5c Yellow Brown (205). Horizontal pair, dark shade, used with China 1885 3ca Lilac (11) horizontal strip of four, 5c cancelled by 4-bar grid, 3ca strip cancelled by three strikes of blue Peking seal (tied thru perf hole at right) on cover to Mrs. L. W. Pilcher, Monroe, Michigan, from Rev. L. W. Pilcher at the Wiley Institute, sender's directive "Via Japan", backstamped with matching blue "I.G. of Customs Peking Feb. 11 87" and partly readable "Customs Shanghai Feb. 16 87" double-circle datestamps, purple "U.S. Postal Agency * Shanghai * 11 Mar. 87" double-oval datestamp on front, magenta "San Francisco Paid All Apr. 4" circular datestamp and "Monroe, Mich. Rec'd Apr. 11 1887 9AM" receiving datestamp on back

EXTREMELY FINE. A COVER OF EXCEPTIONAL BEAUTY AND QUALITY. THE 3-CANDARINS STRIP OF FOUR USED TO PAY THE DOUBLE RATE SETS THIS APART FROM OTHERS IN THE SMALL GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 20 REPORTED UNITED STATES AND SMALL DRAGON MIXED-FRANKING COVERS.

Reverend Leander William Pilcher was president of Peking University and a missionary with the Methodist Episcopal Church in China. He died in Peking in 1893. Another cover from Reverend Pilcher is offered in lot 2054.

Ex Risvold.

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