1891 Austria (28 Mar) to Peking. Austrian 2k PSC, uprated by 1k + 5k, tied by Ambulant Post No. 4 cds. Showing "Via Suez" annotation. Transit Hong Kong (6 May). Transit Customs Tientsin (16 May) with "TO PAY" horizontal cachet in blue for Chinese domestic rate. Paul K S Chang recorded this type of "To Pay" cachet on Tientsin postmark proof but did not record any example on cover. Incoming examples from Austria are also scarce. In 2024 (Jul), AVA offered an incoming postcard from Austria to Peking with same type of To Pay mark in red was hammered at HKD$56,000 (lot 355).
1920 (6 Jul) OHMS cover from Rangoon to Commissioner of Customs Tengyueh, f.w. Indian KGV ovpt. SERVICE 1/2a, tied by scarce Experimental PO R 19 cds. Transit Bhamo (9 Jul). Experimental PO R19 is probably located at Rangoon. Examples from these mysterious experimental PO are scarce. Ex- Proud.
1894 Canada (28 Apr) to Peking. Canadian 1c PSC, uprated by 3c, tied by Toranto cds. Transit San Francisco (5 May / 2 Jun). In combination wih US 1c on content side but not cancelled. Transit Customs Tientsin (7 Jun). Address side applied with unframed "TO PAY" cachet in red for domestic rate. Arrived I.G. of Customs Peking (8 Jun). Very rare incoming example from Canada.
Shunzhi Year 18(1661) Imperial Edict in form of silk scroll, written in Chinese, conferring the honorary title of Lady to the wife of the naval commander stationed at Yangtze River, applied with bilingual “Imperial Decrees” red seal. Despite the Manchu text part was trimmed, the essential Chinese text was reserved and presents in nice condition. In Mar 2025 AVA Spring sale, another imperial edict dated Kangxi Year 23 was hammered at HKD$30000. This one, however, dated even earlier.
Jiaqing Year 6 (1801) Submission to the emperor from the Governor of Chekiang, regarding the grain and silk harvest of the year on a district to district basis. Returned by the Imperial Court with comment "Happy to hear".
Daoguang Year 7 (1827) Submission to the emperor from the Vicerory of Kwangtung and Kwangsi regarding the cross-charge between two officiers, and his proposal to discharge both. Returned by the imperial court with emperor's comment "decree on separate paper".
Daoguang Year 28 (1848) Submission to the emperor from the Vicerory of Fukkien and Chekiang, with Excepts, charging military officials failing to arrest criminals in time. Returned by the Imperial Court with emperor's comment "the Ministry to propose penality".
Xianfeng Year 7 (1857) submission to the emperor regarding demotion of unqualified officials. Returned by the emperor with remark "per separate decree".
Tongzhi Year 5 (1866) Royal decree to the Governor of Honan regarding military deployment, draft by the cabinet, with seals of Empress Dowager duly impressed signifying approval.
Guangxu Year 27 (1901) Imperial Edict to Minister Qu Hongji granting him a great honour of wearing grown in imp,erial yellow silk in Court which was normally reserved for members of the royal family. Also included an announcement with red cover for publication in the Peking Gazette.
Kuang Hsu / Guangxu Year 28 (1902) Submission to the emperor, from the Minister of War regarding promotion of officers. Returned by the cabinet with comment "Royal Decree agreed".
ca 1878 Protocol submission to emperor Guangxu from Qu Hongji, the Education Director of Honan with blank silk cover, on occasion of his birthday. Returned with "READ" by the emperor.
Hsuan Tung Year 3 (1911) Submission from the Ministry of the Army to the Emperor, regarding the promotion of officers. Approval granted “as proposed” written on separate slip of paper, most probably in the hand of the Regent, the father of the infant emperor.
Kuang Hsu (Guangxu) Year 26 (1900) Large official cover from Ministry of War to Yu Liansan, the Viceroy of Hunan, stating “Confidential” and “Extra Emergency”. Given the urgency and date of this cover, the content was probably about the Boxer Rebellion. Hunan was under Mutual Defense Pact of the Southeastern Provinces by that time.
Kuang Hsu / Guangxu Year 26 (1900) Express mail with log form attached, from Kaifeng to Nanking. Requiring a delivery speed of 500 Li per day. Relay time entered by 22 Yizhan en-route.
Kuang Hsu / Guangxu Year 25 (1899) Registered cover from Shanghai Wenbaoju to Chinese Consulate, Tokyo, f.w. Japanese issue 1s + 20s, tied by IJPO Shanghai cds. Arrived Tokyo (19 Apr).
Kuang Hsu / Guangxu Year 31 (1906) Red band over from Chinese Legation in Austria to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, frankless, on reverse with Peking Wenbaoju transit cachet. Enclosed with 4 pages of content regarding the peace terms after the Russo-Japanese War.
1894 Red band cover addressing to Chang Chih-tung, Viceroy of Kiangsu-Kiangsi via Wenbaoju, frankless, with the Viceroy's Wenbaoju handfilled cachet on reverse.
London UK to Shanghai China via Shanghai Customs 14 April 1882, Great Britain three half pence UPU card upgrated by a green half penny stamp, both indicium and stamp were cancelled by duplex obliterators "LOMBARD-ST" and "LS. 14"; on card front side, cancelled by a grey dark "CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MY 28/82"; on the reverse side, cancelled by transit Hong Kong c.d.s. "HONG-KONG MY 20". UK postal card written French to Imperial Chinese Customs in Shanghai with unusual watery black c.d.s. which is very early for a postal card during large dragon period. Lower end of the card has small tears but it is a desirable item for such early usage of Customs mail on UPU card.
倫敦寄上海經上海海關轉遞。1882年4月14日,英國1%便士萬國郵聯(UPU)郵政明信片加貼以便士綠色郵票升值寄出。正面所附印花與附加郵票,均蓋銷倫敦 LOMBARD STREET 雙圈日戰戳(LOMBARD-ST/L. S. 14):正面右侧並蓋有一枚灰黑色「CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MY 28/82」海關到達戳:背面則顯示經香港中轉日戰「HONG-KONG / MY 20/82」。此件由英國倫敦寄往中國上海總海關(Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs)的明信片,以法文書寫,表明乃發往海關官方機構之通訊。其上海海關戰以帶水痕之灰黑色墨水蓋銷,為1882年大龍郵票期間罕見的早期明信片海關使用實例。卡片下端略有小製痕, 惟不損整體歷史價值。此卡為早期英國郵政明信片至中國海關官方郵件的實例,兼具郵政史、語言與制度演變三重研究價值,誠為海關郵集與大龍時期郵政收藏佳品。 (Image)
Opening HK$ 1,500.00
Sold...HK$ 1,500.00
Closed..Mar-27-2026, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 14
Lot No: 153
Symbol: cover
1901 Paoting (22 Jun) to Germany. CIP 2nd Print PSC, reply portio of double card, uprated by Coiling Dragon 1/2c + 1c + 2c, tied by Paoting Dollar cds. Transit German Marine Schiffsport No. 65 (Jul). Arrived Germany (9 Aug). Marine Schiffsport No. 65 was onboard SMS Strassburg.
1898 Swatow (6 May) to Mr. W Fic of Basel Mission, Hong Kong. ICP 1st print PSC, tied by Swatow Dollar cds (dated intercalary 3rd month). Arrived Hong Kong (7 May). 2019 (Jun) Interasia, lot 2303. Ex- Steve Chazen. Dr. Sam Chiu estimated about 50 examples of Swatow Dollar cds exist which is a rather small number given the prosperity of Swatow as a treaty port. Also, as dollar cds was formally used between 1897 and 1899, there was only one intercalary month in between and it is one of the only four exmples of Swatow Dollar cds dated intercalary 3rd month were recorded by Robert Kong. Illustration fig 3, p. 111 in "Interesting Covers Bearing Swatow Large Circular Date Stamp" by Robert Kong, "Asian Philatelist 2020".
1899 Swatow (28 Feb) to Germany. ICP 1st Print PSC, uprated by Coiling Dragon 1c + 2c, tied by Swatow dollar cds. Arrived Gottingen (2 Apr). No combinatino franking with Hong Kong stamps or Hong Kong transit cds. 2004 (Nov) PhilaChina, lot 325.
1898 Wuhu (15 Oct) to Greece. ICP 1st print PSC, uprated by Litho Dragon 1/2c + Coiling Dragon 1/2c + 2c, tied by Wuhu Dollar cds and Pakua chop. Transit Shanghai Chinese PO (17 Oct). In combination with Hong Kong QV 2c in pair, tied by Shanghai BPO (17 Oct). Transit Hong Kong (21 Oct), French paquebot ligne N (22 Oct), Port Said (15 Nov). Card folded at middle.
1900 (Jul) Taxed cover to USA, f.w. Coiling Dragon 5c, tied by faint bisected cds. Transit Chefoo (15 Jul), Shanghai Chinese PO (20 Jul). In combination QV 5c, tied by Shanghai BPO (20 Jul). Showing T mark and "DUE ____ CENTS" cachet with handwritten "5". Transit Seattle (9 Aug). Arrived Pottsville (14 Aug). Proper 1/2oz letter rate to UPU country should be 10c.
1904 England to Interpreter's Department, Foreign Office, Peking. Wrapper, f.w. KEVII 1d, tied by WC cds. Arrived Peking (4 May). Cover opened out for display.
1906 South Africa (22 Nov) to Wuhu, redirected to Ichang. Picture postcard, f.w. KEVII 1d, tied by Johannesburg cds. Transit Hong Kong (3 Jan), Shanghai Chinese PO (7 Jan)), Hankow (12 Jan). Arrived Wuhu (7 Feb) with lunar year cds. Redirected to Ichang (7 Jan) also with lunar year cds.
1898 Shanghai (28 Feb) to Germany. ICP 1st Print PSC, uprated by Litho Dragon 1c + 2c + Coiling Dragon 2x 1c, tied by Shanghai Dollar cds., alongside with oval "Austrian Lloyd's / Shanghai Agency / Steam Navigation Company" seal. On content side with "Stubbe & Wentzensen / Shanghai" oval seal. In combination with Hong Kong QV 2x 2c, tied by Shanghai BPO (Feb) cds. Arrived Altona (6 Apr). Nice company seal on Imperial stationery. Early usage of Coiling Dragon.
1904 Tientsin (13 Apr) to Germany. CIP 2nd Print PSC, reply portion of double card, uprated by Coiling Dragon 5c, tied by Tientsin bisected bilingual cds. Transit Shanghai Chinese PO and French PO (21 Mar). Content side with coloured hand-painting.
1908 Tsimo (13 Jul) to Tsingtau. CIP 3rd print PSC, uprated by Coiling Dragon 1c, tied by Shantung Tsimo double ringed lunar year cds. Arrived Kiaochow Chinese PO (15 Jul).
1913 Japanese 1-1/2s PSC to Kuanchow, redirected to Yangki Post office, applied with Tokyo (28 Sep) English cds. Arrived Kuanchow (Oct) with address crossed out and redirected to Yangki PO via Pingsianghsien (10 Oct), Changshu (17 Oct), Kianfu (19 Feb), Anfu (22 Oct). Arrived on 23 Oct. Extraordinary incoming example to Kiangsi with mulitple transit cds of small towns.