Shanghai, 1888 (Oct.), locally used cover, franked by two copies of 20cash perf 15 Dragons (Scott #111) tied by red "Local Post Office Shanghai" Large Garter cancel; reverse shows blue Shanghai Local Post Oct. 19[?] 88 receiver, Fine to Very Fine, an attractive and scarce cover.
Estimate HK$ 2,400 - 2,800. Est. HK$2,400-2,800 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,400-2,800

Shanghai, 1893 (May), Registered locally used "Postage Paid 1 cent" envelope entire (Livingston E1f), clean, attractive entire on manila paper, showing bold red "Registered" straightline handstamp, with additional franking in the form of a full pair of 1¢ on 2¢ and half of 1¢ on 2¢ adhesives (5¢ additional postage), all tied by blue Shanghai postmarks; reverse shows blue "Shanghai/MY 29/93/Local Post" receiver. Fresh, Very Fine, scarce.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Shanghai, 1893 (May), Registered locally used "Postage Paid 1 cent" envelope entire (Livingston E1f), lovely entire on manila paper, showing red straightline "Registered" handstamp, along with framed "Registered/No. 305 [manuscript]" handstamp; entire bears additional franking in the form of ½¢ on 5¢ full stamp, plus two 1ct on 2¢ full stamps, all tied by blue Shanghai Local Post cancels; reverse shows blue "Shanghai/MY 29/93/Local Post" arrival, Very Fine, a scarce and delightful usage.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Kewkiang, 1894 (July 9), registered cover sent Kewkiang to Shanghai, lovely and rare cover with manuscript "Registered" on front, with reverse showing violet "Kewkiang/9-JUL 94/Local Post" oval postmark; front shows near-perfect strike of the rare "Kewkiang/PAID/Local Post" handstamp (Livingston #PF1); cover addressed to Gunzberg, with "Municipal Council, Kiukiang" imprinted on flap; couple harmless toned spots on front, still Very Fine and choice.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1844-49, nice selection of six stampless covers, good selection of business letters to London, five originating at Canton, the other from Shanghai, most with red "INDIA" routing handstamp, plus several Forwarding Agents handstamps, manuscript rate markings, "via Marseilles" notations, etc., Fine to Very Fine, a nice study group; worth a review.
Estimate HK$ 4,500 - 5,500. Est. HK$4,500-5,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,500-5,500

China, 1848 (Apr. 7 dateline), stampless opium business letter from Calcutta to Canton, interesting, high-quality letter from the Augustine Heard correspondence detailing market conditions and pricing in the opium trade; front shows "per Haddington via Galle" and "37" manuscript rate marking, along with red boxed "PAID" handstamp; reverse shows red Calcutta "G.P.O./48 Aug 7" [sic!] handstamp and "Hong Kong/18 MY/1848" transit, fresh, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000. Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1857-64, beautiful incoming correspondence, London to Shanghai, lovely and clean selection of six incoming covers from London, all franked by various line-engraved or surface-printed Victoria issues (some in combination) used between 1857 and 1864; includes outer folded letter usages, a printed circular, etc., with various Hong Kong and/or Shanghae transits and receivers, fresh, Fine to Very Fine or better, nice group.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1886 (May 12), incoming cover from Hampton, CT, to Foochow, lovely, neat cover from the U.S., franked by 5¢ Garfield large Bank Note issue, tied by grid cancel and matching Hampton origin c.d.s.; cover sent to Wingate at the U.S. Consulate at Foo Chow, with reverse showing New York 12 May duplex transit, San Francisco May 18 transit, Hong Kong June 28 transit and "Foochowfoo/JY 3/86" receiver, clean markings, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,600. Est. HK$1,200-1,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,600

China, 1893 (Jan. 4), cover from Tientsin to France, lovely and clean, nicely marked cover with reverse bearing blue "Tientsin/JAN 4/93" small Customs origin c.d.s., along with bold blue Shanghai JAN 17 1893 small Customs transit; front shows France 25c adhesive tied by one of two excellent strikes of "Shang-Haï/20/JANV/93/Chine" c.d.s., Very Fine, an attractive and scarce cover.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1893 (Nov. 21), exceptional "Jenchuan Customs Mail Matter" cover to Germany, spectacular, superb-quality cover, with reverse showing magnificent strike in violet of "Customs/21 Nov. 93/Jenchuan" origin c.d.s., with reverse additionally showing black "Customs/Nov 23/Chefoo" transit plus blue "Customs/Nov 27/1893/Shanghai" transit; front shows 25c French adhesive added at Shanghai, cancelled by one of two strikes "Shang-haï/1 Dec 93/Chine" c.d.s.'s; in addition, front shows lovely full strike of the exceedingly rare "Jenchuan Customs Mail Matter" violet oval handstamp, neat and clean, Very Fine in all respects, an exceptional showpiece.
Estimate HK$ 80,000 - 100,000. Est. HK$80,000-100,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$80,000-100,000

China, ca. 1894, local cover sent to the Consulate General of France in Peking, bearing horizontal pair of 1ca Dowager issue, tied by blue Peking seal; no backstamp, Very Fine, neat cover.
Estimate HK$ 1,800 - 2,200. Est. HK$1,800-2,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,800-2,200

China, 1895 (Jan. 16), 5ca Small Dragon combination cover from Newchwang to the U.S., franked on reverse by 5ca Small Dragon issue, cancelled by partial Newchwang seal cancel, with the adjacent stamp missing, and matching Newchwang Customs origin c.d.s. nearby; the 5ca is tied by blue "Customs/FEB 4/1895/Shanghai" bold transit, while front shows pair of French Offices in China 25c "CHINE" overprints, tied by two of three strikes of "Shang-Haï/4 FEVR/95/Chine" c.d.s.'s; reverse shows bold Yokohama 10 Feb transit and Reading, PA, March 18, 1895 receiver, Fine to Very Fine, a lovely and scarce usage from Newchwang, despite the missing stamp.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 7,000. Est. HK$5,000-7,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-7,000

China, 1897 (Mar. 15), interesting printed address cover, sent Tientsin to Shanghai, franked by large 2¢ on 2ca Dowager surcharge, 2.5 mm setting on second printing (Chan #58), tied by blue Tientsin pakua killer, with matching Tientsin Customs origin c.d.s.; reverse shows brown "Shanghai/Mar 19/1897/Customs" receiver, Very Fine, a lovely and attractive cover.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000. Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1897 (Apr. 7), cover from Tientsin to Shanghai, with front showing bold blue Tientsin small Customs origin c.d.s.; franked on reverse by pair of large figure 1¢ on 1ca Dowager surcharges, 2.5 mm spacing on second printing (Chan #57) tied by Tientsin pakua killers; reverse additionally shows small brown "Shanghai/APR 11/1897/Customs" receiver; part of flap missing, Fine to Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1897 (July 8), cover sent Shanghai to Hong Kong, sent "per first Steamer" and franked by large figure 2¢ on 2ca Dowager, 1.5 mm setting on second print (Chan #58), tied by brown "Shanghai/8 JUL 97" Large Dollar chop; reverse shows "Hong Kong/AU 3/97" receiver, attractive; small piece harmlessly missing at top, Fine to Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000. Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1897 (July 24), "PAID" cover, Peking to London, splendid and exceptional cover showing choice strike of "Peking/24 JUL 97" Large Dollar dater in brown, along with matching framed bilingual "PAID" handstamp; cover travelled through the French Post Office, where 25c "Chine" stamp was added and cancelled by one of two perfect strikes of "Shang-haï/30 JUIL 97/Chine" c.d.s.'s; reverse shows bold brown "Shanghai/30 JUL 97" Large Dollar transit and London SP 4 receiver, excellent quality, Very Fine, a beauty.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 (Aug.), red band cover sent Canton to Hankow, a lovely and eye-appealing cover franked on reverse by 8¢ on 6ca and a vertical pair of 4¢ on 4ca small figure Dowager surcharges tied by "Canton/[ ] AUG 97" Large Dollar dater, then further tied by bold "Hankow/17 AUG 97" Large Dollar chop receivers, Fine to Very Fine+, a delightful, highly attractive and rare usage.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1897 (Aug. 28), combination cover sent Shanghai to London, sent "per S.S. Talazie", franked by a left margin copy of large 10¢ on 9ca narrow space Dowager surcharge, tied by superb "Shanghai/28 AUG 97" Large Dollar dater; cover transited through the French Post Office, where a 25c "Chine" overprint was added and tied by perfect "Shang-Haï/28 AOUT 97/Chine" c.d.s.; reverse shows "London E.C./7 am/OC 1 97" receiver, fresh; small, insignificant piece of cover harmlessly cut at left, Very Fine, an attractive and neat cover.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1897 (Sept. 3), domestic cover, sent Tientsin to Shanghai, franked by a 4c on 4ca, 1.5 mm spacing on second print Dowager issue (Scott #68, Chan #77)—a left interpanneau single—tied by bold brown Tientsin pakua killer with matching Tientsin Large Dollar chop origin c.d.s. adjacent; reverse shows blue Shanghai 7 SEP 97 receiver, Very Fine, scarce stamp on cover.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 (Sept. 15), legal-size envelope, mailed Chefoo to Boston, MA, a splendid cover in blue, with "Fowler, Chefoo" in manuscript at upper left, showing good strike of black "Chefoo/15 SEP 97" Large Dollar origin dater, travelling through the Japanese Post Office at Shanghai, where a strip of 5 of the 2s Chinese-Japanese Victory issue was added and cancelled by "Shanghai/24 SEP/97/I.J.P.O." killers; front also shows bold violet "TOO LATE" handstamp, while reverse shows Yokohama (21 Oct) transit and Boston Oct 25 receiver, along with blue Shanghai 18 SEP Large Dollar chop transit; minor, expected usage wear, etc., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 15,000

A wonderful usage in numerous respects, and a fine example from the Fowler correspondence. Est. HK$10,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-15,000

China, 1897 (Sept. 30), cover sent Wuhu to Kuling, a magnificent, superb-quality cover franked by horizontal and vertical pairs of the 2¢ on 2ca, 1.5 mm setting on redrawn design issue (Chan #83, Scott #74), the horizontal pair with perforations trimmed at bottom, each pair tied by incredible strikes of brown "Wuhu/30 SEP 97" Large Dollar daters; reverse shows perfect strike of "Kiukiang/1 OCT 97" receiver, Extremely Fine, pristine and choice—a gem cover.
Estimate HK$ 18,000 - 22,000. Est. HK$18,000-22,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$18,000-22,000

China, 1897 (Oct. 8), cover sent Peking to Shanghai, blue cover in perfect condition, franked by 2¢ orange I.C.P. Coiling Dragon tied by bold blue "Peking/8 OCT 97" Large Dollar dater; reverse shows lovely blue "Shanghai/13 OCT 97" Large Dollar chop receiver, fresh and Extremely Fine, choice.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,600-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,000

China, 1897 (Nov. 30), "PAID" cover sent from Tientsin to Meriden, CT, attractive cover showing bold strike in brown of "Teintsin/20 NOV 97" Large Dollar dater, along with matching strike of two-line bilingual boxed "PAID" handstamp; 10s Japanese Chrysanthemum added (missing upper right corner) and tied by Shanghai 9 DEC I.J.P.O. cancel, with reverse showing Shanghai Large Dollar and Yokohama transits (5 DEC & 14 DEC, respectively) along with Meriden Jan 6, 1898 receiver; a few usage-derived edge tears, etc., Fine to Very Fine, a lovely example of this scarce marking.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000. Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1897 (Dec. 13), 2¢ I.C.P. cover used Amoy to Hong Kong, nice 2¢ orange I.C.P. Coiling Dragon tied to perfect-quality cover by magnificent strike of "Amoy/18 DEC 97" Large Dollar chop in brown; reverse noted Hong Kong DE 15 receiver, Extremely Fine and choice.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

China, 1897 (Dec. 31), cover from Shanghai to Woosung, addressed to I.C. Customs and franked by 2¢ Coiling Dragon, which is tied by "Shanghai/31 DEC 97" Large Dollar dater; reverse shows Woosung same-day receiver in the form of a Large Dollar chop, Fine to Very Fine, neat cover.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000. Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000