INAUGURAL AUCTION

5c foreign,. 1897. Foochow (18 Jul) to Texas, USA. Cover from US Consulate Fuchau. Franked with Dowager 3x 5ca stamps surcharged to 5c stamps in small setting, tied by Customs Foochow cds. Transit Customs Shanghai 22 Jul. Transferred to IJPO Shanghai which cancelled the 10s Japanese stamps (23 Jul), transit Yokohama (29 Jul), Victoria (11 Aug), Seattle (11 Aug) to arrive Longview (17 Aug). Roughly opened at left resulting in damage to the cover affecting one Chinese and one Japanese stamps.

福州美領館寄美國, 經福州和上海蓋大圓戳, 轉上海日本客郵局寄出, 其中一枚慈壽和日本郵票破損。