Lot 2011

1863 (15 August) a long cover from Shanghae to New York, U.S.A., endorsed “per Messagerias Imperiales” on the lower left corner of the cover, with cancellations of “16 CENTS”, “SHANGHAE PAID / AUG 15, 63”, “LONDON PAID” transit c.d.s. (7 Oct), “N. YORK AM. PKT. / 5 / SEP 19” in black, manuscript rate mark “2/-“ in red crayon. On the reverse, SHANGHAE arrival c.d.s. in black (15 Aug 63), and Hong Kong Index C c.d.s. (21 Aug 63). This cover indicates the postage rate “2/-“ which is the earliest application of 22.8.63 HK rates for French Paquebot. The “2/-“ rate to the US by M.I. vesselis valid for only some 2 months from 22 Aug to 2 Nov, 1863 according to the Lee Scamp’s research. A rare cover with significant postal history value.. Provenance: Illustrated on page 23 of Lee Scamp’s French Mail Paquebot Far East Itineraries Vol. 2

1863.8.15 上海寄美國，鈐上海已付日戳、16 CENTS戳記、香港及倫敦中轉戳。寫有“2/-”郵資，為香港經法國郵船郵資之最早例子。Scamp指該郵資僅於1863年8月22日至11月2日生效。此封稀罕難得。Scamp《French Mail Paquebot Far East Itineraries Vol. 2》第23頁原件。