Sale 1280 — The Magnolia Collection: Japanese Foreign Mail and Post Offices
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 March, 2023
Category — Inbound Mail (other than France)
ARGENTINA, 1877, 8c Lake (34). Tied by lightly struck Messageries Maritimeo Buenos Aires double-circle handstamp on European-size cover to F. Ozier, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, used with France, 1876, 20c Red Brown, Ty. I (70) and block of four 25c Ultramarine, Ty. II (81), tied by multiple strikes of "Buenos-Ayres Paq. Fr. J No. 4 24 Juin 77" Ligne J octagonal datestamp, underpaid with "T" in triangle handstamp, blue crayon "0,80" 80-centimes due marking, backstamped Bordeaux (Jul. 20), Marseilles (Jul. 21), "Yokohama Bau Francais 21 Juil 77" double-circle and "Yokohama. Japan. Sep. 27" circular datestamp (day modified in pencil), "Advertised Yokohama Oct. 1" double-circle datestamp and matching "Due 16" in circle handstamp (16 sen equals 80 centimes)VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH ARGENTINE AND FRENCH STAMPS FOR INTERNAL AND FRENCH PACKET POSTAGE, AND JAPANESE POSTAL MARKINGS FOR POSTAGE DUE AND "ADVERTISED" HANDLING.
Argentina joined the General Postal Union (later U.P.U.) on April 1, 1878. Therefore, internal postage was paid and French stamps added for the G.P.U. rate to Japan. The 120c French franking underpaid the G.P.U. rate (40c per 15 grams). 80c postage due was calculated, which is equivalent to the 16-sen represented by the "Due 16" marking applied at Yokohama.
ARGENTINA, 1877, 8c Lake (34). Tied by boldly struck "Buenos Aires Ago 24" (1877) double-circle datestamp on cover to F. Ozier, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, used with France, 1876, 1fr Bronze Green, Ty. I (76; Yvert 72) and 20c Red Brown, Ty. I (70; Yvert 67), tied by clear strikes of "Buenos-Ayres Paq. Fr. J No. 6 24 Aout 77" Ligne J octagonal datestamp, backstamped Bordeaux (Sep. 20), Marseilles (Sep. 21) and "Yokohama Japon 10 Nov. 77" double-circle datestamp, red "Yokohama Paid All Nov. 11" double-circle datestamp on the front, Japanese forwarding notation and and Japanese character double-circle datestamps on back, slight toningVERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH ARGENTINE AND FRENCH STAMPS FOR INTERNAL AND FRENCH PACKET POSTAGE.
Argentina joined the General Postal Union (later U.P.U.) on April 1, 1878. Therefore, internal postage was paid and French stamps were required for the G.P.U. rate to Japan.
ARGENTINA, 1877, 8c Lake (34). Tied by boldly struck "Buenos Aires (O.M.) 8 Oct. 77" (Aug. 8) rectangular framed datestamp on cover to F. Ozier, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, used with two strips of three France, 1876, 20c Red Brown, Ty. I (70; Yvert 67), tied by partly clear strikes of "Buenos-Ayres Paq. Fr. J No. 2 8 Aout 77" Ligne J octagonal datestamp, backstamped "Yokohama Bau Francais 28 Oct. 77" double-circle datestamp, red "Yokohama Paid All Oct. 30" double-circle datestamp on the front, Japanese forwarding notation and and Japanese character double-circle datestamps on back, slight cover wear and small tear at top, some minor faults in French stamps from placement along edgeVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND VERY RARE MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH ARGENTINE AND FRENCH STAMPS FOR INTERNAL AND FRENCH PACKET POSTAGE.
Argentina joined the General Postal Union (later U.P.U.) on April 1, 1878. Therefore, internal postage was paid and French stamps were required for the G.P.U. rate to Japan.
AUSTRIA, 1875, 10kr Blue, Fine Print (37). Used with 1876, 3kr Green, Fine Print (35), tied by two strikes of "Wien 24/6 11-12M 81" (Jun. 24, 1881) circular datestamp on registered 5kr Rose Postal Card from Aurel Lorenz (a Vienna philatelist) to Mr. Pakuoi(?)-Okubo, Foreign Office, Tokyo, Japan, message on back in German requesting the addressee to return the card by registered mail, "Recommandirt" in circle registry handstamp applied in Vienna, backstamped Napoli (Jun. 27) on initial trip to Japan, upon arrival the card was re-addressed in Japanese, Japan, 1875, 20s Rose (48), Syllabic 8, cancelled by tiny circle of wedges, Japanese character double-circle datestamps front and back, "Tokio Japan 9 Sep." circular datestamp struck twice on front, faint purple "Registered Yokohama 10 Sep. 1881" octagonal datestamp at center of front, red manuscript "Registered No. 13" applied in Japan, backstamped with purple San Francisco (Sep. 26) and New York (Oct. 4) registry datestamps, blue handstamped registry markings applied in U.S., finally a bold "Wien Sp III 18/10 9 F 81" receiving datestamp struck on back, completing the round trip, slight creasing and small tearsVERY FINE. A TRULY REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF PHILATELIC MAIL SENT AROUND THE WORLD, WITH AUSTRIAN AND JAPANESE STAMPS PAYING U.P.U. POSTAGE AND REGISTRATION FEES. PROBABLY THE ONLY COMBINATION OF ITS KIND EXTANT.
It is remarkable that this card found its way back to Vienna, since there is no English address on the front. The original sender's address is embedded in the message on back.
AUSTRIA, 1875, 10kr Blue, Fine Print (37). Two, tied by "Landstrasse Wien 31/1 80" circular datestamp on buff cover from a diplomatic secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Vienna to Tokyo, Japan, addressed in Japanese and German, carried on the Messageries Maritimes Tibre, arriving Yokohama March 28, 1880, clear strikes of Yokohama Bau Francais 28 Mars 80" double-circle datestamp and "Yokohama Mar. 28 1880" circular datestamp on back, along with Japanese double-circle datestamp receiving datestamp, corner of one 10kr stamp is missingVERY FINE DESPITE NEGLIGIBLE STAMP FLAW. AN EXTREMELY RARE INBOUND COVER FROM AUSTRIA AND THE LAST MAIL TO BE HANDLED BY THE FRENCH POST OFFICE IN YOKOHAMA, WHICH CLOSED THREE DAYS LATER WITHOUT ANY MAIL PACKET DEPARTURES OR ARRIVALS DURING THOSE FINAL DAYS.
Illustrated and discussed in the Matsumoto book (pp. 182-183). Calves handstamp.
CANADA, 1859, 10c Red Lilac (17; SG 38). Tied by grid cancel and "Montreal C.E. PM DE 17 67" duplex datestamp on blue folded letter dated Montreal, December 13, 1867, from Thomas H. Howell to Charles Thorel, "Japan, care of J. B. Williams Esqr., 305 Front Street, San Francisco Cal.", with sender's directive "Via Panama", the city destination "Yokohama" was written by the forwarder in San Francisco, who paid 10c additional postage for the blanket steamship rate to Japan, perfect bold strike of magenta large "PAID ALL" double-line circle handstamp--carried on Pacific Mail Steamship Co. China, departing San Francisco Jan. 13, 1868, arriving Yokohama Feb. 7--horizontal file fold and scattered bleached spotsVERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO LARGE "PAID ALL" HANDSTAMP ON A COVER FROM CANADA TO JAPAN VIA SAN FRANCISCO--BELIEVED TO BE A UNIQUE CANADA "CENTS" ISSUE USAGE.
This cover is illustrated and discussed in the Frajola-Scamp-Perlman book (pp. 80-81). The authors present their analysis of the use of the San Francisco "Paid All" marking, which we quote verbatim: "This cover, mailed at Montreal, Canada on December 17, 1867, was addressed to be sent, via Panama, to a San Francisco agent for Charles Thorel who was in Yokohama. After carriage from New York City, via Panama, to San Francisco, it was redirected by the San Francisco agent to Yokohama. It was then carried from San Francisco by the PMSS steamer China on her second trip, which departed on January 13, 1868 (WT7). Because the cover was addressed to Japan and did not transit Hong Kong, it was not subject to the provisions of the treaty. The use of the 'Paid All' handstamp was possibly applied by the San Francisco office to indicate that the steamship blanket-rate postage had been adequately prepaid. The Canadian stamp only paid the letter as far as San Francisco and the additional ten cents for trans-Pacific carriage was likely paid in cash by the agent." Walske described this in his exhibit as the earliest recorded use of the large "Paid All", and Dale Forster reported about eight covers known with the marking (Chronicle 223).
Ex Nickle, Kramer and Walske. With 2003 P.F. certificate.
CANADA, 1872, 6c Yellow Brown (39; SG 98). Horizontal pair used with 1870, 1c Yellow (35; SG 75), tied by quartered cork cancels, "St.-Pierre-et-Miquelon 19 Nov. 76" double-circle datestamp on European-size cover to Mons. Georges Bousquet (legal advisor to the Japanese government), Yokohama, Japan, sender's blue oval handstamp and directive "Via New York & San Francisco", backstamped at Halifax (Nov. 22) and Montreal (Nov. 25), red "Detroit Paid All Nov. 29(?)" exchange office circular datestamp, magenta "San Francisco Paid All Jan. 3?" (1877) circular datestamp and matching "2 Cents" credit handstamp (in accordance with the provisions for transit mail to or from Japan), red "Yokohama Paid All Jan. 24" double-circle datestamp, Tokyo (Jan. 24) and Yokohama (Jan. 27) double-circle datestamps on back, forwarding slip with Japanese writing and additional datestamps, "Advertised Yokohama Apr. 2" double-circle datestamp, red crayon "5", stamp and cover faults do not undermine the remarkable qualities of this coverFINE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE ANOTHER COVER EXISTS THAT FOLLOWED THE SAME JOURNEY--SENT FROM ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON TO YOKOHAMA WITH CANADA SMALL QUEENS STAMPS PAYING THE RATE TO JAPAN VIA THE UNITED STATES, AND AFTER FAILING TO FIND THE ADDRESSEE, THE YOKOHAMA POST OFFICE ADVERTISED THE COVER.
Ex Horst Mueller and shown on his website, where he described it as "a favourite of mine."
View PDF of highlights of this lot
CANADA, 1873, 3c Orange Red (37; SG 105). Tied by circle of wedges cancel, faintly struck "Brighton SP 17 84" circular datestamp on cover to Tokyo, Japan, with original letter enclosure, underpaid for 5c rate, "T" in circle handstamp, Windsor (Sep. 19) and San Francisco (Sep. 26 and Oct. 7) backstamps, "Due" in circle handstamp with pencil "4" sen applied in Japan (double the deficiency), backstamped with "Yokohama 29 Oct. 1884" experimental datestamp with star (Nishino-Tani type), additional double-circle datestamps and rectangular Japanese characters handstamp, pair of Japan, 1883, 2s Carmine Rose (73), tied by framed handstamp, edge nicks mostly at right, small tear in one Japanese stamp, otherwise Fine, very unusual
JAPAN, 1876, 5s Brown (59). Vertical pair and single (in different shades) tied by bold strikes of crossroads cancel, partly readable strike of "I.J. Postal Agency Shanghai Oct. 11" double-circle datestamp on legal-size cover with "Legation of the United States, China" imprint, addressed to John A. Bingham in Tokyo, U.S. Legation red wax seal, "Yokohama Japan 13 Oct. 1882" circular datestamp and Tokyo receiving datestamp on back, docketing with Feb. 1883 reply date, minor soiling and wrinkles as is to be expected in a cover of this size, still Fine, rare diplomatic cover from the Imperial Japanese post office in Shanghai to Yokohama
JAPAN (OFFICES IN CHINA), 1900, 5c Orange Yellow, Ovpt. (10). Used with 1900, 1s Light Red Brown, Ovpt. (3) and 2s Light Green, Ovpt. (6) and China, 1897, 1c Yellow, 2c Scarlet, 4c Brown, Coiling Dragon Issue, the China stamps tied by Hankow 18 JL 01" bilingual circular datestamps, Japanese Offices stamps tied by "Shanghai I.J.P.O. 26 Jul. 01" circular datestamps on greenish cover with Tokmakoff Molotkoff & Co. printed return card and label on back, to Ginsburg & Co., Nagasaki, Japan, Shanghai (Jul. 22) and Nagasaki (Jul. 28) backstamps, Japanese post office label affixed to back with datestamp and red seal, vertical fold clear of stamps, small flap fault, Very Fine, scarce postal label on mixed-franking cover from Hankow to Nagasaki
CANARY ISLANDS (SPAIN), 1879, 25c Bluish Gray (246). Two, tied by grid cancels, blurry Arico (Canary Islands) Mar. 1879 circular datestamp on cover to Rev. O. H. Gulick, Kobe, Japan, sender's directive in Spanish, "New York F.D. May 9" circular datestamp, magenta "Too Late" in double-line oval handstamp applied in San Francisco, backstamped San Francisco (May 16), scarce "Yokohama Jun. 28 1879" experimental datestamp with star on back, Hiogo (Jul. 4) receiving backstamp, docketing at left, edgewear and small tears, still Fine, scarce markings and especially rare on the same cover
BAVARIA, 1862, 18kr Vermilion Red (14; Michel 13a). Used with 1862, 12kr Yellow Green (13; Michel 12), both neatly cut all around down to or slightly into framelines, tied by two strikes of "356" cogwheel cancel, bold "Nurnberg 8-9 29 Nov. 1866" double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, on printed Ludwig Memminger columnar sheet with directive "pr Medina" inside and "uber Marseille" below address, magenta "P.D." handstamp, partly readable red French Strasbourg transit double-circle datestamp (Nov. 30), blue "Yokohama Bau Francais 5 Fevr 67" double-circle datestamp on back, received in early 1867 after the Great Fire of November 1866, horizontal file fold, light toningFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BAVARIA FRANKING FOR THE 30-KREUZER RATE TO JAPAN VIA MARSEILLES.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
BAVARIA, 1867, 18kr Red (22; Michel 18). Large margins, used with 1870, 7kr Ultramarine (26; Michel 25Xa), tied by perfect strike of "Kissingen VII 27 6" (June 27, 1872) semi-circle datestamp with another strike on blue folded cover to Edouard de Bavier, Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "Via Bremen & Brindisi", red "P.D" handstamp, blue crayon "W fr" marking, backstamped Brindisi (Jun. 30) and Alexandria (Jul. 20), with "Hong-Kong C AU 2 72" and blue "Yokohama A AU 10 72" British P.O. datestamps on back, 18kr has slight wrinkle, cover with folds clear of stamps, minor wearVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE BAVARIA 1867 18-KREUZER COAT OF ARMS IMPERFORATE ON COVER TO JAPAN.
The 25-kreuzer franking pays the rate from Bavaria to Japan via Brindisi. With 2010 Schmitt certificate describing the cover as "possibly unique."
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION, 1868, 5gr Bister (6; Michel 6). Used with 1868, 1gr Rose (4; Michel 4) and 2gr Ultramarine (5; Michel 5), tied by two strikes of "Elberfeld/Barnhof/24 1 * 6-7" (Jan. 24, 1868) framed datestamp with another strike on blue folded letter to Charles Thorel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and sender's directive "via Marseille & Suez", red "P.D" handstamp with some bleaching from oily ink, blue "Prusse Erquelines 3E/25 Janv. 68" circular datestamp, perfect strike of "Yokohama Bau Francais 21 Mar 68" double-circle datestamp on back, Very Fine, a beautiful three-color franking on a rare cover from the North German Confederation to Japan
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION, 1868, 5gr Bister (6; Michel 6). Used with 1868, 2gr Ultramarine (5; Michel 5) and 1869, 1gr Rose (16; Michel 16), tied by clear strikes of "Glauchau-Gera Z. 2. 10 III" (Mar. 10, 1869) double-circle datestamp on folded letter to Charles Thorel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Hering & Jung oval handstamp and directive "via Triest", blue manuscript "f7" rate (weiterfranco 7 groschen), backstamped Trieste (Mar. 12), "Hong-Kong C AP 20 69" and "Yokohama A MY 1 69" British P.O. datestamps on back, soiled along horizontal file fold, otherwise Very Fine, attractive three-color franking and rare use to Japan
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION, 1869, 2gr Ultramarine (17; Michel 17). Four singles used on 1869, 1gr Rose entire, stamps tied by multiple strikes of "Burtsheidt 4-5N. 19 8 71" (Aug. 19, 1871) double-circle datestamp on cover to Lieut. Commander Oscar F. Heyerman, U.S. Navy, on board the U.S. Flagship Colorado, Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", backstamped Brindisi (Aug. 23), "Hong-Kong C OC 3 71" and blue "Yokohama A OC 15 71" British P.O. datestamps on back, docketing notes over back in ink and pencil, very minor toning, Very Fine, the Colorado was the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron, she brought the U.S. minister to China and Korea on a diplomatic mission in 1871, in June 1871 two Korean forts fired on the Colorado and in response the forts were destroyed
PRUSSIA, 1866, 10sgr Rose on Goldbeater's Paper (21; Michel 20). Large even margins, tied by one of two strikes of "Ronneburg XI 68 5/III" (Mar. 5, 1868) double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Hering & Jung (Saxony) oval handstamp and directive "via Marseille", magenta "P.D." framed handstamp, red crayon rate notation, blue "Prusse Forbach 7 Mars 68" datestamp, no markings on back, stamp has tiny sealed tear at left which probably occurred when it was separated along the roulette, immaterial considering its otherwise superb condition and the tendency of this paper to have serious faultsEXTREMELY FINE. A TREMENDOUS RARITY--THE PRUSSIAN 1866 10-GROSCHEN IS SELDOM SEEN AS A SINGLE FRANKING ON COVER, AND THIS USE TO JAPAN IS EXTRAORDINARY.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Two horizontal pairs used with 1861, 2sgr Ultramarine (18; Michel 17a) and 1sgr Rose (17; Michel 16), tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 8 4 * 6-7" (Apr. 8, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", blue crayon "2" for double rate, red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 9 Avril 67" double-circle datestamp, bold "Yokohama Bau Francais 2 Juin 67" double-circle datestamp on back, very faint toning, 3sgr at right with rough separation in margin, another has tiny corner creaseEXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR THREE-COLOR FRANKING FOR THE DOUBLE RATE FROM PRUSSIA TO JAPAN VIA MARSEILLES.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Two horizontal pairs and single tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 16 3 * 6-7" (Mar. 16, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", blue crayon "2" for double rate, red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 17 Mars 67" double-circle datestamp, clearly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais 9 Mai 67" double-circle datestamp on backEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE FRANKING FOR THE DOUBLE RATE FROM PRUSSIA TO JAPAN VIA MARSEILLES.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Horizontal pair used with 1861, 2sgr Ultramarine (18; Michel 17a), tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 16 4 * 6-7" (Apr. 16, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 17 Avril 67" double-circle datestamp, bold "Yokohama Bau Francais 9 Juin 67" double-circle datestamp on back, Very Fine, an attractive and rare use to Japan
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Horizontal pair used with 1861, 2sgr Ultramarine (18; Michel 17a), tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 8 1 * 6-7" (Jan. 8, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 9 Janv 67" double-circle datestamp, clearly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais 8 Mars 67" double-circle datestamp on back, stamps slightly toned, otherwise Very Fine, a rare use to Japan
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Horizontal pair used with 1861, 2sgr Ultramarine (18; Michel 17a), tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 16 7 * 6-7" (Jul. 16, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 17 Juil. 67" double-circle datestamp, clearly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais 7 Sept 67" double-circle datestamp on back, stamps slightly toned, otherwise Very Fine, a rare use to Japan
PRUSSIA, 1865, 3sgr Bister (20; Michel 18a). Horizontal pair used with 1861, 2sgr Ultramarine (18; Michel 17a), tied by multiple strikes of "Elberfeld Bahnoff 9 2 * 6-7" (Feb. 9, 1867) framed datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegel & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Schennis & Co. backstamp and directive "Via Marseille & Suez", red "P.D" handstamp, blue "Pruss Erquelines 10 Fevr 67" double-circle datestamp, clearly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais 5 Avril 67" double-circle datestamp on back, 3sgr corner crease, otherwise Very Fine, a rare use to Japan
SAXONY, 1863, 5ngr Gray Blue (20b; Michel 19). Vertical pair tied by two bold strikes of "56" numeral grid cancel, "Ronneburg VIII 67. 15/XI" (Nov. 15, 1867) double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Hering & Jung oval handstamp and directive "Via Preussen & Frankreich", red "P.P." handstamp, red "Prusse Forbach 17 Nov. 67" double-circle datestamp, red crayon "7 wf" (weiterfranco 7 groschen) rate, Glauchau-Gera (Nov. 15) and bold "Yokohama Bau Francais 15 Janv. 68" double-circle datestamp on back, light toning along horizontal file fold and stamps faintly tonedVERY FINE. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING SAXONY 1863 ISSUE COVERS EXTANT, BEARING A PAIR OF THE 5-NEUGROSCHEN COAT OF ARMS PAYING THE RATE TO JAPAN. A WONDERFUL POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT FROM THE THOREL CORRRESPONDENCE.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
THURN & TAXIS, 1859, 10sgr Orange (14; Michel 19). Vertical pair, vivid shade, large margins to slightly in, used with 1859. 5sgr Lilac (13; Michel 18), large margins to just touched, tied by "300" target cancel, "Hamburg. Th. & T. 5N-6N 6/2" (Feb. 2, 1867) circular datestamp on folded letter to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Maschwitz & Co. backstamp and directive "p Overland Mail", red crayon "3" for triple rate, red "PD" handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 8 Fevr. 67" double-circle datestamp, red crayon marking at upper left, partly readable "Yokohama Bau Francais 5 Avril 67" double-circle datestamp on back, light soiling along file foldVERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR THURN & TAXIS TRIPLE-RATE FRANKING ON COVER FROM HAMBURG TO JAPAN FROM THE THOREL CORRRESPONDENCE.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
THURN & TAXIS, 1859, 10sgr Orange (14; Michel 19). Vertical strip of three with top sheet margin, other sides large to slightly in, used with 1866, 2sgr Blue, Rouletted (31; Michel 49), tied by "300" target cancels, "Hamburg. Th. & T. 1N-2N 23/5" (May 23, 1867) circular datestamp on blue folded letter from Maschwitz & Co. to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, part-printed shipping invoice with vignette of the Goddess of Commerce in a harbor, sender's directive "per Overland Mail", red crayon "4" for quadruple rate, red "PD" handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 20 Mai 67" double-circle datestamp, smudged but still readable "Yokohama Bau Francais 20 Juil 67" double-circle datestamp on back, bottom of strip slightly creased from placement long edgeVERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT THURN & TAXIS COVER FROM HAMBURG TO JAPAN WITH A STRIP OF THE 1859 10-SILBERGROSCHEN AND SINGLE 2-SILBERGROSCHEN FROM THE 1866 ROULETTED ISSUE PAYING THE QUADRUPLE RATE TO JAPAN.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
THURN & TAXIS, 1859, 10sgr Orange (14; Michel 19). Large margin at right to slightly in, used with vertical pair of 1866, 3sgr Rose, Rouletted (32; Michel 50), tied by bold strikes of "300" target cancel, "Hamburg. Th. & T. 5N-6N 15/6" (Jun. 15, 1867) circular datestamp on folded letter from Maschwitz & Co. to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "via Marseille", red crayon "2" for double rate, red "PD" handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 17 Juin 67" double-circle datestamp, partly clear "Yokohama Bau Francais 5 Aout 67" double-circle datestamp on backVERY FINE. A RARE THURN & TAXIS COVER FROM HAMBURG TO JAPAN WITH THE 1859 10-SILBERGROSCHEN AND PAIR OF 3-SILBERGROSCHEN FROM THE 1866 ROULETTED ISSUE PAYING THE DOUBLE RATE VIA MARSEILLES.
This extraordinary cover comes from the Charles Thorel & Company (also Thorel Ziegler & Company) correspondence. It was part of a previously unknown group of Thorel covers sold by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany on August 29, 2014. This group consisted of 50 letters, all addressed to the Thorel firm in Yokohama, franked with various stamps of various German States, the North German Confederation, Great Britain and the United States. These letters were found in their original unfolded condition, just as they might have reposed in a business file, lying dormant in a stamp collection located in a house in the eastern Ruhr city of Castrop-Rauxel. The auction catalogue speculated that the letters had been in the family’s possession for more than a century and assured prospective buyers that all of the letters in the find were included in the sale and no more remained in the family's possession. Other covers from the Thorel correspondence have been in collector hands as far back as the 1920s or 1930s.
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company, and Ziegler went on to form Ziegler & Company with an employee, Arnold Dumelin, who later served as the Swiss consul general in Yokohama.
THURN & TAXIS, 1859, 10sgr Orange (14; Michel 19). Two, large margin at right to slightly in, used with 1859, 5sgr Lilac (13; Michel 19), tied by clear strikes of "301" target cancel, "Bremen. Th. & Tx. 1N-6N 24/11" (Nov. 24, 1866) circular datestamp on cover to M. H. Gildemeister, Kniffler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "p Overland Mail via Marseille", manuscript "3" for triple rate, red "P.P." handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 26 Nov 66" double-circle datestamp, red crayon rate at lower left, clearly struck blue "Yokohama Bau Francais 20 Janv. 67" double-circle datestamp on back, received about two months after the Great Fire of November 26, 1866, part of backflap removed, lightly cleanedVERY FINE. A RARE THURN & TAXIS COVER FROM BREMEN TO JAPAN WITH THE 1859 5- AND 10-SILBERGROSCHEN STAMPS PAYING THE TRIPLE RATE VIA MARSEILLES.
From the Kniffler & Co. correspondence.
THURN & TAXIS, 1859, 10sgr Orange (14; Michel 19). Vertical strip of three wrapped around side and damaged when the letter was opened, large margin at right to slightly in, used with horizontal pair of 1866, 1sgr Rose, Rouletted (30; Michel 48), tied by bold strikes of "300" target cancel, "Hamburg. Th. & T. 1N-2N 23/3" (Mar. 23, 1867) circular datestamp on blue folded letter from Maschwitz & Co. to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "p. Overland Mail", red crayon "4" for quadruple rate, red "PD" handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 25(?) Mars 67" double-circle datestamp, boldly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais17 Mai 67" double-circle datestamp on back, Fine appearance, a very rare cover and desirable despite the wounded 10sgr stamp
THURN & TAXIS, 1866, 3sgr Rose, Rouletted (31; Michel 50). Vertical pair and single wrapped around edge of letter and the one stamp torn in half, tied by bold strikes of "300" target cancel, "Hamburg. Th. & T. 5N-6N 8/5" (May 8, 1867) circular datestamp on folded letter from Maschwitz & Co. to Thorel Ziegler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "p. Overland Mail", red "PD" handstamp, red "Tour-T. Forbach 10 Mai 67" double-circle datestamp, boldly struck "Yokohama Bau Francais 5 Juil. 67" double-circle datestamp on back, folded open for display, Fine and rare cover from the Thorel correspondence
GERMANY, 1872, 2gr Ultramarine (5; Michel 5). Three used with 1872, 1gr Rose (4; Michel 4), tied by multiple strikes of "Kotzschenbroda 72 XII 21/1" (Jan. 21, 1872) double-circle datestamp on 1gr Rose entire to Lieut. Commander Oscar F. Heyerman, U.S. Navy, on board the U.S. Flagship Colorado, Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", "P.D." framed handstamp, "Hong-Kong C MR 8 72" British P.O. datestamp on back but no Yokohama receiving mark, docketing notes, slightly rough opening at right, otherwise Very Fine, a rare Germany Eagle Issue cover to Japan, the Colorado was the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron, she brought the U.S. minister to China and Korea on a diplomatic mission in 1871, in June 1871 two Korean forts fired on the Colorado and in response the forts were destroyed
GERMANY, 1872, 5gr Bister (6; Michel 6). Used with 1872, 1gr Rose (4; Michel 4) and -1/4gr Violet (1; Michel 1), tied by multiple strikes of "Kotzschenbroda 72 7 22/2" (Feb. 22, 1872) double-circle datestamp on 1gr Rose entire to Lieut. Commander Oscar F. Heyerman, U.S. Navy, on board the U.S. Flagship Colorado, Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", "P.D." framed handstamp, Verona (Feb. 24) backstamp, "Hong-Kong C AP 1 72" British P.O. datestamp on back but no Yokohama receiving mark, docketing notes, minor edgewear, Very Fine, a rare Germany Eagle Issue cover to Japan, the Colorado was the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron, she brought the U.S. minister to China and Korea on a diplomatic mission in 1871, in June 1871 two Korean forts fired on the Colorado and in response the forts were destroyed
GERMANY, 1872, 18kr Bister (11; Michel 11). Horizontal pair used with 1872, 9kr Red Brown, Small Shield (25; Michel 27) and 3kr Rose, Small Shield (23; Michel 25), tied by two strikes of "Frankfurt Am/Postexped. No. 1 / 31/1 74 3-4N" (Jan. 31, 1874) framed datestamp on legal-size cover with "Agency of the Imperial Government of Japan in Frankfort o/M" corner card to S. Yashima, Financial Department, Tokyo, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", blue crayon "2", red "P.D." framed handstamp, backstamped Brindisi (Feb. 2, 1874), "Hong-Kong C MR 17 74" and blue "Yokohama A MR 27 73" (year date error) British P.O. datestamps on back, 3kr and 9kr stamps have faults from placement at edge, some minor edge faults in cover, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare multiple-rate franking with the Germany Eagle Issue, prepaid for the 6 x 8-kreuzer rate via Brindisi
GIBRALTAR, 1886, 1p Rose, Ovpt. (2; SG 2). Two pairs tied by "Gibraltar B AU 2 86" duplex datestamp and "A26" oval grid cancel on cover to fleet surgeon aboard the U.S. Flagship Omaha, care of U.S. Consul at Yokohama, Japan, backstamped Port Said (Aug. 10), Suez (Aug. 11), Singapore (Sep. 1) and Yokohama (Sep. 14), faults along right edge and slightly extended with paper, small tear at bottom, otherwise Fine, rare non-philatelic use of the Gibraltar 1886 overprinted issue (on Bermuda stamps) to Japan, ex Osborn
CHINA, Ningpo to Kanagawa, Japan, via Shanghai, 1862. Small cover addressed to Lieut. A. H. Markham, H.M.S. Centaur, in Japan, with sender's notation of origin at lower left "E.J. Dec. 3rd/62 NING-PO", put into the British mail at Shanghai with "Shanghae Paid O DE 9 62" circular datestamp on back and red crayon "4" (pence) prepaid rate, manuscript "p.p. at Ningpo" which must mean "postage paid at Ningpo", with original letter datelined "H.M.G.B. 'Flamer' Ningpo, December 2nd /62", some minor toning, still Very Fine, a past owner noted this is the earliest prepaid cover from Ningpo to Japan with a rate of 4p (or 8c), but we have no way to verify that statement, Markham eventually became Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, his naval career spanned 50 years and included many exploits, Arctic exploration, as well as some controversy over the sinking of the H.M.S. Victoria in 1893, he also designed the flag of New Zealand
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GREAT BRITAIN, 1867, 6p Dull Violet (50; SG 106). Horizontal pair tied by two strikes of "E Liverpool 16 NO 67 54" duplex datestamp and "466" oval grid cancel on folded letter in German to C. Hildebrand, care of Messr. Grosser & Co., Nagasaki, Japan, blue Pranger & Son Liverpool oval backstamp, sender's directive "via Marseille" crossed out and "pr. french Packet" written below, the rate via Southampton was 1sh (as prepaid), but the Marseilles route was 1sh4p, thus this was underpaid, clear strike of "EXCc/OZ DEFICIENT POSTAGE 4 BRITISH SHARE OF FINE 6" with rates in manuscript and the total of 10p written as "10" over the whole marking, red London backstamp (Nov. 18), "Hong-Kong C JA 7 63" backstamp and corresponding "COLONIAL SHARE OF FINE" framed handstamp with manuscript "6" entered as amount and the total of "1/4" 1sh4p due in the same hand--carried on the P&O Benares from Southampton, which fits the Jan. 7 arrival date--Nagasaki was no longer a port of call on this P&O route after September 1867, so this was carried privately for the final leg, slightly toned, still Very Fine, the "Colonial Share of Fine" handstamp applied in Hong Kong is very rare, and covers to Japan are also quite rare in this period--the use to Nagasaki is extraordinary
GREAT BRITAIN, 1862, 9p Bister (40d; SG 86). Plate 2, eight overlapping singles used with 1856, 6p Lilac (27; SG 70), tied by "47" oval grid cancels, "London FE 26 62" framed datestamp on back of blue address panel front with intact flap, addressed to Kniffler & Co., Nagasaki, Japan, care of Siemssen & Co., Hong Kong, backstamped "Hong Kong C AP 11 62", red crayon "4" which represents Hong Kong's share of postage (4 x 1p), the cover was forwarded to Nagasaki, 6p and two 9p with cut wing margins, some bleached spots, horizontal file fold passes through one 9p, cleaned in places (Holcombe certificate notes stamps at left have been lifted and reaffixed, but we disagree), Fine appearance, an extraordinary franking for the 6-shilling rate and 6p late fee (one of two recorded covers with eight 9p stamps, according to Karl-Albert Louis certificate), also a very early cover from Great Britain to Japan, with 1987 Holcombe and 2016 Louis certificates
GREAT BRITAIN, 1865, 1sh Green (48; SG 101). Tied by one of two bold strikes of "46" oval grid cancel, "London AU 19 65" framed datestamp on back of folded letter on John Gosnell & Co. (perfumers) letterhead to Pignatel & Co., Nagasaki, Japan, sender's directive "via Southampton", red "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp, bluish "Hong-Kong C OC 7 65" backstamp, slight wear along file fold, Very Fine, very scarce early cover from Great Britain to Japan and much rarer to Nagasaki
GREAT BRITAIN, 1865, 4p Vermilion (43; SG 94). Tied by bold "100" oval grid cancel and "London 7 NO 7 68" duplex datestamp on printed circular to Yokohama, Japan, from Smee & Co. to Randon & Co., red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, slightly toned, Very Fine, rare early printed matter use to Nagasaki
GREAT BRITAIN, 1867, 3p Rose (49; SG 103). Plate 7, tied by "644" oval grid cancel, "Ringwood C AP 5 72" circular datestamp on back of wide-bordered mourning envelope to Capt. Brown, steamer "Thabor", Yokohama, Japan, partly clear strike of "EXCc/OZ DEFICIENT POSTAGE 1/- BRITISH SHARE OF FINE 6" with rates in manuscript and the total of 1sh6p written as "1/6", "Hong-Kong C MY 19 72" British P.O. backstamp and another dated May 20, and corresponding "COLONIAL SHARE OF FINE" framed handstamp with manuscript "6" entered as amount and the total of "2/-" due in the same hand, blue "Yokohama A JU 2 72" British P.O. backstamp, Very Fine, an extremely rare cover with the Hong Kong "Colonial Share of Fine" handstamp, accompanied by thorough analysis
GREAT BRITAIN, 1873, 1sh Pale Green (64; SG 150). Plate 10, used with 1873, 3p Rose (61; SG 144), Plate 17, wing margin, tied by two strikes of "14 E Glasgow AP 27 75" duplex datestamp and "15" grid cancel on black-bordered mourning envelope to professor at Imperial College, Yedo (Tokyo), Japan, "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong MY 29 / 7 75" double-circle datestamp and blue "Yokohama A JU 11" British P.O. datestamp on back, Very Fine
HONG KONG, 1864, 8p Orange Buff (13; SG 11). Two, light strikes of "B62" oval cancel, "Hong Kong B AU 21 79" datestamp on European-size cover to Nicola Lecaldano on board the Italian naval corvette Vettor Pesani, care of the Italian Consul in Yokohama, Japan, backstamped with blue "D.Co. Musso Hong Kong China" oval, sender's directive "Per French Mail", small red manuscript "2" for double rate, red crayon used to cross out "Yokohama" and write "Nagasaki", blue Italian Consulate in Yokohama large circular handstamp ties stamps, "Nagasaki AU 25 79" receiving backstamp, but evidently returned to Yokohama as evidenced by "Yokohama A AU 29 79" backstamp, opening tears in flap extend to bottom and right, toned spots, still attractive and overall Fine, a rare use from Hong Kong to Nagasaki
MALTA, Great Britain, 1873, 1sh Pale Green (A72; SG Z80). Plate 11, tied by "A25" oval grid and "D Malta NO 27 75" duplex datestamp on European-size cover to Basil Hall Chamberlain, Yokohama, Japan, clear strike of "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong DE 28 / 6 75" double-circle datestamp on back, "Yokohama A JA 12 76" receiving backstamp, Very Fine, rare use of Great Britain stamp from Malta to Japan
INDIA, 1865-67, 2a Brownish Orange (23; SG 63). Horizontal strip of four tied by two clear strikes of "121" grid and "Aden. Steamer Point FE 16" duplex datestamp on back of folded letter datelined Aden Feb. 14 (1874) from Thomas Lewin to a Miss Wiggins, whom he recently met on board a vessel, care of U.S. Consul, Yokohama, Japan, with directive "Via Hong Kong & China", "Hong-Kong C MR 17 74" and blue "Yokohama A MR 27 74" British P.O. backstamps, "ADVERTISED" straightline handstamp applied in Yokohama indicating letter was advertised in local newspaper, stains, flap torn open through one datestamp, still attractive and Fine, scarce inbound cover from Aden to the British P.O. in Yokohama with a rare "Advertised" marking
INDIA, 1865-67, 2a Brownish Orange (23; SG 63). Two tied by two strikes of "Murree JL 19" datestamp on black-bordered mourning envelope neatly addressed in purple to Benjamin Smith Lyman, Chief Geologist and Mining Engineer, Geological Survey of Japan, via Yedo (Tokyo) or Yokohama, sender's directive "Via Bombay and Hong Kong", an array of backstamps including "Bombay Outw 24 JY", "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong AU 8 /13 74" double-circle datestamp, "Hong-Kong A AU 13 74" and blue "Yokohama A AU 20 74" datestamps, arrived in Yokohama on the P&O Bombay, some writing in Japanese, Very Fine, attractive and scarce use
INDIA, 1882, -1/2a Green (36; SG 85). Tied by Benares Jul. 12, 1896 datestamp on cover to Count Finkenstein, care of German Consulate, Yokohama, Japan, short-paid with "T" in circle handstamp, an array of backstamps (Bombay, Tuticorin, Hong Kong, Yokohama) and seven native paper forwarding slips affixed in Japan, red manuscript "Cts 20" (centimes) deficiency notation, 40 centimes postage due paid by pair of Japan, 1888, 4s Oliver Bister (77), tied by rectangular handstamps, minor wear and toning, still Fine and fascinating inbound use with Koban Issue
INDIA, 1897, "One Anna" Surcharge on 1-1/2a Blue International Postal Card. Cancelled by Dwarahat datestamp, Apr. 5, 1897 dateline, to Rev. H. B. Swartz in Hirosaki, Japan, from a friend in India, mentions using the postal card instead of an envelope so the "boys may have one of its kind", usual array of transit markings all struck on the address side, slightly toned, Fine
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ITALY, 1867, 20c Sky Blue, De La Rue (35; Sassone L26). Block of four tied by bold strikes of "17" dotted rectangle cancel and "Milano 28 Gio 68 6.8" (Jun. 28, 1868) circular datestamp on folded letter to Giovanni Ghirardi, Yokohama, Japan, bold blue "Societa Bacologica Fratelli Ghirardi & Ci" oval handstamp, printed letterhead of the same firm, Brindisi (Jun. 30) backstamp and "Alexandria JY 10 68" datestamp on the front, backstamped with perfect strike of "Hong Kong & Singapore Line Marine Sorter B" double-circle, "Hong-Kong C AU 12 68" and "Yokohama A AU 24 68" British P.O. datestamps on backVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER FROM ITALY TO JAPAN WITH A BLOCK OF THE 1867 20-CENTESIMI VITTORIO EMANUELE II ISSUE, PAYING THE 80-CENTESIMI RATE VIA BRINDISI, AND THE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER MARKING.
Signed E. Diena. With 2005 Raybaudi certificate.
ITALY, 1867, 20c Blue, De La Rue (35; Sassone L26). Five singles tied by "181" dotted rectangle cancel, bold "Milano Staz. 25 Set 71 7.S" circular datestamp on buff cover from Penci & Ferrario (backstamped) to Charles Giussani, Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "Via Genova", "P.D." handstamp, backstamped faint Brindisi datestamp, "Alessandria D' Egitto Poste Italiane 6 Ott 71" Italian P.O. datestamp, "Alexandrie Egypte 6 Oct. 71" French P.O. double-circle datestamp, "Suez Paq. Fr. N No. 3 8 Oct. 71" Ligne N octagonal datestamp applied on the M.I. Tigre, "Yokohama Bau Francais 17 Nov. 71" French P.O. double-circle datestamp, Very Fine, an attractive cover from Italy to Japan via Adriatic & Oriental steamer to Egypt and then by Messageries Imperiales Lignes N and S to the French Post Office in Yokohama
ITALY, 1866, 60c Lilac, Torino Printing (32; Sassone T21). Used with 1867, 20c Sky Blue (35; Sassone L26), tied by bold "181" dotted rectangle cancels, "Milano Staz. 8 Gen 75 7 S" (Jan. 8, 1875) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Raud & Co., Yokohama, Japan, Cesare Bozzotti blue oval handstamp, red "P.D" handstamp, light but clear strike of "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong FE 10 /18 75" double-circle datestamp on back, blue "Yokohama A FE 24 75" British P.O. backstamp, Very Fine, attractive 80c rate cover to Japan
ITALY, 1866, 60c Lilac, Torino Printing (32; Sassone T21). Used with 1866, 30c Brown (30; Sassone T19), tied by bold "132" dotted rectangle cancels, "Spezia 19 Feb 75" circular datestamp on small cover to Midshipman Seabury aboard the U.S.S. Iroquois, care of U.S. Consul, Yokohama, Japan, "P.P." handstamp, "Hong Kong C AP 4 73" backstamp, backflap removed leaving small part of a Brindisi datestamp, minor toning, Fine, scarce
ITALY, 1877, 20c Orange (36; Sassone 28). Three singles placed in different corners, each tied by "152" barred oval cancel, "Spezia 22 10-77 I S" (Oct. 22, 1877) circular datestamp on folded cover to commander of the Italian naval ship Cristoforo Colombo in "Hong Kong or Yokohama via Hong Kong", sender's blue oval backstamp and directive "By French Packet", backstamped Brindisi (Oct. 23), "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong DE 26 /6 77" double-circle and "Yokohama DE 14 77" British P.O. datestamp, forwarded to Hong Kong, with additional pairs of France, 1870, 40c Orange (59; Yvert 38) and 1877, 10c Black on Lavender, Sage (91; Yvert 89),affixed over two Italian stamps, former tied by two clear strikes of "Yokohama Bau Francais 17 Dec. 77" double-circle datestamp, latter left uncancelled, backstamped "Hong-Kong DE 24 77" British P.O. datestamp, forwarded a second time to Sydney, Australia, "Sydney JA 22 78" receiving backstamp, magenta ink used to cross out "Hong Kong" and "Australia", some ink erosion, folds which do not affect stampsVERY FINE. A TRULY SPECTACULAR AND UNIQUE COMBINATION OF ITALIAN AND FRENCH STAMPS ON A WELL-TRAVELED COVER FROM ITALY TO JAPAN, HONG KONG AND AUSTRALIA IN SEARCH OF AN ITALIAN NAVAL OFFICER.
With 2000 Bolaffi and 2018 Eichele certificates
"Jamaica Three Pence 1877 Paid" Red Circular Handstamp on Printed Postal Card. Manuscript squiggle through the "Paid" handstamp, addressed to the British Consulate in Hiogo, Japan, clear strike of "British Consulate Hiogo" red oval handstamp, Very Fine, an extremely rare and non-philatelic use of a postal card from Jamaica to Japan, based on the line through the "Paid" marking and the consulate handstamp, this was carried outside the mails by diplomatic pouch
NETHERLANDS, 1864, 15c Orange (6). Two singles, used with pair of 1864, 10c Lake (5), tied by clear strikes of "FRANCO" framed handstamp, red "Middelburg 22/6 12-5 67" (Jun. 22, 1867) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Randon & Co., Yokohama, Japan, A.H.G. Fokker blue oval handstamp and directive "via Marseille", red "P.D." handstamp, red "Pays-Bas Valnes. 24 Juin 67" double-circle datestamp, bold strike of "Yokohama Bau Francais 15 Aout 67" double-circle datestamp on backVERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO JAPAN WITH A WILLIAM III FRANKING PAYING THE 50-CENT RATE VIA MARSEILLES.
There are very few covers from the Netherlands to Japan in the period when the 1864 William III Issue was current. This was acquired in a Postiljonen sale more than 15 years ago.
NETHERLANDS, 1867, 50c Gold (12). Beautiful rich color, tied by "FRANCO" framed handstamp, clear strike of "Goes 12M-4A 4 Feb 69" double-circle datestamp on cover to Captain P. Toutenhoofd, care of the Dutch Consul, Yokohama, Japan, red "P.P." handstamp, Paris and Marseilles datestamps (Feb. 26), clear strike of blue "Yokohama Japon 20 Avril 69" double-circle datestamp on backEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB AND RARE COVER FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO JAPAN WITH A SINGLE FRANKING OF THE 1867 50-CENT WILLIAM III GOLD ISSUE.
This was acquired in a Postiljonen sale more than 15 years ago.
NETHERLANDS, 1867, 50c Gold (12). Deep shade, tied by "FRANCO" framed handstamp, clear strike of red "Brummen 7 Apr 68" double-circle datestamp on cover to Nagasaki, Japan, "P.P." handstamp, "Pays-Bas Arrqs-Paris 8 Avril 68" double-circle datestamp, clear strike of "Shang-Hai Bau Francais 25 Mai 68" double-circle datestamp on back, this must have been forwarded to Nagasaki from Shanghai, dampstained with some effect on address, piece of backflap missing, presentable and Fine appearance, rare
NETHERLANDS INDIES, Batavia to Yokohama, 1871. Partly clear strike of "Batavia Franco 13/12 1871" semi-circle datestamp and "INDIA PAID" framed handstamp on blue folded letter to C. Hildebrand, Yokohama, Japan, Niederer & Co. blue oval handstamp and directive "pr Steamer Via Singapore & China", blue crayon "30" rate on back, red crayon "4" British Colonial credit, backstamped "Singapore DE 22 71", "Hong-Kong C DE 31 71" and blue "Yokohama A JA 8 72" British P.O. datestamps, Very Fine, scarce cover carried from Batavia to Yokohama on P&O steamers
SINGAPORE/SHIP LETTER/18 OC/Bo. Framed handstamp on small cover to Dr. Mourier, Yokohama, Japan, clear strike of greenish-blue "Hong-Kong C OC 14 65" British P.O. circular datestamp on back, manuscript "4" with another "4" written below and a total of "8" pence due, combination of two 4p inter-port rates, Very Fine, extremely rare use
SWITZERLAND, 1862, 1fr Gold (50). Four singles, tied by "St. Gallen 9 Oct. 66 9M" (Oct. 9, 1866) double-circle datestamp on blue folded cover (outer address sheet) from J. B. Durler to Kniffler & Co., Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "via Marseille", red crayon "4" for quadruple rate, "PD" framed handstamp, backstamped Geneva (Oct. 10) and Marseilles (Oct. 11), "Suisse Amb. Marseille E 10 Oct. 66" double-circle datestamp on front, no Yokohama arrival datestamp, but based on the Marseilles Oct. 10 date, this probably arrived on the Messageries Imperiales Alphee on November 12 or 13, the first mail to arrive after the Great Fire of November 26, 1866, toned spots and trivial oxidation in gold ink of stampsFINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY QUADRUPLE-RATE FRANKING WITH THE 1862 ONE-FRANC SEATED HELVETIA ISSUE--THIS COVER ARRIVED IN YOKOHAMA SHORTLY AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF NOVEMBER 26, 1866.
With 1976 Zumstein certificate
SWITZERLAND, 1867, 50c Violet (59). Used with 1867, 10c Carmine (53), tied by "Basel 7 IV 75 - 6" (Apr. 7, 1875) circular datestamp on 25c Green entire to J. R. Merian, Ziegler & Co., Yokohoma, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", "PD" handstamp, red crayon rate, backstamped Geneva (Apr. 8), Torino (Apr. 9), Brindisi (Apr. 10), ultramarine "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong MY 16 / 24 75" double-circle and blue "Yokohama A MY 30 75" British P.O. datestamp on back, half of backflap missing, stamps have slight gum toning, otherwise Very Fine, attractive and rare cover from Switzerland to Japan with Hong Kong Marine Sorter datestamp
SWITZERLAND, 1867, 50c Violet (59). Used with 1867, 10c Carmine (53), tied by "Basel 29 VII 74 - 7" (Jul. 29, 1874) circular datestamp on 25c Green entire to J. R. Merian, Ziegler & Co., Yokohoma, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", "PD" handstamp, blue crayon rate, backstamped Torino (Jul. 31), Brindisi (Aug. 1), ultramarine "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong SP 6 / 15 74" double-circle and blue "Yokohama A SP 21 74" British P.O. datestamp on back, Very Fine, attractive and rare cover from Switzerland to Japan with Hong Kong Marine Sorter datestamp
SWITZERLAND, 1867, 50c Violet (59). Tied by "Basel 8 XII 75 - 6" (Dec. 8, 1875) circular datestamp on 25c Green entire to J. R. Merian, Ziegler & Co., Yokohoma, Japan, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", "PD" handstamp, red crayon rate, backstamped Geneva (Dec. 8), Brindisi (Dec. 11), ultramarine "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong JA 12 / 20 76" double-circle and "Yokohama A JA 31 76" British P.O. datestamp on back, Very Fine, attractive and rare cover from Switzerland to Japan with Hong Kong Marine Sorter datestamp
