1890. Covers to German Legation in Peking, each f.w. Germany Eagle
stamp 20pf, (1) tied by Brake cds (25 Sep). Transit Brindisi (28
Sep),
1890. Covers to German Legation in Peking, each f.w. Germany Eagle
stamp 20pf, (1) tied by Brake cds (25 Sep). Transit Brindisi (28
Sep), Singapore to Hong Kong marine sorter (22 Oct), Customs
Tientsin (5 Nov) with purple cds. (2) tied by Neuhaus cds. In
combination with Small Dragon 5ca, tied by Tientsin Chinese killer,
matching with Customs Tientsin (10 Oct) arrival cds in violet on
reverse. (3) tied by Hannover cds. Transit Brindisi, Singapore to
Hong Kong marine sorter (31 Dec), Customs Shanghai (12 Jan).
Showing framed “TO PAY” cachet in red on front. This series reflect
different treatments of incoming diplomatic mails: (1) close mail –
no domestic postage levied; (2) loose mail – with Chinese stamp
affixed to pay for domestic postage; and (3) loose mail – with “to
pay” handstamp to collect domestic postage from the recipient.
1890德國寄德國駐京公使館信件3件，各貼鷹徽圖20芬尼， （1）銷Brake
9.25日戳。9.28經布林迪西，10.22經新加坡至香港海上分揀，11.5經天津海關，鈐紫色英文到達戳。
（2）銷Neuhaus日戳。加貼小龍5分銀，銷天津中文戳記，背面另鈐天津海關10.10藍色到達戳。
（3）銷漢諾威11.28日戳。經布林迪西，12.31經新加坡至香港海上分揀，1.12經上海海關。正面鈐有帶框“TO PAY”指示戳。
這一組反映了外國駐華使館三種不同的郵件處理方法。 （1）總包封發，不收取國内郵資； （2）零寄零收，貼票表示國内郵資3分已付；
（3）零寄零收，鈐 To Pay戳記收取國内郵資3分。
