U.S. & Worldwide Stamps & Postal History

1893 (1 Sep) large cover from Kobe, Japan (preprinted address and destination) to Hong Kong, with bold strike of "Lloyd Austriaco XLIX" (1/9/93) in blue, endorsed "per S.S. Orion", with Chinese handstamp and red personal chop, some vestiges of red wax seals on back, sent from one Chinese merchant in Kobe to another in Hong Kong, postage must have been paid in cash (no due markings in Hong Kong), some toning and cover folds, rare example of Austrian Lloyd in Japan (in February 1893, the Lloyd line was expanded to Japan, with the arrival of the "Gisela" at Kobe and in August, with the "Melpomene" entering Yokohama. As this cover is dated September 1, 1893, the "Orion" must have also been one of the earliest ships to serve on the Japan line, where she operated from 1893 to 1898)
Estimate: $500