Lot
4008 
Hong Kong, 1867 (Nov. 26) Hong, Kong to Hamilton, N.Y., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1863, 8¢ bright orange (13a) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamp and tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Jan 1 transit" cds, in combination with 1861, 10¢ green (68) canceled by light cork handstamp, full clear strike of red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp and manuscript "per "China"" and "Pacific Mail Steamship Co." endorsements at left, the latter denoting the contact between the U.S. Post Office and P.M.S.S. Co. for monthly mail service, reverse with "Hong Kong, No 26, 67" cds and portion of Thomas Hunt & Co. oval cachet handstamp, Very Fine, illustrated and reviewed in Frajola et al The United States Offices in China and Japan 1867-1874 (page 63), ex-Ishikawa & Kramer; with 1981 & 2003 P.F. certificates. Estimate $50,000 - 75,000.
A REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE DUAL MIXED FRANKING USAGE CORRECTLY PREPAYING THE PRE-TREATY RATE FROM HONG KONG TO THE UNITED STATES - ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PACIFIC MAIL COVERS KNOWN.
This cover was sent on 5th Pacific Mail Steamship Co. contact sailing and was the maiden voyage of the steamship "China" which departed Hong Kong on November 26 transiting Yokohama (December 6th) and Honolulu arriving in San Francisco on December 31st. Cover entering the U.S. mails (beyond San Francisco) with the next day San Francisco date stamp and red "China and Japan" handstamp applied.
Prior to the 1867 treaty, the only way to prepay mail from Hong Kong to the U.S. was to prepay both the 8¢ Hong Kong postage and the U.S. 10¢ steamship rate. The 1867 treaty between Hong Kong and the United States was to take effect on November 1, 1867 but was not fully executed by the U.S. until November 12th. The news of this new treaty agreement could not have reached Hong Kong prior to the sending of this cover.
Realized: $45,000
Lot
4031
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREENS" plural), 2ca black on pelure paper, Printing 14, margins close yet clear on all sides, tied by blue "Shanghae Local Post, FE 25, 66" cds with second strike below on large envelope used from a non-subscriber and addressed in typical "brush hand" of a Chinese sender to "Commandant, Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai", with original enclosure of local map entitled "Shanghai Municipal Council, * S.V.C. 1866 *, Soochow Creek Bridge Patrol" with "Feb 66, S.V.C. R.12" notation on reverse; cover with soiling and some edge wear, F.-V.F., probably deposited at the "Paou Shun" branch post office and subject to the 2 candareens rate, accompanied by second "De 22, 65" cover & map enclosure from same correspondence with stamp torn off. Estimate $25,000 - 50,000.
ONE OF THREE KNOWN ON COVER USAGES OF THE SHANGHAI 1865 LARGE DRAGON ISSUES - A GREAT SHANGHAI LOCAL POST RARITY.
The Shanghai local post handled two kinds of letters - covers from subscribers which did not need stamps and covers from non-subscribers which did need stamps. A subscription only paid for delivery within the foreign settlement of Shanghai. This cover, addressed in the brush hand of a Chinese writer, enclosed a map and report of the Volunteer Corp's policing patrols over the six bridges that crossed Soochow Creek into the foreign settlement in Shanghai. (See website for complete images)nnIn the report of the monthly meeting of the Shanghai Municipal Council held on September 5, 1865 it was noted under the heading "Local Post Office" that…"A branch office has been established in the southern suburb of the native city (as opposed to the foreign settlement where the main Shanghai Local Post Office was located) for the sale of postage stamps and collection of native correspondence …A contract has been made with Paou Shun, for the sum of $600 per annum, he is allowed to collect and forward a portion of the Chinese postal matter."
Complete images:
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Lot
4002
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to Boston, Mass., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado" via San Francisco" endorsement at upper left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 21" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold red straight line "Steam China" handstamp; trivial pulled perf and cover edge stain at upper right, Very Fine and choice, illustrated and reviewed in Frajola et al The United States Offices in China and Japan 1867-1874 (page 57), ex-Kramer & Walske; with 2003 P.F. certificate. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
In 1867 the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. founded the first regular steamship service across the Pacific Ocean. The first ship of the company was the stream side-paddler "Colorado", built in 1864 for the New York-San Francisco route. She was refitted for the company's inaugural voyage across the Pacific in 1867. At the same time orders were placed for four new ships specifically for the new route to China. These four ships were the China, Japan, America and the Great Republic and were the largest and the last of the great side-wheeler. In 1873 the first iron screw propelled steamer entered the service and the era of Trans-Pacific side-paddlers came to a close.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of seven examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in red for this trip.
Realized: $13,000
Lot
4064
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREENS" plural), 2ca black on wove paper, Printing 41, margins close yet clear on all sides, tied by blue "Shanghae Local Post, My 25, 66" cds with second strike below on large envelope used from a non-subscriber and addressed in typical "brush hand" of a Chinese sender to "Commandant, Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai", with original enclosures of local maps entitled "Shanghai Municipal Council, * S.V.C. 1866 *, Soochow Creek Bridge Patrol" with "May" & "Mar 66, S.V.C. R.3" notation on reverse; cover with folds, slight soiling, erosion hole in address panel and opening tear at right edge, F.-V.F., probably deposited at the "Paou Shun" branch post office and subject to the 2 candareens rate. Estimate $25,000 - 50,000.
ONE OF THREE KNOWN ON COVER USAGES OF THE SHANGHAI 1865 LARGE DRAGON ISSUES - A GREAT SHANGHAI LOCAL POST RARITY.
This cover and map enclosure comes from a find of 5 maps and 3 covers. These apparently accompanied reports of the Volunteer Corps who reported to Commandant Hornby. The maps are dated November and December of 1865, as well as February, March and May 1866. The maps differ in the numbering of the bridges in pen, two include "Senior Patrol". The three covers include a December 1865 cover with stamp torn away and uses with two candareens stamps dated February and May 1866. (See website for complete images)
Complete images:
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Lot
4192
Nepal, 1881 Cover from Kadarban to Kathmandu, double weight registered cover to Kathmandu prepaid 7 annas rate (5 annas registry fee plus 2 annas double weight postage) prepaid with 1881-85 1a imperf deep ultramarine + pin-perf 2a purple, single and horiz. pair(!), each tied by nice strikes of hexagonal Rautahat (initial "Rau") cancel of Kadarban killer cancels, with original contents and translation, couple small flaws on stamps, ex-Singh, Singer, Flack & Chazen; with 2020 B.P.A. certificate which states that this is a registered usage. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A SPECTACULAR FRANKING AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM OF NEPALESE PHILATELY. WORTHY OF A GREAT EXHIBITION COLLECTION!
This is the only known use of two annas pin-perforated on cover and the only known multiple of any denomination of 1881-1885 printings on cover.
It has been brought to our attention that the authenticity of this cover has been called into question, specifically by the late Dr. Wolfgang Hellrigl in an article he wrote for "Postal Himal" (which can be found here).
There is another group who consider this cover 100% genuine and is accompanied by a 2020 B.P.A. certificate. An interesting article written by leading authority, Richard Frajola regarding this cover can be found here.
As such, this cover is offered on its own merits and based on the current B.P.A. certificate without recourse.
This lot is not part of the Vignola Collection, but the property of an separate vendor..
Realized: $2,500
Lot
4190
Nepal, 1881 cover from Kathmandu to Palpa, franked with 1881-85 1 anna deep ultramarine (Setting 1) on single letter rate cover dated May 5, 1881, tied by blue hexagonal "Nepal" (Kathmandu) killer cancellation, "Nepal" origin and "Palpa" arrival postmarks on reverse, small nick in bottom margin not affecting design, Very Fine. Scott Nos. 1 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF NEPAL POSTAL HISTORY.
First recorded in June 1967 issue of "Asia's Stamps and Coins Monthly". Illustrated in "The Classic Stamps of Nepal".
Realized: $8,000
Lot
4021 (
)
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREENS" plural), 2ca black on wove paper, Printing 1, showing "S" in "Shanghai" close to left line, without gum as issued, clear to full margins, sharp crisp impression unique to the first printing, Very Fine. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1865 2CA LARGE DRAGON ISSUE FROM THE FIRST PRINTING.
Only stamps from the first printing show the very fine lines around the central woodblock.
Realized: $2,800
Lot 4022 o
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREENS" plural), 2ca black on wove paper, Printing 1, showing "S" in "Shanghai" close to left line, neat strike of red "Local Post Office Shanghai" large garter cancel (in use from 1866) type 4, wide well balanced margins for this printing, sharp impression unique to the first printing, slight thin, otherwise Very Fine.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1865 2CA LARGE DRAGON ISSUE FROM THE FIRST PRINTING CANCELED BY THE LARGE GARTER CANCEL - THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE ON THIS PRINTING.
Lot
4032 ()
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREENS" plural), 4ca yellow on wove paper, Printing 15, without gum as issued, huge even margins, bold color and crisp impression, very fresh, couple light creases one entirely in bottom margin, Extremely Fine appearance, with most examples from this printing cut close to design and in the orange yellow shade. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST APPEARING EXAMPLES OF THE 1865 4CA LARGE DRAGON FROM THE FIFTEENTH PRINTING.
Realized: $1,400
Lot
4041 ()
Shanghai, 1865, Large Dragon (Antique Numerals, "CANDAREEN"), 1ca blue on laid paper, Printing 22, without gum as issued, full even margins, fresh with bold color, Very Fine, an attractive example of this rare printing. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Realized: $1,250