364 / März 2017

1871: Cover from London to Aug. Heard & Co., Hong Kong endorsed 'via Marseilles by French Packet' franked by 1858 1 d. red pl. 118, 1865 4 d. vermilion pl. 12 in a horizontal pair and fine 1867 2 s. deep blue, all paying the double rate and neatly tied by London / 9 duplexes. Reverse with 'Hong-Kong' code C arrival cds (Aug 17). A fine and attractive cover. In 1830, Augustine Heard  (1785-1868) settled in Canton, China, where he became partner in the trading firm of Samuel Russell & Co. by then the leading American Opium dealer in China. Heard set up his own company, Augustine Heard & Co., in 1840, with Joseph Coolidge and John Murray Forbes. The firm became successful and grew rapidly to become the third largest American firm in China. By 1850 had branch offices, beside the headquarter in Canton, in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Foochow with agencies in Amoy and Ningpo. As with many others American firms involved in trade with China at the time, Augustine Heard & Co. encountered financial difficulties in the 1870s and finally went bankrupt in 1875.  

1872: Cover from London to Miss Desgraz, Chinkiang, China endorsed 'via Brindisi' with 1858 2 d. blue pl. 13 (two examples), 1867/80 4 d. vermilion pl. 12 (2, one with barely noticeable perfs. trimmed), 6 d. mauve pl. 8 and 1 s. green pl. 5 for the under 3/4 ounce rate of 2 s. 6 d.; all boldly tied by London E/27 obliterators in black with London despatch cds (Jan 26) alongside. Reverse with HONG KONG transit cds (March 8) in black. A fine and most appealing four colour franking. Opinion Holcombe (1987). Miss Desgraz was at China Inland Mission, Chinkiang. The China Inland Mission is a Protestant Christian mission founded by Hudson Taylor in Britain in 1865. From the beginning it recruited missionaries from the working class as well as single women, which was a new practise for a large mission. Chinkian (Zhenjiang) was the first mission to be opened in 1866 and Hudson Taylor’s headquarters.​ Provenance: John Sussex (Christie's 1987)

1873: 3 d. rose pl. 10 and 1 s. green pl. 7 used on single rate cover endorsed 'via Brindisi' from London to Foochow, China tied by London duplexes (May 30) with reverse showing Hong Kong cds of transit (July 6) in black and fine FOOCHOWFOO cds of British P.O. (July 13) in blue. A fine and attractive cover. Opinion Holcombe (1987).

1875: 1873/80, 6 d. grey, pl. 14, a horizontal pair used on cover endorsed 'via San Francisco' addressed to 'H.M.S. Curlew, China Station' tied by Belfast / 62 duplexes (June 28) in black. Reverse with HONG-KONG cds (Sept 5) in black. 'HMS Curlew' was on the China Station and carried British Officials to the Bonin Islands which had been claimed by Britain (1827), China and Russia and were transferred to Japan in 1875. Reverse flap with sensible repair, a most unusual cover. W.H.Callwell was born in Ireland ca. 1852 and died ca. 1910. In the mid 1860ties he was training in HMS Britannia at Dartmouth, when he was raised to midshipman in 1867. In December 1870, he was appointed the HMS Cadmus, on China Station. He became sub-lieutenant in August 1874. In 1875, he joined HMS Curlew on the China Station. HMS Curlew was a „Plover class gunvessel“ (a wooden gunboat) launched in 1868, mostly served overseas. Callwell was promoted to lieutenant in October 1875. He retired in soring 1876.

1879: Parliamentary wrapper (repaired at edges) with printed 'Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, 26 May 1879' and also printed 'Under 6 oz.' below, franked by 1873/80 6 d. grey pl. 16 tied by '193' obliterator and by KELSO cds (Aug 30), used to Hong Kong with further Kelso datestamp on reverse alongside further printed reference to 'Extracts of Papers from Her Majesty's representatives and Consuls in Foreign Countries having reference to the Silver Question....'. Despite the imperfections a rarely seen wrapper, especially used to a foreign destination. The addressee, Alexander Wemsyss, was an accountant at the Oriental Bank Corp., Hong Kong, the first bank in Hong Kong to issue banknotes in Hong Kong. The bank was established in 1842. In 1884, the bank encountered severe difficulties and was reconstituted as the New Oriental Bank Corporation. Nevertheless the bank failed to survive and closed in 1892.

1881: 2 1/2d. blue, pl. 19 horizontal pair used on cover to the Oriental Bank Corporation, Hong Kong franked at single rate tied by London duplexes (Dec 9), found to be over 1/2 ounce and struck with 'T' mark and scarce VALUE OF STAMPS (5d.) / TO BE COLLECTED (10d.) in black with amounts in manuscript. Reverse with HONG KONG arrival cds (Jan 24, 1881) in black. A fine and unusual cover. The Oriental Bank Corp., Hong Kong, was the first bank in Hong Kong to issue banknotes in Hong Kong. The bank was established in 1842. In 1884, the bank encountered severe difficulties and was reconstituted as the New Oriental Bank Corporation. Nevertheless the bank failed to survive and closed in 1892.

1895: Cover from Halifax to Peking, China franked by 1887 Jubilee 2 1/2d. purple on blue tied by 'Halifax / 330' duplex in black (Jan 10). Reverse with SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Feb 6) in black, faint CUSTOMS / SHANGHAI cds in blue and 'I G OF CUSTOMS / PEKING' arrival datestamp (March 5) in blue; obverse struck with framed 'To Pay.' handstamp in red for inland transit. A superb and rare cover. The addressee, Dr. Eliot Curden, was appointed by the London Missionary Society as medical missionary to Bejing in 1894. The London Missionary Society was formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and sent missionaries all over the world, notably to India, China, Australia, madagascar and Africa.

1844 (March 7): Entire letter written from Port of Spain, Trinidad addressed to an Ensign on the Corvette 'Sabinne' on Indian Ocean duty, at Réunion (Ile de Bourbon), the reverse with double arc TRINIDAD despatch cds in black (March 7) and rated on front as prepaid 2/1d. in manuscript. London 'Paid' cds of  transit (April 8) alongside 'PAID SHIP LETTER / Crown / LONDON' oval datestamp in red and oval 'P-D'. The reverse with 'Mauritius / Post Office' transit datestamp (July 24) in black, 'St. Denis / Ile Bourbon' cds (July 30) in black;  eventually forwarded to Hong Kong with arrival of double arc cds (Oct 8) in black. An extraordinary entire (216 day journey) with all strikes displaying well.

1862: 1856, 6 d. lilac used with extraordinary overlapped franking of 1862 9 d. bistre, no less than 8 examples, all tied to cover front and part back endorsed 'via Marseilles' and addressed from London to Nagasaki, Japan care of Messrs. Siemssen & Co. in Hong Kong; all tied by London '47' obliterators in black. The 6 d. and two the 9 d. adhesives with cut wing margins and with manuscript '4' in red crayon for the Hong Kong share of postage. Reverse with London datestamp (Feb 26)  and HONG KONG transit (April 11). Despite imperfections (incl. filing crease through one adhesive), an astonishing 6 shilling rate cover (quadruple weight) being the earliest recorded stamped cover from Great Britain to Japan whilst also bearing the largest recorded franking of the 1862 9d. adhesive. Certs. Holcombe (1987), K. Louis (2016). Note: Kniffler & Co. of Nagasaki is believed to be the first German trading Company in Japan. It was founded by Louis Kniffler (1827-1888), who was also appointed as Vice Consul for Prussia between 1861 and 1865, and Martin Hermann Gildemeister a merchant from Bremen. The Hong Kong forwarder ‚Siemssen & Co.‘ was a German merchant company from Hamburg, founded by Georg Theodor Siemssen in 1846 in Canton and Fuzhou.  The firm soon became one of the most important merchants in the early China trade, still existing today.

1865: Cover with full original contents, from Portishead to Captain Mairis on 'H.M.S. Severn' at Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'via Southampton', franked by single 1864 6 d. lilac, hairlines, tied by 'Bristol / 134' duplex (Feb 3) in black. Reverse with Portishead cds and London transit cds. A fine and scarce cover to an unusual destination.  

1867: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'via Marseilles & Shanghai' franked for Late Fee only with 1858 1 d. red tied by London '11' obliterator with 1/4 d. prepaid in cash. 'Lombard Street / F.O./ Paid' cds in red below (Oct 10) and reverse with HONG-KONG cds of transit (Nov 23) in blue and British P.O. YOKOHAMA arrival cds (Dec 8) in black. A fine and unusual entire. The addressee, Thorel, Ziegler & Co., Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1869: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'p. French Mail via Marseilles' franked by 1867/80 6 d. bright violet pl. 6 and 1 s. green pl. 4 tied by 'London / 106' duplexes (Jan 21). Fine framed 'L2' Late Fee marking in red at left and reverse with British P.O. YOKOHAMA arrival cds (March 13) in black. A fine and attractive entire. Cert. Holcombe (1988). Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'per French Packet', franked by 1858 1 d. red, 1867 6 d. mauve pl. 8 and 10 d. red-brown all tied by London '103' duplexes (May 12). Framed 'L1' at left denoting the Late Fee paid and reverse with fine British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds (June 27) struck in blue. A charming entire. Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: 1867/80, 1 s. green, pl. 4 a fine example used on entire letter to Yokohama, Japan tied by London '96' duplex (Oct 8) in black. The entire unusually endorsed ´via San Francisco' probably due to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, with red 'New York Paid All' transit cds on front (Oct 16) aand internal docketing of receipt (Nov 25). Fresh and very fine, a scarce entire. Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, endorsed 'via Brindisi', franked by 1865 4 d. vermilion pl. 12 and 1867 1 s. green pl. 5 tied by London '103' duplexes (June 2). Framed 'L1' at left denoting the Late Fee paid and reverse with HONG KONG transit cds in black (July 12) and fine British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds (July 19) struck in blue. A fresh and fine entire. Cert. Holcombe (1988). Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1873: Cover  from Oldham to the British Consulate in Hiogo, Japan franked by 1867 3 d. rose pl. 9 and 1 s. green pl. 7 tied by 'Oldham / 591' duplexes (April 10). Reverse of cover with HONG KONG cds (May 18) in black. The cover should have been prepaid 1/4d. via Marseilles and thus a double deficiency '2d.' marking was applied in black. Unusual and most attractive cover.

1874: Cover from Oban to Yedo, Japan, sensibly opened for Exhibit display, franked by 1858 1 d. red pl. 150 in two horizontal strips of six, all tied by 'Oban / 273' duplexes in black (June 2). Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (July 12) and British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds in blue (July 27). A most attractive and unusual franking for the 1 shilling rate.

1874: Entire letter from London to Yokohama endorsed 'via Brindisi', franked for double rate by 1867 2 s. blue and 1873 6 nd. grey pl. 13 tied by London '87' duplexes (Nov 3). Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Dec 15) and British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds in blue (Jan 3, 1875). A fine and unusual entire. Already in 1871 Joseph Raud (see also lots 8122 and 8123) founded his own merchant company, active in trade until 1877 when Raud left Japan.​ Provenance: Ryohei Ishikawa (Sotheby's 1981)

1874: 1873/80, 1 s. green pl. 9, a superb marginal example with part imprint at top, used on cover to Yedo, Japan tied by neat 'Oban / 273' duplex (Sept 7) in black. Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Oct 20) in black and British Post Office 'YOKOHAMA' datestamp (Nov 4) in blue. A delightful cover in outstanding quality.

1875: Entire letter from London to Nagasaki, Japan franked by 1873/80 3 d. rose pl. 17 and 1 s. green pl. 11 tied by 'London / 100' duplexes (Aug 17) with framed L2 'Late Fee' handstamp at left in red. Underpaid 1d. for Marseilles route and struck with '2d.' handstamp for double the deficiency in black. Reverse with fine HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Sept 19) in blue. A fresh and fine entire.

1787 (Jan 16): Entire letter from a member of staff at the British Museum addressed to a Captain MacDonald, an Artillery Captain and Engineer at Bencoolen, Sumatra concerning a possible patent for making fuses. The entire re-addressed from Bencoolen to Bengal and struck on reverse with rare straight line BEARING POSTAGE at Calcutta in black (Hammond Giles fig. 3). Docketing of receipt in manuscript on reverse (Oct 6, 1787). An interesting and fine entire.

1872/76: 2 covers to Batavia, the earlier endorsed 'by French Mail' and paid in cash (1/3d.) and franked for Late Fee only with 1858 1 d. red (perfin 'Huth') tied by London obliterator and 'Paid' cds. The sender's instruction was ignored and sent via USA with '12 1/2 / Cents' credit marking in red on front and Batavia arrival on reverse in red; 1876 improved cover franked by 1858 2 d. blue pl. 15 and 1875 1 s. green pl. 12 tied by 'Yarmouth / Norfolk / 927' duplex and addressed to the British Barque 'Frederica' in Batavia. A few faults but an interesting pair.

1847 (Jan 25): Cover from London to Manila, Philippines sent care of Forwarding Agent's 'John Purvis & Co.' in Singapore; prepaid 1 shilling in London with red despatch cds and thence via Marseilles and Suez to Singapore. Reverse with faint 'Singapore / Bearing' datestamp in black over-struck with double arc HONG-KONG cds (March 23) in black. '2' (reales) due on receipt in manuscript. Cert. Holcombe (1988).

1864: Entire letter from Liverpool to Manila, Philippines endorsed 'via Marseilles', franked by 1862 4 d. red, hairlines, and 1 s. green tied by 'Liverpool / 466' duplexes (Dec 26). '1d.' handstamp in red for Hong Kong credit on front alongside '2' (reales) handstamp in black due for local delivery. Reverse with Hong Kong transit cds in blue (Feb 7, 1865) and Manila arrival cds (Feb 13) in black.

1865 (March 27): prepaid entire letter to Manila with 'Lombard Street / Paid' despatch and charged on arrival with rare '7' (reales) due marking in black; on reverse rare blue "HONG KONG PAID MY 27 65". The addressee, Antonio de Ayala, was the co-founder of Casa Roxas, later Ayala y Compania or popularly  known as Ayala y Cia. Antonio Ayala arrived in Manila to join his uncle Archbishop Jose Segui of Manila. In 1834 co-founded Casa Roxas to engage in the trading of sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo as well as manufacturing of liquors, castings, gun powder and mining.