Sale 1248 — The Magnolia Collection of U.S. Mail in China and Japan: Part 1
Sale Date — Thursday, 16 December, 2021
Category — Mail to China








ONE OF TWO BLOCKS OF TWELVE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE KNOWN ON COVER--THIS IS THE ONLY BLOCK ON A COVER TO CHINA. A MAGNIFICENT POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT.
The other 3c 1851 block of twelve on cover was offered in our sale of the Gordon Eubanks collection (Sale 1242, lot 265). It is addressed to Denmark and has no additional stamps. This cover to China was virtually unknown to specialists and becomes the second "largest recorded multiple" of the 3c 1851 on cover.
The U.S.S. San Jacinto was one of the United States naval ships to participate in the Second Opium War, during which American forces launched attacks against Chinese forts without a formal declaration of war.


VERY FINE. AMONG THE TEN RECORDED 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE COVERS TO CHINA, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE ACTUALLY CARRIED ON THE EXPEDITED ROUTE VIA MARSEILLES, WITH THE "1/8" DEBIT MARKING FOR BRITISH POSTAGE COLLECTED FROM THE ADDRESSEE.
In August 1855, the U.S.S. Powhatan assisted the H.M.S. Rattler in a successful attack against Chinese pirates off Kowloon. The U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed on the Powhatan on July 29, 1858, about three months after this cover reached Engineer Potts.
The stamp on this cover prepaid the 5c inland U.S. rate, with 1sh8p (40c) collected from the addressee, for a total of 45c for the rate by British Mail via Marseilles. Our census of 5c 1856 covers contains 10 covers to China (eight to Hong Kong, one to Shanghai and one to Foochow). Of these 10 covers, 8 were sent by British Mail via Southampton, one by British Mail via Marseilles (offered here), and one actually carried by Prussian Closed Mail (one of the covers has a 38c franking for the PCM rate, but was carried by British Mail via Southampton--offered in lot 2006). The other covers with a single 5c 1856 stamp have "1/2" 1sh2p (28c) debit markings for the 33c rate via Southampton. The "1/8" on the cover offered here distinguishes it from the others.
Ex Starnes.


VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF THE 5-CENT 1856 IMPERFORATE AND 1857 PERFORATED ISSUES, INTENDED TO PAY THE 38-CENT PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE TO HONG KONG, BUT SENT BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON. ONLY TEN 5-CENT 1856 COVERS TO CHINA ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH JUST TWO HAVE 38-CENT RATE FRANKINGS.
This cover was correctly prepaid 38c for the rate to Hong Kong by Prussian Closed Mail, but it was routed via Southampton and the British Mail system. It was carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing New York February 3, 1858, and arriving Liverpool February 15. From Southampton it left on the Peninsular & Oriental Line Colombo, departing February 20 and arriving at Alexandria on March 5. After an overland trip, the letter was carried from Suez on the P&O Nubia, departing March 20 and arriving at Galle, Ceylon, on April 3. From Galle it was carried on the P&O Pottinger, departing April 16 and arriving at Hong Kong on April 24, 1858.
Illustrated in Mayer-Frajola 5c 1856 book (p. 127).
Ex Sir Nicolas Waterhouse, Emmerson C. Krug, Marc Haas and Frederick R. Mayer.
With 1980 Friedl certificate and signed in pencil by Herbert J. Bloch. Signed on back by Stanley B. Ashbrook.


VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR COVER TO HONG KONG WITH A STRIP OF FOUR OF 1856 5-CENT AND 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUES PAYING THE 21-CENT RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON. ONE OF THREE SIMILAR COVERS ADDRESSED TO LIEUTENANT EARL ENGLISH IN HONG KONG, THESE BEING AMONG THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL 5-CENT 1856 COVERS.
The 21c postage paid the American Packet rate to Hong Kong by British Mail via Southampton. An additional 6-pence postage was collected from the recipient, although not marked on the cover. It was carried on the New York & Havre Line Arago, departing New York August 23, 1856, and arriving Southampton September 4. It was then carried on the Peninsular & Oriental Line Indus, departing Southampton September 4 and arriving at Alexandria on September 19. After an overland trip, the letter was carried from Suez on the P&O Oriental, departing September 25 and arriving at Galle, Ceylon, on October 13. It was delayed at Galle and carried on the P&O Norna, departing Galle November 9 and arriving at Hong Kong on December 1, 1856.
Under the command of U.S. Navy officer William N. Smith and with Lieut. Earl English aboard, the U.S.S. Levant sailed on November 13, 1855, for Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hong Kong, where she arrived to join the East India Squadron on May 12, 1856. On July 1 the U.S. Commissioner to China boarded the Levant for transport to Shanghai, arriving on August 1. At the outbreak of hostilities between the British and Chinese, the Levant arrived in Whampoa on October 28. The Levant took part in protecting American interests, and in November 1856 saw action during the American amphibious assault on Chinese fortifications on the Pearl River. The Levant received the major part of the Chinese bombardment, with 22 shot holes in her hull and rigging, one man dead, and six injured. The Levant cruised between Hong Kong and Shanghai until she departed Hong Kong on December 7, 1857, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard on April 6, 1858 (source: Wikipedia).
Illustrated in Mayer-Frajola 5c 1856 book (p. 126) and Robert G. Rose, "Five Cent 1856 Stamp on Covers from New Jersey," New Jersey Postal History Journal, May 2012.
Ex Paul C. Rohloff, Marc Haas, Dr. Leonard Kapiloff and Frederick R. Mayer.
With 1977 P.F. certificate.


EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR 10-CENT 1855 IMPERFORATE ISSUE FRANKING USED ON A COVER FROM THE GOLD MINING TOWN OF DRYTOWN, CALIFORNIA, TO SHANGHAI, CHINA, WHICH WAS CARRIED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO HONG KONG BY PRIVATE SHIP. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER BEARING STAMPS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE FAR EAST THAT WAS CARRIED ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
This extraordinary cover originated in Willow Springs, a California gold mining town in Amador County, located about five miles from the Drytown post office. For some reason, the Drytown postmark was applied about one month after the letter was written by Frank A. Gill on May 17, 1857 (based on docketing). It was prepaid 50c with a strip of 10c 1855 Issue stamps, presumably because the sender expected it would be sent to New York for a transatlantic packet and further carriage to China through the British Mail system. The highest rate would have been 50c via Marseilles (45c plus 5c surcharge for mail from California). If sent via Southampton, the rate would have been 38c (33c plus 5c). As it turned out, the San Francisco post office chose an entirely different route.
The cover probably reached San Francisco around June 17, 1857. The next sailing for the East Coast via Panama was on July 4. However, instead of waiting for the Panama departure, the San Francisco post office placed the letter on a private ship bound for China. It was probably the brig Bonito, which cleared San Francisco for Hong Kong on June 29 (Daily Alta California). Someone in Hong Kong, probably the U.S. Consul, received the letter and paid the 4-pence British postage to Shanghai. The British Post Office applied the "Paid at Hong-Kong" crown-circle handstamp and red crayon "4" rate. It was carried on the Peninsular & Oriental Line Lady Mary Wood, departing Hong Kong on October 14 (one day after the Hong Kong backstamp) and arriving at Shanghai on October 20.
The addressee, Reverend William Aitchison, was the subject of a book, Five years in China: or, The factory boy made a missionary. The life and observations of Rev. William Aitchison, late missionary to China, by Reverend Charles P. Bush (available at http://name.umdl.umich.edu/ABA3681.0001.001 ). After the deaths of his new wife and their infant child, the distraught but devoted Reverend Aitchison was ordained for missionary work on his 28th birthday, January 4, 1854. Three months later, he and his Yale classmate, Reverend Henry Blodget (see lots 2009-2010), departed New York for Canton on the bark Candace. On August 4, 1854, Aitchison and Blodget arrived in Hong Kong, and shortly thereafter they embarked for Shanghai, arriving on September 1. At this time Shanghai was the scene of fighting between Imperial and insurgent forces. Reverend Aitchison spent the next five years doing missionary work and traveling throughout eastern China. He died in 1859 from the effects of dysentery.
Illustrated in Coburn Letters of Gold (p. 140) and Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 23).
Ex Emmerson C. Krug (listed in Stanley B. Ashbrook's typewritten inventory of collection, July 1949, item 63, described as a "gorgeous show piece and one of the finest 10c 1855 covers known."), Marc Haas and Michael Perlman.


EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING COVER TO SHANGHAI, CHINA, WITH A 3-CENT 1851 AND HUGE-MARGINED STRIP OF THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE PAYING THE 33-CENT RATE BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON.
Ex Gross (Sale 1211, lot 268).
For information on the Blodget Corrrespondence: https://siegelauctions.com/2021/1248/blodget.pdf


EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER TO SHANGHAI, CHINA, WITH THE 10-CENT 1855 IMPERFORATE AND 3-CENT 1857 PERFORATED ISSUES PAYING THE 33-CENT RATE BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON--CARRIED ON THE AMERICAN VANDERBILT LINE RATHER THAN A CUNARD LINE STEAMER.
Ex Haas (his acquisition note "Fox 3/63 200" on back) and Mizuhara.
For information on the Blodget Corrrespondence: https://siegelauctions.com/2021/1248/blodget.pdf






FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE 38-CENT RATE FRANKING FOR PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL SERVICE TO HONG KONG. THIS WAS RECEIVED AT WHAMPOA, CHINA, DURING THE SECOND OPIUM WAR, IN WHICH UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES ASSISTED IN ATTACKING CHINESE FORTIFICATIONS WITHOUT A FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR.
In August 1855 the U.S.S. Powhatan assisted the H.M.S. Rattler in a successful attack against Chinese pirates off Kowloon. The U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed on the Powhatan on July 29, 1858, about five months before this cover reached Engineer Potts at Whampoa (Huangpo), near Hong Kong.
This cover was received in Hong Kong during the hiatus in the Second Opium War. The Treaties of Tientsin were signed in June 1858, but not fully ratified by the Chinese government. One year later, in June 1859, hostilities resumed with the British naval attack on the Taku Forts.


VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE COVER WITH A MULTICOLORED 1857 ISSUE FRANKING FOR THE RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES--THE ADDRESSEE WENT DOWN WITH HIS SHIP AROUND THE TIME THIS COVER TRAVELED TO CHINA.
The Edwin Forrest, built in 1853 and named after a prominent American Shakespearean actor, was operated by Crocker, Wood & Co. and made regular trips to Hong Kong. It left New York on August 1, 1860, bound for Hong Kong, but was never heard from again. The loss was reported nine months later in various newspapers and maritime journals.
This cover from Crocker, Wood & Co. in New York was addressed to Captain Crocker in Hong Kong and contained a letter dated September 28, 1860. The sender had no way of knowing that the Edwin Forrest, along with its captain, crew, passengers and cargo, would never reach Hong Kong.
Ex Dr. Chase, Ward, Gibson, Dr. Kapiloff and Perlman. Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook.


VERY FINE COVER AND EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF 1857-60 ISSUE STAMPS TO PAY THE 39-CENT RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES.
This cover was sent by British Mail via Marseilles, following the Peninsular & Oriental Line route via Alexandria, Suez and Galle. It was carried to Hong Kong on the P&O Ganges, departing Galle October 23, 1860, and, after an unusually long trip, it arrived at Hong Kong on November 14.
Ex Starnes.


VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR THREE-COLOR COMBINATION OF 1861 ISSUES IN EARLY SHADES, USED TO PAY THE 45-CENT RATE TO CHINA BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON.
Dr. Rosewell H. Graves, a medical professional from a prominent Baltimore family, spent 57 years in China as a missionary, from 1855 until his death in 1912. He was particularly determined to spread the gospel to Chinese women and developed a strategy of having female missionaries travel house to house with bible in hand. Dr. Graves also performed valuable medical service by vaccinating hundreds of children and treating thousands of Chinese. Details of his life may be found at http://bdcconline.net/en/stories/r-h-graves .
Ex Seybold (with his handstamp on back) and Starnes.






















VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER TO HONG KONG BY PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL WITH CORRECT FRANKING FOR 36-CENT RATE.
The U.S.S. Jamestown patrolled the Pacific during the Civil War to protect American commerce from Confederate privateers. This cover to Charles Powell on board the Jamestown is an extremely rare example of mail sent to Hong Kong by Prussian Closed Mail. Two ships departed from New York on September 10, 1864: the Inman Edinburgh, which arrived at Queenstown on September 22, and the NGL New York, which arrived at Southampton, also on September 22.
The 36c rate to Hong Kong by Prussian Closed Mail was in effect from May 1863 to March 1867. In general, covers to Hong Kong by this route are rare, but this correctly prepaid 36c rate is of even greater rarity.
Ex Vogel.


VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT AND 90-CENT 1861 ISSUES USED TO PAY THE DOUBLE 57-CENT RATE TO CHINA BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES.
The 57c rate to China by British Mail via Marseilles was effective from December 1861 to June 1863, then reduced to 53c. This cover was rated $1.14 according to the quarter-ounce increments (3/4 to one-ounce letter) and $1.04 was credited to Great Britain because it was carried by British Packet.
Ex Steinmetz and DuPuy. Signed in pencil by Stanley B. Ashbrook with typed and signed letter explaining rate and expressing his opinion that the cover is genuine.
Herzog-Starnes census no. 7 ("Cover Usages of the 90c 1861 and 1868 Issues", Chronicle 140).
With 1981 P.F. certificate.


A REMARKABLE BLACK JACK FRANKING PAYING THE 45-CENT RATE TO MACAU, CHINA, BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON. ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR COVERS FROM THE STUBBS CORRESPONDENCE.
There are at least three covers from the Stubbs correspondence with the 45c rate to Macau made up almost entirely by Black Jack stamps. This is the finer of the two with 21 Black Jack stamps. It is unlikely that another cover has more than 21 Black Jacks.
Ex Atherton and Knapp.




VERY FINE. A COLORFUL 1868 GRILLED ISSUE COVER TO HONG KONG, SENT BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES AND BEARING A RARE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP.
According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of Webb's Type B-2 Marine Sorter marking showing the date of trip. The Webb book describes them, and considers this sub-type "e" to be rare.


VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A UNIQUE FRANKING PAYING THE 42-CENT RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLOCK OF 3-CENT 1869 STAMPS AND WITH THE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP.
According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of Webb's Type B-2 Marine Sorter marking showing the date of trip. The example offered here is easily identifiable because it is the only one with a dot instead of a dash between the words "Marine" and "Sorter."
Ex Eubanks. With 2001 P.F. certificate.


VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF THE 30-CENT 1868 F GRILL AND 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE TO PAY THE 42-CENT RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP.
According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of Webb's Type B-2 Marine Sorter marking showing the date of trip. The example offered here is lightly struck, but appears to have the dot instead of a dash between the words "Marine" and "Sorter."
Ex DuPuy.


VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT 1869 PICTORIAL COVER, COMBINING THE 10-CENT AND 24-CENT VALUES FOR THE 34-CENT RATE TO CHINA BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON. THE APRIL 7, 1869, ORIGIN DATE IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, AND THE HONG KONG-TO-SHANGHAI MARINE SORTER DATESTAMP IS A GREAT RARITY OF CHINESE MARITIME POSTAL HISTORY.
Only three 24c 1869 covers to China are recorded in the 1869 Pictorial cover census. This cover from the John M. Nixon, Jr. correspondence is the earliest of all 24c 1869 covers, followed by an April 23 use from New York to Mobile. It is also the earliest 10c 1869 cover in private hands. The April 1, 1869, 10c cover to Spain is part of the Charles A. Hirzel collection, which is permanently housed in the Swiss Museum of Communications.
According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. Webb states that the Hong Kong-to-Shanghai Marine Sorter Type 6 marking is rare (page 351). At the time he wrote his book, Webb was aware of only one example from the first period, dated 13/19 March 1870. The marking was apparently reintroduced in 1874 and used until 1876.
Illustrated in The 1869 Issue on Cover: A Census and Analysis (color plate 10); Michael Laurence, "British Mail Covers to the Orient during the 1869 Period," Chronicle 87, and Laurence's book, Ten-Cent 1869 Covers: A Postal Historical Survey (p. 106).
Ex Millard C. Mack and Alan Berkun. Signed in pencil by J. Murray Bartels with his note "Found II.8.32" and "Guaranteed OK." Also signed Stanley B. Ashbrook with his notation "Earliest Known Use of The 24c 1869"."
With 1949 P.F. certificate.


VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVER TO CHEFOO, CHINA, VIA HONG KONG. ONLY THREE 24-CENT PICTORIAL COVERS ARE RECORDED TO CHINA--ONE EACH TO CHEFOO, HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI. AN OUTSTANDING USAGE MADE MORE DESIRABLE BY THE CHEFOO FORWARDER'S OVAL HANDSTAMP.
The 2c and 24c 1869 Pictorial stamps on this cover to Chefoo, China, pay the 28c rate by British Mail via Southampton, which superseded the 34c rate in January 1870. The United States retained 4c and credited Great Britain with 24c (one-shilling) for British service to Hong Kong. Because the 1869 Pictorial Issue was replaced by the Bank Note (Portrait) series in March 1870, few examples of the 28c rate to China are known with 1869 stamps. The forwarding agent, Wilson, Cornabe & Co., arranged to transport this cover from Hong Kong to the northern port of Chefoo.
The addressee, Calista B. Downing, appears in the List of Protestant Missionaries in China, Japan and Siam as arriving in Chefoo in 1866. She later joined the Watch Tower (Jehovah's Witness) missionaries, one of the first in China (see https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2008/ ).
Illustrated in Jeffrey M. Forster's article, "2c 1869 Cover to Chefoo, China," Chronicle 222.
Ex Rep. Ernest R. Ackerman and Edward S. Knapp (Ashbrook file notes it was sold to Y. Souren in the Knapp sale).


EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED COVERS TO HONG KONG OR CHINA WITH THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RARE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP. A POSTAL HISTORY RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
The 12c and 30c 1869 Pictorial stamps pay the 42c rate to China by British Mail via Marseilles. The cover was carried on the Inman City of Brooklyn, departing New York July 31, 1869, and arriving at Queenstown August 9. It was then carried aboard the Peninsular & Oriental Massilia, departing Marseilles August 15 and arriving at Alexandria August 21. After traveling overland to Suez, it was carried on the P&O Deccan, departing August 22 and arriving at Galle September 6. It left Galle on September 8 on the P&O Travancore, arriving in Hong Kong on September 21 after a stop in Singapore on September 15. The mail on board the Travancore was sorted and datestamped with the Hong Kong Marine Sorter marking.
The total number of days for the journey was 57. The recipient carefully recorded the length of time this cover took to reach him, as well as calculating how long it would have taken if sent by the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. route via San Francisco and Yokohama. His calculation shows that 17 days would have been saved (a third less time) had it been sent by the Pacific route. The shorter journey was facilitated by the opening of the transcontinental railroad just over two months earlier on May 10, 1869.
According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of Webb's Type B-2 Marine Sorter marking showing the date of trip. This is the sub-type 2e marking, described by Webb as rare.
There are four recorded 30c 1869 covers to China, only one of which is listed in the 1869 Census book. All bear the same franking. The cover offered here is part of the Collins correspondence, which came to light in 1991 (Frajola sale 47). The Collins correspondence produced another 30c/12c 1869 cover, which is extensively restored along the left edge. A third cover to a different addressee was offered in the 1987 Rarities sale (lot 238). The fourth was sent to Hong Kong and forwarded to Yokohama.
Ex Gordon Eubanks. With 1999 P.F. certificate.


VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT--A COVER CARRIED TO CHINA ABOARD THE COLORADO ON THE INAUGURAL TRIP OF THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY CONTRACT MAIL ROUTE.
This cover was carried from New York to Panama on the Henry Chauncey, a Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer launched in 1864 and operated on the New York-Aspinwall route from November 1, 1865, until 1869. It left New York December 11, 1866, and arrived in Aspinwall December 18. After the trans-isthmian railroad trip, the PMSS Golden City carried it from Panama City to San Francisco, departing December 18 and arriving December 31. It arrived in time to be carried to Hong Kong on the first contract sailing of the PMSS Colorado, departing January 1, 1867, and stopping at Yokohama on January 24. It continued on its westbound voyage the next day and arrived in Hong Kong on January 31. An additional 4-pence was charged to the addressee for postage to Canton.
Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 56).




VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 2-CENT AND 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUES ON A COVER TO HONG KONG. THIS IS THE ONLY SUCH FRANKING WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO "PAID ALL" MARKING, WHICH WAS USED BRIEFLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TREATY RATE PERIOD.
The 2c and 3c stamps pay the 10c treaty rate via San Francisco and Yokohama--most covers sent this way were franked with single 10c stamps. The "Paid All" marking was applied in San Francisco on outbound treaty mail. According to the Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book, this large circle is rare.
Ex Eubanks. With 2002 P.F. certificate.