Sale 1261 — The Magnolia Collection of U.S. Mail in China and Japan: Part 3
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 June, 2022
Category — 1851-56 Issue


VERY FINE. ONE OF TEN RECORDED 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE COVERS TO CHINA--MARKED "1/8" FOR THE EXPEDITED ROUTE VIA MARSEILLES BUT RE-RATED FOR THE SLOWER AND LESS COSTLY ROUTE VIA SOUTHAMPTON.
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 before this cover reached Engineer Potts.
The stamp on this cover prepaid the 5c inland U.S. rate. The "1/8" 1sh8p debit was changed to "1/2" 1sh2p (28c), which was collected from the addressee, for a total of 33c for the rate by British Mail via Southampton. Our census of 5c 1856 covers contains 10 covers to China (eight to Hong Kong, one to Shanghai and one to Foochow via Hong Kong). Of these 10 covers, 8 were sent by British Mail via Southampton, one by British Mail via Marseilles, 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).
Ex Mayer. With 1997 P.F. certificate.


FINE. ONE OF TEN RECORDED 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE COVERS TO CHINA--FROM THE LIEUTENANT EARL ENGLISH CORRESPONDENCE.
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).
The stamp on this cover prepaid the 5c inland U.S. rate. The "1/2" 1sh2p British postage was collected from the addressee, for a total of 33c for the rate by British Mail via Southampton. Our census of 5c 1856 covers contains 10 covers to China (eight to Hong Kong, one to Shanghai and one to Foochow via Hong Kong). Of these 10 covers, 8 were sent by British Mail via Southampton, one by British Mail via Marseilles, 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).


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 AMERICAN PACKET, BUT CARRIED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ENGLAND BY BRITISH PACKET. 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 was intended to pay the American Packet rate to Hong Kong by British Mail via Southampton, but this cover was actually carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston September 10, 1856, and arriving Liverpool September 21. At the British post office, the "1/2" 1sh2p rate was crossed out and re-rated "2/" two-shillings due. Interestingly, another 21c rate cover from the Lieut. English correspondence (Magnolia Part 1, Sale 1248, lot 2007) was mailed on August 22, 1856, and carried by an American Packet, arriving at Southampton on September 4. It was delayed in transit at Galle, allowing the cover offered here, postmarked in England on September 22, to catch up with it and travel together on the Peninsular & Oriental Norna, departing Galle November 9 and arriving at Hong Kong on December 1, 1856--both covers have the same December 1 arrival datestamp.
The "1/2" 1sh2p (28c) was changed to "2/" 2sh (48c) for a higher weight class. Our census of 5c 1856 covers contains 10 covers to China (eight to Hong Kong, one to Shanghai and one to Foochow via Hong Kong). Of these 10 covers, 8 were sent by British Mail via Southampton, one by British Mail via Marseilles, 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).
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).
Illustraed in Mayer-Frajola 5c 1856 book (p. 126).
Ex Louis Grunin and Frederick R. Mayer.







