Lot 612

1902 Szemao (1 Feb) to France, applied with Szemao bisected bilingual cds on front. F.w. Coiling Dragon 5c in pair on reverse for international letter rate upon transit at Mengtsz (11 Feb). In combination with Navigation and Commerce issue 15c + 10c, tied by Laokay (22 Feb) cds. Transit Hanoi (3 Mar), French Paquebot (13 Mar). Arrived Gironde (8 Apr). Cover opened out for display. Only about 20 combination mails of French Indochina issues from Yunnan are known to exist and it is the earliest cover. Szemao Pos Office has inaugurated for 3 months by the time of this cover but stamps were still not available. Illustration 10, p. 24 in "The Development of Yunnan Post System 1901-1949" by Mah Lang Moe. 2019 ROCUPEX TAIPEI & R.O.C.-Thailand Stamp Exhibition. 2020 (Aug) "Postal Service Today / Republic of China" Issue 752 p. 22 illustration.

1902.2.1 思茅寄法國，正鈐思茅半切漢英日戳。2.11經思茅，背面補貼蟠龍5分雙連，合1角國外郵資。正面混貼航海及商貿神像15生丁 + 20生丁，銷老街2.22日戳。3.3經河內，3.13經法國郵船。4.8抵Gironde。封剖開以作展示。混貼法國票之雲南封片甚為稀罕，存世僅約20件，此為當中最早之信封例。思茅郵局當時已開業三個月，但仍未出售郵局，有趣。 馬蘭茂著《雲南郵政史1901-1949》第24頁圖十原件。 2019年中泰聯合郵展特刊第67頁原件。 2020年8月《今日郵政》752期第22頁原件。