1871, 1ca violet postal card and 1ca on 6ca red Provisional overprint, used Shanghai to Ningpo (Chan LS77. Scott 64. Livingston PC1 Type A, plus #70), a splendid, superb quality 1ca Shanghai Local Post card, uprated by a beautiful example of the very rare 1ca on 6ca gray First Candareen Provisional Small Dragon surcharge in red (Chan #LS77, Scott #64), each cancelled by a choice strike of "Shanghai Local Post Office" small garter cancel in blue; front additionally shows lovely violet "Melcher's & Co/Shanghai" oval forwarding agents handstamp cachet; card is addressed to the British Settlement in Ningpo, pristine, Very Fine, simply a magnificent and rare showpiece.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

1875 (Apr. 20), cover with 3ca on 2¢ rose Second Candarin Provisional Issue (Chan LS69. Scott 60), a lovely cover from the Ms. L.M. Fay correspondence, with the perf 12 Provisional Issue tied by red "Local Post Office Shanghai" small garter cancel; reverse shows blue "Shanghai/AP 20/75/Local Post" c.d.s. Fresh; flap missing and minor edge tear, Fine to Very Fine+, a lovely and rare cover.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

A second cover from this correspondence is known used on Dec. 1, 1874 . Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

1875 (Sept. 27), pre-adhesive Customs Post cover from Takow to Hong Kong, a red band cover addressed to "Yid De Fan Yi, Shopkeeper" in central Hong Kong, with reverse showing "Customs/SEP 27/75/Takow" datestamp, then sent onward by sea to Amoy, where "Customs/SEP 30/75/Amoy" dater was subsequently applied; after arriving at Amoy, the cover then went onto a ship, which carried it to Hong Kong, where the letter was then hand carried to the recipient—thus the absence of any Hong Kong arrival markings; the cover shows signs of aging, along with an edge tear which travels to the outer circle portion of the Takow Customs dater, all this somewhat insignificant in scope.
Estimate HK$ 500,000 - 600,000

This cover has an amazing "sister" cover, written in the same hand, and addressed to the same shopkeeper in Hong Kong, with both the Takow and Amoy markings each a mere two days earlier than on this cover.

This "sister" cover, which presently resides in the Taiwan Postal Museum, was formerly owned by the eminent Japanese philatelist, Meiso Mizuhara, and imaged on page 19 of Volume 1 of "China-Customs Post, Pre-Adhesive Era". It is again featured on page 829 of the Chinese version of "Revenue Surcharges China 1897", Vol. 2, produced by the Directorate General of Posts, Ministry of Communication at Taiwan

For years, this cover (as noted in Mizuhara) was the only known example used in Formosa in the pre-adhesive era. This companion cover quite possibly may represent the only opportunity to possess a cover from the early Customs period of Taiwan. Est. HK$500,000-600,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$500,000-600,000

1880 (May 24), 3ca Large Dragon cover fragment, Shanghai to the American Legation at Peking (Chan 2. Scott 2), neat, large portion of cover front, bearing a 3ca thin paper printing Large Dragon issue, tied by perfect, bold strike of "Customs/MAY 24/80/Shanghai" dater, attractive and clean item, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 30,000. Est. HK$20,000-30,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-30,000

1881 (Sept. 14), mourning cover, sent Peking to Paris, interesting and unusual black-bordered mourning cover, franked on reverse by 3ca Large Dragon (Scott #2, Chan #2) cancelled by blue seal cancel, with "I.G. of Customs/SEP 14/81/Peking" matching origin c.d.s.; reverse also shows "Customs/SEP 20/81/Shanghai" and "Customs/SEP 16/81/Tientsin" transits plus Paris 6 NOV 81 arrival; front shows 5c and 15c Sage type, cancelled by Shanghai "5104" diamond-of-dots cancels, with matching "Shang-Haï/24 SEPT/81/Chine" transit; front additionally bears a "Chambery a Macon/6 NOV/81" arrival; reverse shows harmless, small flap tear, with the cover Fine to Very Fine, scarce usage, Ex-Allen Gokson (1948).
Estimate HK$ 40,000 - 50,000

This cover is listed and illustrated as #77 in the James B. Whang reference book on pages 55 and 56 . Est. HK$40,000-50,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$40,000-50,000

1892 (Jan. 3), 3ca Small Dragon cover, Tientsin to Shanghai, neat, small envelope franked by a single 3ca Small Dragon, which is tied by a light strike in blue of Tientsin Type 3 seal cancel, with matching "Customs/JAN 3/92/Tientsin" small Customs dater on reverse; additionally, reverse shows black Shanghai small Customs receiver of JAN 10, along with blue "Shanghai/JA 10/92/Local Post" arrival; two expertly closed tears at far left of no consequence, Fine to Very Fine, scarce.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 15,000. Est. HK$10,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-15,000

1894 (Aug. 4), 3ca Small Dragon cover, sent Tientsin to Peking, clean and attractive envelope, franked by a single 3ca Small Dragon issue tied by light black Tientsin seal cancel, with matching "Tientsin/Aug 4/1894/Customs" dater on reverse; back additionally shows blue "I.G. of Customs/AUG 6/94/Peking" arrival dater, Fine to Very Fine, a lovely cover.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 15,000. Est. HK$10,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-15,000

1894 (Oct. 1), Small Dragon combination cover, sent Tientsin to Hamilton, NY, beautiful, neat and clean cover, franked by a choice pair of 3ca lilac smooth perf 11½-12 Small Dragons (Scott #14, Chan #20) tied by excellent strike of blue Tientsin seal cancel; front additionally carries a 25c French Offices "CHINE" overprint tied by one of two "Shang-haï/8/OCT/94/Chine" c.d.s. strikes, while reverse shows excellent quality strikes of blue Tientsin small Customs origin c.d.s., black Shanghai OCT 5 small Customs transit, Yokohama 12 Oct transit, French "Ligne N./8 OCT 94/Paq Fr" paquet marking and Hamilton, NY, NOV 27 1894 receiver, fresh, Very Fine in all respects, a lovely and appealing cover.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 28,000. Est. HK$20,000-28,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-28,000

1897 (Mar. 4), French Offices postal card sent Ningpo to Somerset, lovely 10c French "CHINE"-overprinted card originating from the China Inland Mission at Ningpo, franked on front by 1¢ on 1ca Small Dragon surcharge (Scott #25, Chan #31), tied by one of two bold strikes of "Customs/MAR 4/97/Ningpo" small Customs dater; card transited through the French Post Office at Shanghai, with dual "Shang-Haï/6 MARS/97/Chine" transits and dual April French transits, with reverse showing blue "Customs/MAR 6/1897/Shanghai" small Customs dater and violet "13 APR 1897" handstamp which serves as a receiver, fresh, Very Fine, a lovely and scarce usage.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

1897 (Apr. 11), spectacular bilingual Peking "Postage Paid" chop on registered cover to Tientsin, a magnificent, superb quality legal-size envelope, bearing a choice strike of blue 35mm "Chinese Imperial Post Office/Postage/Paid/Peking" chop, along with matching "I.G. of Customs/APL 11/97/Peking" and matching large "R" Registry handstamp, Extremely Fine, ex-David.
Estimate HK$ 80,000 - 100,000

Two December 1896 usages have recently been sold in a major Hong Kong auction, representing the two earliest known examples, and Paul Chang notes on page 7 that an April 10 example is the latest known example, with this example quite possibly the latest known example of this rare and iconic marking . Est. HK$80,000-100,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$80,000-100,000

1897 (June 24), "Legation des Pays-Bas" cover, sent Peking to Holland, attractive cover bearing on front the Peking bilingual Postage "Paid" marking in brown, along with "Peking/24 JUN 97" blue Large Dollar dater, endorsed "20" in manuscript; cover then transferred to the French Post Office at Shanghai, where 50c Peace & Commerce was added for double-rate postage, cancelled by one of two "Shang-Haï/1 JUIL/97/Chine" c.d.s.'s; reverse shows "Shanghai/29 JUN 97" Large Dollar dater transit, plus "Ligne N/3/JUIL/97/Paq Fr. No 8" French mail boat marking, along with "Amsterdam/7-8 N/6/AUG/97" arrival c.d.s.; minor mounting remnants, Very Fine, a splendid and scarce usage, with 2018 Experts & Consultants Ltd. photo certificate.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

1897 (Aug. 18), registered cover from Shanghai to Soochow, neat, small-size envelope franked by narrow space 10¢ on 9¢ second print Dowager surcharge (Scott #70, Chan #79), along with 2¢ on 2ca re-drawn design Dowager surcharge (Scott #74, Chan #83), each tied by blue Shanghai Large Dollar chop, with front additionally showing large red "R" handstamp; reverse shows outstanding strike of "Soochow/18 AUG 97" Large Dollar arrival marking; couple close, harmless edge tears, Fine to Very Fine, an unusual franking paying the registered four-times domestic rate.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

1897 (Nov. 5), 1¢ Imperial Chinese Post postal card, sent Chefoo to Jenchuan, a clean, attractive card, cancelled by bold strike of "Chefoo/5 NOV 97" Large Dollar dater, with front showing choice strike of "Customs/15 NOV 97/Jenchuan" arrival; card was undoubtedly hand-carried and favor cancelled on arrival at Jenchuan Customs, Very Fine, a lovely item.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

1898 (Aug. 10), cover from Chungking to Shanghai, lovely, neat small blue cover to "The Treasurer, China Inland Mission, Shanghai", franked by horizontal pair of 1¢ on 3¢ Red Revenue surcharges (Scott #78, Chan #87), tied by bold "Chungking/10 AUG 98" Large Dollar dater, with an additional small red chop tying the right stamp; reverse shows bold "Shanghai/F/AU 23/98/Local Post" receiver in black, fresh, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

1900 (Jan. 29), "Steamer Letter Box" combination cover, Shanghai to Lyon, a splendid and highly attractive cover, franked by 5¢ salmon Coiling Dragon in a vertical strip of three and a single (perforation trims at right), all tied by bilingual Shanghai 29 JAN 00 c.d.s.'s; front additionally shows a pair of 25c French "CHINE" overprints, tied by "Shang-haï/1 FEVR 00/Chine" c.d.s., with manuscript "per s/s Paoting" plus scarce straightline "FROM STEAMER LETTER BOX" handstamp; reverse shows partial French paquet marking, fresh, Very Fine, an appealing and scarce usage.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

1901 (Sept. 13), red band cover sent Paoting to Tientsin, attractively franked by pair of 1¢ C.I.P. Coiling Dragons tied by "Paoting/13 SEP 01" Large Dollar chop, with reverse noting lovely strike of "Peking/SEP 14 1901" oval handstamp transit and Tientsin bilingual 15 SEP 01 receiver, Fine to Very Fine, neat cover.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,000-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-3,000

1901 (Oct. 16), cover from Chinkiang to Tsingtau, neat, perfectly clean cover addressed to Schweiger at Customs House Tsingtau, franked by 1ca Small Dragon, 1¢ Dowager and 4¢ Coiling Dragon, all tied by neat pakua killers, along with matching Chinkiang origin c.d.s.; reverse shows bilingual Shanghai 17 OCT 01 transit and oval Kiaochow bilingual OCT 21 arrival handstamp, fresh, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

1902 (June 30), remarkable registered cover, sent Chinkiang to Germany, a lovely, eye-appealing decorative cover, franked by 5¢ rose red (2) and 10¢ Coiling Dragons, along with 3ca chrome yellow and 6ca red brown unsurcharged Second Printing Dowagers (Chan #24S, 27S; Scott #18n, 21n), all tied by Chinkiang 30 JUN 02 bisected bilingual cancels, with front additionally showing large black "R" Registry handstamp and "Registered" straightline handstamp, underscored in blue crayon, along with bold French "Shang-Haï/4 JUIL/02/Chine" transit; reverse shows bilingual Shanghai 1 JUL 02 transit and Lichtental 3.8.02 arrival c.d.s., Very Fine and choice, a unique showpiece.
Estimate HK$ 30,000 - 40,000

Cover is fully endorsed by Lyons Livingston, reading "3cand #18n Livingston, 6cand #21n Livingston" fully as noted designating the rarity and importance of this cover. Believed to be the only known postally used examples of the famous Second Printing Dowagers, and referred to in the Journal of Chinese Philately as the finest known 'Maus' cover. Est. HK$30,000-40,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$30,000-40,000

c. 1903, small selection of four covers, featuring two Min Chu red band covers, plus nice examples of Foochow (22 OCT/03) and Chungking bisect covers, Very Fine, examine.
Estimate HK$ 2,400 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,400-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,400-3,000

1903 (Oct. 19), cover from Huchow to Lynchburg, VA, lovely cover overfranked by 10¢ green Coiling Dragon, tied by superb strike of the very scarce bilingual "Imperial Post Office/OCT 19 1903/Huchow" oval in black; front also shows "Shanghai/22/OCT/03/I.J.P.O." transit, while reverse shows transits of "Shanghai/20 OCT/03" (bilingual), violet "Yokohama/28/OCT/03/Japan", Seattle NOV 11, and Lynchburg NOV 16 arrival marking, fresh, Very Fine, a beautiful and appealing cover representing an extremely late usage of this scarce marking.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 6,000. Est. HK$4,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-6,000

1904 (Apr. 9), lovely red band cover from Boshan to Tsingtau, remarkably fresh, sound cover, franked by two C.I.P. 2¢ Coiling Dragons, tied by a red dater with offset (in reverse) on back reading April 9 (?); reverse also bears violet double-ring Zhangdian April 10 and blue Jiaozhou April 11 transits, plus "Tsingtau/26 5/04/Kiautschou" receiver in black; addressed to the Tsingtau Railroad Company, Very Fine, a beauty.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

1906 (Apr. 10), Changsha bisect cover, local cover used to the Custom House, bearing C.P.I. 2¢ red diagonal bisect tied by Changsha bilingual first day of use c.d.s., fresh, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,400. Est. HK$1,000-1,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,400

1906 (May 2), First Series Postage Due cover, Tientsin to Amoy, neat, philatelically inspired cover bearing the complete set of the First Issue Postage Dues (Scott #J1-J6, Chan #D1-6), tied by Tientsin bilingual 2 MAY 06 c.d.s.'s; no backstamp; minor perforation tip toning, Fine to Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200. Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

1907 (Nov. 24), registered red band cover from Boshan to Tsingtau, pristine cover addressed to the Tsingtau Railroad Company, franked on reverse by single 4¢ and pair of 10¢ C.I.P. Coiling Dragons, all tied by three strikes of Boshan, Shandong Province, Nov. 24 c.d.s.'s, with Tsingtau 29.12.07 comb receiver alongside; front bears a crystal-clear fourth Boshan strike, along with handstamped Registry marking (#2436) and two "R" Registration notations, all in black, Very Fine, a lovely registered usage.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

1908 (July 23), cover from Kuling to St. Augustine, FL, attractive, neat cover, franked by a block of five C.P.I. 2¢ reds tied by Kuling origin c.d.s.'s; reverse shows Shanghai bilingual 25 July transit, Japanese Shanghai 25 July transit, plus an additional indistinct Chinese transit and bold "Saint Augustine/AUG 21/1908/FLA" receiver; includes a very interesting letter from an early globe-trotter, fresh, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000. Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000