Sale 71 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1877 (15 Sept.) envelope to Monsieur Henri Gravier in Paris (5.11) redirected domestically to Le Mêsle sur Sarthe (6.11), showing on reverse "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Sep 15 77" in blue, and bearing on front France Ceres 30c. and Peace and Commerce 10c., cancelled by large figures "5104", matching "Shang-hai/Hai/Chine" c.d.s. (23.9) alongside, with "Marseille à Lyon" transit (4.11) and appropriate arrival c.d.s. on reverse, envelope roughly opened at top and also opened out for display, very fine strike of the Customs dater.
Estimate 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (Basel), 16.10.1974, lot 1260 (part)
George Alevizos (Santa Monica), 8-9.2.1979, lot 2093.

A VERY EARLY, IF NOT THE EARLIEST, EXAMPLE OF THE CUSTOMS DATER FOR PEKING.

The 40 centimes single rate to France from 1 April 1877.

Transported by the Customs Post from Peking to Shanghai, and then carried on the Messageries Maritimes Steamer "Sindh" from Shanghai to Marseille.

We record five covers originating in the Customs Post in Peking prior to the issue of the Large Dragons stamps. The first is addressed to Henri Gravier and the other four to Léon Garnier or G. Vapereau in Paris. All were sent through the French Post Office in Shanghai. The dates of the "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. are :

-- 15 September 1877
The above envelope

-- 30 November 1877
From the records of Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman

-- 15 December 1877
Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (Basel), 16.10.1974, lot 1260 (part)
Christie's Swire (Hong Kong), 26.10.1993, lot 1884

--24 May 1878
Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 27.3.1996, lot 2067
Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.10.1997, lot 395

-- 30 August 1878
Treasures Hunters (Hong Kong), 19.1.2002, lot 188

In addition, Lee Scamp in his "Far East Ship Mail Itineraries", Vol. 2, p. 346, cites and illustrates a defective 1877 envelope with the "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of 17 Jan. 1877, which was sent to Madame Edith Weber in Falaise (Calvados) through the French P.O. in Shanghai at the 1 franc rate (Philachina, June 2008, lot 475).