Lot 16

1889 Peking (14 Aug) to USA, f.w. Small Dragon 1ca in block of 3 on reverse for inland fee, tied by Peking Chinese seal, alongside with I.G. Customs of Peking cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (23 Aug). In combination with US issue 5c, tied by black grid, alongside with USPA Shanghai type III oval d.s (24 Aug). Transit San Francisco (18 Sep). Arrived New Haven (24 Sep). Steve Chazen stated that outgoing Small Dagon covers via US Post Office are very rare in "Selected Treasures of Small Dragon Covers". Another very similar cover dated 1888 (19 Apr) with the same address was seen in "Huayou JiJin II - US Postal Activities in China" by Mizuhara.

1889.8.14 北京寄美國，背貼小龍1分銀三方連，合3分國內郵資，銷北京中文戳記，另鈐北京海關日戳。8.23經上海海關。加貼美國票5分，銷黑色殺手戳，旁鈐上海美國郵政代理III型橢圓形日戳。9.18經三藩市。9.24抵New Haven。蔡盛於《小龍郵票實寄封珍品賞析》一文中指出經美國客郵寄出之早期小龍封十分少見難得。水源明窗《華郵雜錦》中另見一件1888.4.19，地址相同並極為相似的信封。