Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Stamp Auctions

Lot 61 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 61 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Chinkiang : 1896 (15 Oct.) neat envelope to Shanghai (16.10), showing "Chinkiang Customs/Mail Matter" oval unframed h.s., with matching "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring origin d.s., blue "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. (16.10) and "Shanghai/Local Post" arrival c.d.s. in red on reverse, small part of flap at back missing due to rough opening there but postal markings remain complete, very fine usage with delivery to the Shanghai Local Post system and very fine strike for this difficult Customs Mail Matter handstamp.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000


Auction Record
Taiwan Rupen (Taipei), 10.4.1984, lot 189.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 79 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 79 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1897 (23 Apr.) printed matter envelope ("H. Seitas & Co./Chefoo" firm's imprint on flap) from Chefoo to the German Consul in Nagasaki (8.5) redirected to Hamburg (11.6) via Yokohama (10.5) and then domestically to Frankfurt (12.6), showing bilingual "Paid" framed h.s. in brown, matching "Chefoo" double-ring origin d.s. on reverse, with "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (26.4) also in brown, in combination with Japan 1s. cancelled by "Shanghai/I.J.P.O." c.d.s. (27.4), handstruck "NA/T" in circle, then subsequently crossed out on account of the printed matter rate not accepted or the postage deemed insufficient by Japan, and replaced by blue crayon "40" rating for overseas postage, the envelope (opened out for display, central vertical folds) has a truncated lower left corner (in order to reveal contents in accordance with printed matter regulations) and is reduced at left upon opening. An interesting and unusual usage, and a rare example of the bilingual "Paid" handstamp used at Chefoo.
Estimate HK$ 25,000 - 30,000


ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE BILINGUAL "PAID" HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED FROM CHEFOO.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 73 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 73 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1897 (9 Jan.) envelope to Laucastin, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (25.2) via Yokohama (4.2) and San Francisco (20.2), showing "Postage Paid" straight-line h.s. in blue, matching "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s., and bearing Japan Koban 5s., cancelled by "Shanghai/I.J.P.O." c.d.s. (24.1), showing on reverse "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit c.d.s. (24.1) in brown, envelope has a few peripheral faults, fine overseas usage.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000


Provenance: Dr. Stephen Gates, John Bull (Hong Kong), 8.3.2009, lot 2331.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 68 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 68 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Peking : 1896 (21 May) envelope to Paris (July arrival), showing "I.G./Mail Matter" oval h.s. in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (25.5), both on reverse, overlapped by France "Chine" 25c., cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (29.5), with "Modane à Paris" c.d.s. (5.7) in red, fine to very fine.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000


Auction Record
Christie's Robson Lowe (Hong Kong), 28.5.1991, lot 476.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 62 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 62 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Chungking : 1897 (July) envelope (embossed "Custom House/Chungking" imprint on flap) to Austria (18.9), redirected internally (19.9), showing "Customs/Chungking" oval d.s. and "Chungking Customs/Mail Matter" oval unframed h.s. in red, partially covered by France "Chine" 25c., cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (11.8), with "Shanghai" dollar chop (7.8) in blue on reverse, fine and rare usage of these Chungking Customs markings (the dollar dater for Chungking was not introduced until October).
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000


References: Customs Dater (1875-1913). Philatelic Writer's Club (Taiwan, 2008), p. 52.

According to our records, there are only seven examples of the Chungking Customs Mail Matter handstamp known on cover.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 80 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 80 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1897 (8 Aug.) registered envelope from the German Legation in Peking to Hong Kong (20.8) via the Imperial Post in Shanghai (16.8), showing bilingual "Paid" framed h.s. in brown, matching "Customs/Peking" origin dollar dater and unframed "R" h.s. alongside, with "Shanghai" transit dollar dater and "Hong Kong/F" arrival c.d.s. on reverse, very fine.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 65 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 65 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Hankow : 1891 (13 Apr.) envelope to Germany (24.5), showing on reverse "Hankow Customs/Mail Matter" unframed oval h.s. in red, matching "Customs/Hankow" origin and "Customs/Shanghai" transit double-ring d.s., and bearing on front France Peace and Commerce 25c., cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (17.4), with "Ligne N. Paq. Fr. No. 8" octagonal d.s. (18.7) adjacent, the envelope has light age spotting and is roughly opened at top (small part of flap torn away) resulting in tears, as well as a horizontal crease crossing both the French stamp and the Customs Mail Matter handstamp, a very good example.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000


References: Directorate General of Posts, Ministry of Communications. The Revenue Surcharges China 1897, Vol. II, pp. 65-66.
Customs Dater (1875-1913). Philatelic Writer's Club (Taiwan, 2008), p. 21.

Auction Record
Taiwan Rupen (Taipei), 10.4.1984, lot 180.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 75 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 75 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1897 (12 Jan.) registered envelope to Cairo, Egypt (24.2) via Suez (24.2), showing "Chinese Imperial Post Office/Peking/Postage Paid" circular h.s. in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s., in combination with France "Chine" 1f., cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (28.1), three strikes of unframed "Registered" h.s. in blue, framed "R" h.s. in red and "Ligne N./Paq. Fr. No. 10" octagonal d.s. (8.2), and on reverse "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (25.1) in brown and "Hong Kong/A" transit c.d.s. (2.2), as well as "Suez" and "Caire" arrival c.d.s., the French adhesive has two small corner faults/defects, a fine and spectacular overseas usage to an unusual destination.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000


References: Directorate General of Posts, Ministry of Communications. The Revenue Surcharges China 1897, Vol. I, p. 278.

The French postage was for a triple weight (45 grammes; 1½ ounces) letter : postage 25 centimes x 3 + registration fee 25 centimes = 1 franc. The bilingual "Paid" handstamp represented payment of 52 cents postage at Peking : postage for triple weight (1½ ounces) foreign mail 10c. x 3 + foreign registration fee 10c. + inland postage for winter mail 12c. (by rate of weight for 1½ ounces) + domestic registration fee 4c. = 56 cents.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 69 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 69 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Shanghai : 1898 (5 Sept.) envelope from St. Petersburg to the Russian Warship "Navarin" care of the Russian Consul in Hong Kong (18.10), redirected to Chefoo (arrival) via Shanghai (22.10) bearing Russia Arms 10kop. (2), both have defects due to rough opening of envelope at right, cancelled by "6" in concentric circles, showing on reverse "Shanghai Customs/Mail Matter" oval h.s. in red where placed into the Chinese Imperial Post as official mail by the Russian Consul and then transmitted to Chefoo (arrival dollar dater), and then handed over to the Russian Post Office with "Chifu/1 Post Ob. Kontora/1" arrival c.d.s. (15/27.10), fine and a highly unusual usage of the Customs Mail Matter handstamp, which was to have been officially withdrawn from use after 31 December 1897, even though the free franking privilege continued well into 1898.
Estimate HK$ 35,000 - 40,000

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post
Lot 63 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post -  Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

Lot 63 - 2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post - Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, Customs Mail Matter/Foochow : 1890 (20 June) envelope to Shanghai (24.6), showing "Foochow Customs/Mail Matter" type II oval h.s. in red, with matching "Customs/Foochow" double-ring origin d.s., "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. (24.6) and "Shanghai/Local Post/B" arrival c.d.s. in blue on reverse, envelope opened out for display and with various peripheral tears and edge restoration due to rough opening, none of which affects any of the markings, fine to very fine strike of the Customs Mail Matter handstamp.
Estimate HK$ 25,000 - 30,000


Provenance: Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 25.

The earliest recorded date of use of the Customs Mail Matter type II handstamp, predating any other example by more than three years.

Interasia Auctions Limited Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

2: China Customs Mail Matter, Transitional Period and Imperial Post