INAUGURAL AUCTION

Peking to Chefoo,. 1874 (18 Aug). Peking to Chefoo. Cover with orignial letter addresssed to William Hancock, privately carried. It was written by Robert Bredon to encourage Hancock in his new job. Probably the earliest surviving Chefoo Customs mail, predating Customs cds of Peking and Chefoo. William Hancock went on becoming a famous figure serving in several post offices throughout China. Many of the finest Large Dragon covers are from his correspondence. 

1874年8月18日, 裴式楷從北京寫給烟臺海關韓威禮的親筆信, 鼓勵他幹出成績。私人手中現存最早的烟臺海關郵件, 在北京和烟臺海關使用郵政日戳之前。