Lot 2030

1877 Chefoo (17 Sep) to France, f.w. Ceres 25c, tied by 5104 diamond obliterator. Letter headlined "Tchefou". Transit French paquebot (23 Sep). In 1878, Customs Post was available and combination/cash mails from Chefoo emerged (Cash cover from Chefoo was even seen in Dec 1877). Therefore, It is a late, if not latest mail from Chefoo entirely by French post before the inauguration of Customs Post. Applying 5104 obliterator but without Shanghai French PO cds alongside is also unusual.

1877.9.17 煙台寄法國，貼五穀女神像25生丁，銷5104菱形殺手戳。原信抬頭地址為“煙台”。9.23經法國郵船。由於1878年海關郵政開辦，寄國外郵件多以現金封或混貼封形式出現，甚至於1877年12月已見煙台寄出之現金封。故此為海關郵政開辦前，從煙台全程經法國客郵寄出之甚晚，甚至為最晚例子。以5104殺手戳銷票但不見上海法局日戳同樣奇特。