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1894 Dowager Empress 60th Birthday Commemorative Issue continued...

Domestic Mail

Small Dragon and Dowager Mixed Frankings

Foreign Mail

Postal History
LotNo. Symbol Lot Description
98 cover image1895 (15 Nov.) wrapper from Shanghai to the German Legation in Peking (23.11), showing on reverse "Shanghai/Local Post/J" origin c.d.s. in violet and two strikes of "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring transit d.s. (21-22.11), bearing on front Dowager 2ca. green with interpane margin at left, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue to pay the domestic postage to North China, with "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring arrival d.s. in blue on reverse, Very Fine and scarce printed matter usage.

An interesting usage demonstrating the cooperation between the Shanghai Local Post and the Customs Post. The letter was transferred to the Customs Post at Tientsin, where the 2ca. was applied to pay the domestic postage for non-Customs mail. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$24,000-30,000
SOLD for HK$24,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
99 cover image1896 (21 July) "H. Kierulft, Globe Hotel" registered advertising envelope from Tientsin to Shanghai (27.7), bearing Dowager 3ca. pair and single, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue and showing "Tientsin/R/No. 1329" type 3 oval handstamp in red adjacent, with "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. and "Shanghai/Local Post/A" arrival c.d.s., both in blue on reverse, a trifle roughly opened at top, Very Fine registered usage (3ca. domestic postage + 6ca. registration fee = 9 candarins).

Provenance
Paul K.S. Chang, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 10 May 2001, lot 120.

References
Paul Ke-Shing Chang, History of Postal Cancellation of China, Part I (1989), p. 133.
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 329.
Customs Dater (1875-1913). Taipei : Philatelic Writers' Club, 2008, p. 262. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$80,000-100,000
SOLD for HK$90,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
100 cover image1896 (27 Aug.) envelope from Peking to a Customs employee at Canton, via Shanghai (2.9), bearing Dowager 3ca. orange yellow, canceled by Peking seal in blue, with "I.G. Customs/Peking" blue origin, "Customs/Shanghai" black transit, and "Customs/Canton" red arrival double-ring d.s. on reverse, Fine to Very Fine, scarce destination, especially with the Customs dater in red.

Provenance
Wilson Te, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 18.3.2006, lot 588.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 351. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$26,000-30,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
101 cover image1896 (24 Nov.) envelope from Tientsin to Peking (25.11), bearing Dowager 1ca. reddish orange and 2ca. green, crisply canceled by Peking seal in blue, with "I.G. Customs/Peking" and "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring d.s., both in blue on reverse, small opening fault at top not affecting stamps, Very Fine.

Provenance
Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 199.
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong) 12.11.1998, lot B52.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 403. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$10,000-12,000
SOLD for HK$13,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
102 cover image1896 (18 Dec.) Kiukiang Local Post ½c, postal stationery card from Kiukiang to Tientsin (3.1.97), via Chinkiang (19-21.12) bearing Dowager 3ca. orange yellow paying the special Winter Overland rate instead of the 2ca. postcard rate, canceled by "Customs/Kiukiang" double-ring d.s. in red, showing "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring transit arrival d.s. adjacent, with "Customs/Chinkiang" transit departure and blue "Customs/Tientsin" arrival double-ring d.s. on reverse, there are some old mounting marks on the front of the card which do not detract from the extraordinary nature of this Very Fine and unique Customs Kiukiang domestic card sent during the Customs and Imperial Post transitional period.

During the winter months when the northern ports were frozen, mail between the north and south of China was carried on the Winter Overland Service. Consequently, this card is franked at the 3 candarins letter rate for the Winter Overland Service, rather than the normal 2 candarins domestic postcard rate. This is also the only such example of franked mail sent to Tientsin.

The "November 1879 Postal Notification" draws attention to this 3 candarins postal rate for all types of mail matter.
"Note: During the Winter months all kinds of mail matter to be forwarded by light overland courier from Chinkiang to the Northern Ports and Peking & vice versa must pay the postage chargeable on letters".
Reproduced in 1878-1988. The Large Dragons - In Commemoration of the 110th Anniversary of the Issuance of the Large Dragons (Beijing, June 1988), p. 118.

One of only two recorded covers or cards carried on the Winter Overland Service franked with Customs issues and showing the "Customs/Chinkiang" transit c.d.s., which is irrefutable proof of the existence of the Winter Overland Service.

Unlike the only other item of mail matter, the legendary Hancock "Little Bo Beep" Large Dragons cover, which was sent from the southern domestic port of arrival at Shanghai showing one example of the "Customs/Chinkiang" dater, this Kiukiang card, which was sent from the west of Chinkiang has both the arrival and departure dates of the "Custom/Chinkiang" double-ring datestamps. The Hancock cover arrived at Chinkiang in an official sealed mail bag for dispatch to the Yamen courier there before posting to Shanghai, whereas the Kiukiang card was sent in open mail bags as a loose letter awaiting the arrival of the next Shanghai mail, which resulted in the two-day transit.

References
Wen-Sun Kong, "A New Discovery of Dowager Postal Stationery from Kiukang", The China Stamp Society Inc. ROC Chapter (Taipei), Vol. 15 (2006), pp. 71-86.
Robert Kong, "Research on the Postage for Postcards During the Customs Period", The China Stamp Society Inc. ROC Chapter (Taipei), Vol. 18 (2009), pp. 193-209.
Robert Kong, "1896 Winter Overland Service", The China Stamp Society Inc. ROC Chapter (Taipei), Vol. 19 (2010), pp. 249-268.
Robert Kong, "A Rediscussion of the 1896-97 Winter Overland Service", Jiyu (Beijing). Vol. 30 (2020), pp. 9-27.
Customs Dater (1875-1913). Taipei: Philatelic Writers' Club, 2008, pp. 94-95. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$260,000-300,000
SOLD for HK$260,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
103 cover image1896 (6 Nov.) "Légation de la République Française en Chine" corner card envelope from Peking to Fourmies, France (20.12), via Shanghai (11.11), bearing Small Dragon 1888 clean-cut perfs. 11½-11¾ 5ca. olive-yellow and Dowager 4ca. rose pink, pale shade, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring d.s. (on reverse), in combination with France "Chine" 25c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (15.2), showing "Modane à Paris" French entry c.d.s. (19.12) in red adjacent, with "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s., and "Fourmies/Nord" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, cover opened out for display, a noteworthy and highly unusual mixed issue franking with the Small Dragon 5ca. and Dowager 4ca., from the famous Berteaux correspondence, Very Fine and a rare franking paying the 9 candarins U.P.U. foreign rate.

Expertisation
Signed Peter Holcombe.

References
Customs Dater (1875-1913). Taipei: Philatelic Writers' Club, 2008, pp. 159-160.
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 390. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$100,000-120,000
SOLD for HK$100,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
104 cover image1896 (13 Nov.) envelope from Tientsin to Bowdon, England, via Shanghai (19.11), bearing Small Dragons 1888 clean-cut perfs. 11½-11¾ 1ca. bright green vertical pair and Dowager 2ca. green, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue in combination with France "Chine" 5c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (20.11), with "Customs/Shanghai" transit and "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring d.s., both in blue on reverse, the cover opened out on right and the flap unsealed as per Post Office regulations, the 4 candarins printed matter rate for mail sent overseas, Very Fine and outstanding usage.

Provenance
Huang Ming-Jeng, Interasia (Hong Kong), 29.6.2013, lot 147. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$80,000-100,000
SOLD for HK$80,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
105 cover image1895 (14 Jan.) large home-made wrapper from Tientsin to Frankfurt endorsed "By Book Post", via Shanghai (27.1), bearing on reverse Dowager 4ca. rose pink horizontal pair, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue, showing matching "Customs/Tientsin" as well as "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. adjacent, and on front France "Chine" 5c. (2), canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (27.1), the cover has a small tear at top and is slightly reduced at foot, Very Fine and scarce double rate usage.

The wrapper was made by trimming the sides of the envelope, in order that the contents would be clearly visible as per the Post Office regulations. There is an identical wrapper to San Francisco in the Chen Shih-Jen collection, Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharges (110th Anniversary of the Empress Jubilee Issue), p. 33.
(Image1) (Image2)

image

Get Market Data for [China Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. HK$30,000-40,000
SOLD for HK$30,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
106 cover image1895 (1 Feb.) wrapper from Tientsin to London, via Shanghai (15.2), bearing on reverse Dowager 4ca. rose pink, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue, showing matching "Customs/Tientsin" as well as "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. adjacent, and on front France "Chine" 5c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (16.2), a few edge faults, Very Fine and scarce printed matter usage.

Provenance
Stephen Gates, John Bull (Hong Kong), 7.3.2009, lot 2326.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 63.
(Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$25,000-30,000
SOLD for HK$26,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
107 cover image1895 (4 Mar.) envelope from Tientsin to Springfield, Mass. (arrival), showing "Dr. Kin Ta Ting, Imperial Military School/ Tientsin" sender's cachet in violet, via Yokohama (28.3) and Shanghai (22.3) bearing on reverse Dowager 6ca. brown, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue, showing matching "Customs/Tientsin" as well as "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. adjacent, curious lengthy 18 day transmission between Tientsin and Shanghai, as this was the last day of the Winter Overland Service for the 1894-95 season, and on front France "Chine" 25c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (23.3), with transit and arrival c.d.s. on reverse, Very Fine and interesting wartime usage.

Since the Japanese Post Office in Shanghai was closed during the Sino-Japanese War, the French Post Office handled all the mails for the Japanese P. O. Mail sent through the French Post Office destined for the U.S. was treated at the Japanese-American agreed rate of 6ca. per ½ oz., the "preferential rate".
(Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$15,000-20,000
SOLD for HK$15,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
108 cover image1895 (9 Mar.) envelope (201 x 100mm.) from Tientsin to New York (16.4), via Shanghai (14.3) and Yokohama (20.3) bearing on reverse Dowager 12ca. brown orange, canceled by Tientsin seal in blue, showing matching "Customs/Tientsin" (9-10.3) as well as "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. adjacent, and on front France "Chine" 25c. (2), canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (14.3), with transit and arrival c.d.s. on reverse, Very Fine double "preferential rate" on mail sent to the U.S. through the French Post Office during the Sino-Japanese War.

Provenance
Frederick and Tomiko Bartlett, Christie's Swire (Hong Kong), 30.9.1992, lot 1397.
Wilson Te, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 18.3.2006, lot 579.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 76.
(Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$40,000-50,000
SOLD for HK$40,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
109 cover image1895 (4 Apr.) envelope from Shanghai to New Haven, Conn. (6.5), via Yokohama (18.4) and New York (6.5), showing on reverse "Shanghai/Local Post/C" origin c.d.s. in blue, and bearing on front Dowager 6ca. brown, canceled by Shanghai antique seal in blue, matching "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. (on reverse), in combination with France "Chine" 25c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (9.4), with transit and arrival c.d.s. on reverse, Very Fine "preferential rate" cover to the U.S. sent through the French P.O. during the waning days of the Sino-Japanese War. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$15,000-20,000
SOLD for HK$14,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
110 cover image1895 (13 Apr.) envelope from Peking to London (25.5), via Tientsin (14-15.4), Customs Shanghai (19.4) and Hong Kong (23.4) bearing on reverse Dowager 2ca. green and 4ca. rose pink, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "Customs/Peking" type 3 double-ring d.s. and on front Hong Kong 2c. block of four, single, and 5c. pair, canceled by "Shanghai/C" thimble type c.d.s. (19.4), Fine to Very Fine double rate. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$15,000-20,000
SOLD for HK$15,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
111 cover image1895 (21 May) registered envelope from Shanghai to London (20.2), showing "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. in blue (on reverse), distinctive "China/R/Shanghai" double-ring handstamp in red, and bearing France "Chine" 50c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (24.5), with "R" framed handstamp in red, "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 6" octagonal d.s. and "Registered/London" oval d.s. adjacent, and "Paris à Calais" transit c.d.s. (20.2) on reverse, the Customs dater represents either prepayment of Chinese postage paid in cash, subscriber's mail or acceptance of foreign postage paid by the sender, Very Fine and an exceptional example of the rare Shanghai Customs registered handstamp. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$60,000-80,000
SOLD for HK$60,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
112 cover image1895 (31 Dec.) envelope from Peking to Berlin (20.2.96), via Tientsin (1.1.96) and Customs Shanghai (12.1.96) bearing on reverse Dowager 6ca. brown, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring d.s., in combination with Germany Eagle 20pf. vertical pair, canceled by "Shanghai" c.d.s., showing transit and arrival datestamps adjacent, Very Fine double rate cover. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$26,000-30,000
SOLD for HK$28,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
113 cover image1896 (21 Jan.) envelope to Ch. Tannant at St. Dié Vosges, France (16.3), redirected to him at the "Chinese Customs Service, Hong Kong", bearing on reverse Dowager 9ca. green, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring d.s., with "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (2.2) in black adjacent, and on front France "Chine" 25c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (7.2), the Dowager 9ca. additionally tied by "Dijon/Cote d'Or" transit (15.3) and "St. Die des Vosges/Vosges" arrival (16.3) c.d.s., with part "Paris à Modane/…" transit c.d.s. (18.3) in red for French departure and "Singapore/to Hong Kong/B" marine sorter c.d.s. (13.4), the France "Chine" 25c. is faulty at top right, and the cover a little roughly opened at top and more so at back with tears crossing some of the postal markings, Fine to Very Fine appearance. An extraordinary example of redirected mail to this well-known official of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service, who had already returned to China. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$20,000-26,000
SOLD for HK$20,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
114 cover image1896 (11 Feb.) envelope from Peking to Berlin (20.3), via Customs Shanghai (14.2) bearing on reverse Dowager 3ca. orange yellow vertical strip of three, horizontal pair and single, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring d.s., the pair additionally tied by "Customs/Shanghai" dater, and on front France "Chine" 50c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (14.2), with "Ligne N/Paq. Fr. No. 8" octagonal d.s. (15.2) and Berlin arrival c.d.s. on reverse, Very Fine and appealing franking.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 238. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$20,000-26,000
SOLD for HK$24,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
115 cover image1896 (4 Apr.) Chefoo Local Post ½c. postal stationery card from Newchwang to Frederica, Denmark (16.5), via Customs/Shanghai (8.4) bearing Dowager 2ca. green, canceled by Newchwang seal, matching "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring origin d.s., in combination with Germany 5pf. (2) canceled by "Shanghai" c.d.s. (10.4), showing "Frederica" arrival c.d.s. adjacent, Very Fine and immensely rare 2 candarins postcard rate of the highest echelon.

Only two postcards are recorded from Newchwang, both of which are franked with the Dowager 2ca. paying the 2 candarins postcard rate. These are from the same correspondence, and the other, which bears a damaged 2ca. stamp, is dated 2 April 1896.

According to our records, there are only seven postcards recorded franked with Dowagers paying this rate. The 2 candarins postcard rate was in effect from 20 March 1882 until December 1896.

References
Kong Wen Sun, "Research on the Postage Rates of the Postcards during the Period of the Customs Post", The China Stamp Society Inc. ROC Chapter (Taipei), Vol. 11 (2002), pages 84-91.
Kong Wen Sun, "Dowager Covers from Newchwang", Chinese Taipei Philatelic Magazine, No. 82 (Aug. 2006), pages 14-21.
Robert Kong, "Research on the Postage for Postcards During the Customs Period", The China Stamp Society Inc. ROC Chapter (Taipei), Vol. 18 (2009), pages 193-209.
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 266. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$50,000-60,000
SOLD for HK$90,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
116 cover image1896 (24 Apr.) envelope from Peking to Hackensack, New Jersey (24.5), via Tientsin (25.4), Customs Shanghai (29.4), Yokohama (7.5), and Vancouver (20.5), bearing on reverse Dowager 3ca. orange yellow with interpane margin at left, canceled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring d.s., and on front Japan Koban 5s., canceled by "Shanghai/I.J.P.O." c.d.s. (1-2.5), another superb strike alongside, with transit and arrival c.d.s. on reverse, opened out for display, Very Fine and strikingly fresh cover fully prepaid in stamps with both adhesives applied by the sender.

Provenance
Frederick and Tomiko Bartlett, Christie's Swire (Hong Kong), 30.9.1992, lot 1400.
Wilson Te, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 18.3.2006, lot 585.

Reference
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 277. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Est. HK$20,000-26,000
SOLD for HK$20,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
117 cover image1896 (29 Apr.) envelope from Newchwang to Frederica, Denmark (14.6), via Customs Shanghai (4.5) bearing on reverse Dowager 3ca. orange yellow, canceled by Newchwang seal, matching "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring origin d.s., and on front France "Chine" 5c. pair and 15c., canceled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (8.5), with transit and arrival c.d.s. on reverse, cover has light creasing clear of stamps and is opened out for display, Fine to Very Fine.

The collection contains three covers or cards franked with Dowager stamps canceled by the Newchwang seal, with usages through the British, French, and German Post Offices respectively. Two of these are from the same correspondence to Denmark.

References
Kong Wen Sun, "Dowager Covers from Newchwang", Chinese Taipei Philatelic Magazine, No. 82 (Aug. 2006), pages 14-21.
Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 279.
Customs Dater (1875-1913). Taipei: Philatelic Writers' Club, 2008, pages 132-133. (Image1) (Image2)

image

Get Market Data for [China Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Est. HK$40,000-50,000
SOLD for HK$50,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

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