial reconstruction of the right half of the sheet of 16), type 8A (10), type 18 used, 1946 incoming airmail envelope from Malta with type 15A (adhesives excised), and 1950 part cover with type 16 + Postage Due 4c. and 8c., duplication, the loose labels are generally fine to very fine (approx. 65 labels + 4 part covers or pieces with labels); also included is 1938 25c. envelope from Foochow showing stamp selvage used to reseal the envelope with "Received Damaged/at Hong Kong" framed h.s., a fine complement for the preceding collection with a few items illustrated in Mr. Orsetti's monograph.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000