Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1896 (30 Dec.) envelope to Shanghai (14.1.97), showing "Chinese Imperial Post Office/Peking/Postage Paid" circular h.s. in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s. of "Dec 30 96", and on reverse "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. in brown and "Shanghai/Local Post" double-ring arrival d.s., indistinct red crayon rating which should correlate to the 4 cents domestic winter overland rate per ½ ounce, a fine and very early example of this distinctive Postage Paid handstamp carried by the winter overland service.
Estimate HK$ 180,000 - 220,000

THIS IS PROBABLY THE EARLIEST USAGE OF THE PEKING POSTAGE PAID CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH THERE ARE ONLY TWO DECEMBER USAGES RECORDED.

The other December 1896 usage is a 31 December 1896 envelope also to Shanghai (Interasia, 4.12.2017, lot 389).