Sale 71 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1872 envelope from Peking to Madame Louise Garnier in Paris (12.7), showing on reverse a crisp near perfect strike of the "Custom House/Shanghai Paid" oval d.s. of "25 May 1872" in red, and bearing on front France Ceres 25c. strip of four, cancelled by large figures "5104", matching "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (25.5) adjacent and red framed "PD", with "Paris" arrival c.d.s. in blue on reverse, endorsed "Ch. Vapereau", the France strip has tiny corner defect at lower left, an extremely fine strike of the Custom House Paid datestamp. A superb and magnificent cover of the highest exhibition calibre.
Estimate 250,000 - 300,000

AN OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR USAGE OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE DATER AND THE SECOND EARLIEST RECORDED DATE FOR THIS.

THE FINEST OF THE SIXTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE DATER.

The 1 franc single rate to France. From 1 July 1871, the letter rate to France became 1 franc per 10 grammes by French packet via Marseilles.

Carried on the Messageries Maritimes Steamer "Peiho" which left Shanghai on 26 May and arrived at Marseille around 12 July (the 13 July arrival date given by Salles is now recognised as erroneous).

Auction Record
Cavendish (Derby), 11.9.1999, lot 368.