Lot 3326

1903 Mongtze B (Yunnanfu) (20 May) to France, CIP 2nd print PSC used as postcard, f.w. Navigation and Commerce issue surch CHINE with Chinese value, tied by scarce Mongtze B French PO cds. Transit Chungking (10 Jun) and Hankow French PO (19 Jun). Arrived France (31 Jul). This card was taking the Yangtze River route instead of French Indochina. Desrousseaux recorded that this route was used from May to August 1903 because pirates were active in Yunnan and they did not allow messengers to pass according to the text of a postcard. This card, on the other hand, recorded the harassment from pirates as well. Probably it is the one quoted by Desrousseaux? In 1900, Mengtsz and Yunnanfu were still not open to foreigners. French Indochina therefore set up the post offices in Mengtsz and Yunnanfu in the name of "Laokay A" and "Laokay B" respectively to keep a low profile. In 1901, Mengtsz was open to foreigners so "Laokay A" was changed to "Mongtze" while Yunnanfu was changed to "Mongtze B" until 1904 Yunnanfu was also open. According to AVA's record, about 20 covers from Mongtze B exist and only a few of them took this Yangtze River route or applied on Chinese Imperial Post stationery card.

1903.5.20 蒙自B（雲南府）寄法國。大清第二版郵資片用作明信片， 貼航海及商貿神像改值CHINE 四仙，銷稀罕之蒙自B法局日戳。6.10經重慶法局﹐6.19經漢口法局。7.31抵法國。此片經長江郵路而非常見的印支郵路。Desrousseaux指，此郵路於1903年5月至8月使用，並引用一件明信片之內容，指原因乃系雲南一帶盜賊猖獗，導致信差無法通行。此片之內容恰好提及受到盜賊滋擾，故此可能為Desrousseaux所引用之明信片？ 1900年，蒙自及雲南府尚未對外國人開放，故印支郵政在蒙自及雲南府的郵戳上，分別雋刻地名“老街A”及“老街B”以蒙混過關。到1901年，蒙自對外國人開放，故郵戳可改回“蒙自”，而雲南府則改為“蒙自B”。在1904年雲南府亦相繼開放，始使用正確地名。按艾華記錄，蒙自B寄出之信封存世約20件，當中走長江郵路者，或蓋於清片者，均不過數件，可遇不可求。