Ava Auctions 12th Autumn Auction

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China Dowager

China Customs Mail

China Dowager

China Customs Mail

China Dowager

Lot 67

34,000.00 HKD

Sold

1896 Japan (20 Sep) to E.E. Encarnacao, Customs Peking, f.w. Koban 1s + 2x 2s + 5s, tied by Yokohama cds in English. Showing "Per S/S

1896 Japan (20 Sep) to E.E. Encarnacao, Customs Peking, f.w. Koban 1s + 2x 2s + 5s, tied by Yokohama cds in English. Showing "Per S/S Natal". Transit IJPO Shanghai (29 Sep). In combination with Empress Dowager 3ca, tied by Shanghai seal script h.s, matching with Customs Shanghai (29 Sep) cds. Arrived Customs Peking (5 Oct).1896.9.20 日本寄北京海關E E Encarnacao，貼小判3枚合10錢，銷橫濱英文日戳。9.29經上海日局。加貼慈壽3分銀，銷上海篆文戳，另鈐上海海關9.29日戳。10.5抵北京海關。

China Customs Mail

Lot 68

28,000.00 HKD

Sold

1894 Shanghai (25 Jun) to USS Monocacy, Chinkiang, returned to Shanghai, f.w. Shanghai LPO ovpt. Jubilee 2c x3, tied by squared circle

1894 Shanghai (25 Jun) to USS Monocacy, Chinkiang, returned to Shanghai, f.w. Shanghai LPO ovpt. Jubilee 2c x3, tied by squared circle registered d.s., alongside with framed “REGISTERED” marking. On reverse with another strike of Shanghai LPO cds. Arrived Customs Chinkiang (27 Jun). Very scarce combination with Shanghai LPO and Chinkiang Customs.1894.6.25 上海寄鎮江之美國軍艦Monocacy，退回上海，貼上海工部市徽圖加蓋Jubilee 2分x3，銷內圈外方掛號日戳，旁鈐帶框REGISTERED橫戳。背鈐上海工部郵局英文日戳。6.27抵鎮江海關。稀罕之上海工部郵局及鎮江海關合作例子。

China Dowager

China Imperial Post Cancellations and seals

China Dowager

Lot 70

36,000.00 HKD

Sold

1896 Shanghai (27 Nov) to Peking, applied with Shanghai LPO origin cds on reverse. F.w. Empress Dowager 3ca on front, tied by Tientsin

1896 Shanghai (27 Nov) to Peking, applied with Shanghai LPO origin cds on reverse. F.w. Empress Dowager 3ca on front, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, matching with Customs Tientsin (2 Dec) transit cds, Showing “Paid” framed h.s. in red over . Arrived I.G. of Customs Peking (4 Dec). Fine and rare usage originating in the Shanghai Local Post. Illustration A-1 896-1 91, p. 404 in “Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues” Vol I by Tony To Wah Kwan. 2006 (Jun) John Bull 2008 (Dec) Interasia. 1896.11.27 上海寄北京，鈐上海工部郵局始發日戳。正貼慈壽2分銀帶過橋邊紙，銷天津中文戳記，旁鈐天津海關7.15-16中轉戳及帶框“PAID”橫戳。7.17抵北京海關。由上海工部郵局寄出之少見例子。關道華著《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》第一冊第404頁圖A-1 896-191原件。

China Imperial Post Cancellations and seals

China French PO Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail

China Imperial Post Cancellations and seals

Lot 84

20,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 Peking (27 Jan) to USA, applied with “Chinese Imperial Post Office/ Peking/ Postage Paid” triple-ring bilingual h.s. in blue,

1897 Peking (27 Jan) to USA, applied with “Chinese Imperial Post Office/ Peking/ Postage Paid” triple-ring bilingual h.s. in blue, matching “I.G. of Customs/Peking” double-ring origin d.s. In combination with Japanese Koban 2s + 3s, tied by IJPO Shanghai cds (16 Feb). Transit Yokohama (22 Feb) Arrived New York City (17 Mar).1897.1.27 北京寄美國，鈐“中國郵政/信力已付/北京”三圈圓戳及北京海關日戳。加貼日本小判2錢 + 3錢，銷上海日局2.16日戳。2.22經橫濱。3.17抵紐約。

China French PO Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail

China French PO Cancellations and seals

Lot 85

34,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 French Legation Peking (3 Mar) to France, applied with “Chinese Imperial Post Office/ Peking/ Postage Paid” triple-ring bilingual

1897 French Legation Peking (3 Mar) to France, applied with “Chinese Imperial Post Office/ Peking/ Postage Paid” triple-ring bilingual h.s. in blue, matching “I.G. of Customs/Peking” double-ring origin d.s. F.w. Empress Dowager surch small figure 2c/2ca, tied by Customs Shanghai cds (15 Mar) upon transit. In combination with Peace and Commerce ovpt. Chine 25c x2, tied by Shanghai French PO (16 Mar) cds. Arrived Paris (25 Apr). A horizontal slit through the front and vertical trim at back. Unusual with additional stamp.1897.3.3 法國駐京公使館寄法國，鈐“中國郵政/信力已付/北京”三圈圓戳及北京海關日戳。加貼慈壽加蓋小字2分，銷上海海關3.15日戳。加貼和平及商貿神像加蓋Chine 25生丁x2，銷上海法局3.16日戳。4.25抵巴黎。封左側被裁。加貼慈壽票十分奇特少見。

China Customs Mail

Lot 86

46,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 Chungking (24 Jun) to French Legation in Peking, applied with showing bilingual “PAID” h.s. in vermilion, matching Customs

1897 Chungking (24 Jun) to French Legation in Peking, applied with showing bilingual “PAID” h.s. in vermilion, matching Customs Chungking type F2 oval d.s. in black. Arrived Peking with dollar cds (11 Jun) and redirected to French Consulate Tientsin (14 Jun). One of only four recorded. Provenance: 1972 Stanley Gibbons (London), Richard Canman, lot 23. 1981 (21 Jul) Ex- George Alevizos (Santa Monica), lot 199. 1992 (30 Sep) Christie’s Swire, Federick and Tomiko Bartlett. 2019 (23-24 Jun) Interasia, lot 23.1897.6.24 重慶寄法國駐京公使館，改寄天津，鈐“已付信資”漢英紅色橫戳及重慶海關F2型橢圓黑色日戳。6.11抵北京，鈐大圓戳。6.13改寄法國駐天津領事館，6.14抵達。為存世四件之一。 1972年倫敦Stanley Gibbons，Richard Canman，拍品號23。 George Alevizos舊藏（1981.7.21），拍品號199。 1992.9.30 佳士德，Federick and Tomiko Bartlett。 2019.6 Interasia，拍品號23。

China Customs Mail

China Imperial Post

China Imperial Post Postal stationery

China Customs Mail

China Imperial Post

Lot 89

30,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 Shanghai (15 Feb) to Hankow. Red band cover, f.w. Small Dragon surch small figure 2c in horizontal pair with left gutter margin, tied

1897 Shanghai (15 Feb) to Hankow. Red band cover, f.w. Small Dragon surch small figure 2c in horizontal pair with left gutter margin, tied by Customs Shanghai. Arrived Customs Hankow (19 Feb). Very early usage of Small Dragon surch 2c issues. Michael Ho only recorded about 40 covers and cards f.w. Small Dragon surch issues. Illustration fig 4-1, p. 347 in "The Small Dragon" by Michael M Y Ho.1897.2.15 上海寄漢口。紅條封，貼小龍加蓋小字2分橫雙連帶左過橋邊紙，銷上海海關始發日戳。2.19抵漢口海關。甚早之小龍改值2分票貼用例子。何沐源記載，貼小龍改值票之封片存世僅約四十件。何沐源著《小龍郵票》第347頁圖4-1原件。

China Imperial Post

Lot 122

500.00 HKD

Live

1897. Mexico (20 May) to Shanghai Customs, f.w. Mexican 10c. Transit Texas (May), San Francisco (May), USPA Shanghai (23 Jun). Arrived

1897. Mexico (20 May) to Shanghai Customs, f.w. Mexican 10c. Transit Texas (May), San Francisco (May), USPA Shanghai (23 Jun). Arrived Shanghai Chinese PO (23 Jun) with dollar cds. Very scarce origin.1897.5.20 墨西哥寄上海海關，貼墨西哥票10分。5月經德州、三藩市，6.23經上海美國客郵局落地。同日交中國郵局，鈐上海大圓戳。少見難得之始發地。

China Imperial Post Postal stationery

Lot 123

3,200.00 HKD

Sold

1897 (25 Jun) Nicaragua 10a stationery cover to Shanghai Customs, tied by Masaya oval d.s. Transit Corinto (26 Jun), New York (12 Jul), San

1897 (25 Jun) Nicaragua 10a stationery cover to Shanghai Customs, tied by Masaya oval d.s. Transit Corinto (26 Jun), New York (12 Jul), San Francisco (16 Jul), USPA Shanghai (8 Aug). Arrived Shanghai Chinese PO (8 Aug) with dollar cds. Unusual origin.1897.6.25 尼加拉瓜10分郵資封寄上海海關，銷Masaya橢圓日戳。6.26經Corinto，7.12經三藩市，8.8經上海美國客郵局，同日交中國郵局，鈐上海大圓戳。罕見之始發地。

China Imperial Post Postal stationery

China Imperial Post

China Province Yunnan

Lot 124

2,200.00 HKD

Sold

1897 (30 Aug) British Guiana 5c stationery cover to Customs Shanghai, tied by Georgetown cds. Transit London (15 Sep), Hong Kong (17 Oct).

1897 (30 Aug) British Guiana 5c stationery cover to Customs Shanghai, tied by Georgetown cds. Transit London (15 Sep), Hong Kong (17 Oct). Arrived Shanghai Chinese PO (3 Oct) with dollar cds. Scarce origin.1897.8.30 英屬圭亞那5分郵資封寄上海海關，銷Georgetown日戳。9.15經倫敦，10.17經香港。10.3抵上海中國郵局，鈐大圓戳。少見難得之始發地。

China Imperial Post

China Province Yunnan

China Imperial Post

Lot 125

2,500.00 HKD

Live

1897 (15 Oct) German Eagle 10pf PSC to Adolphus Diercking, Customs Chungking, redirected to Shanghai, tied by Bromberg cds. Transit Hong

1897 (15 Oct) German Eagle 10pf PSC to Adolphus Diercking, Customs Chungking, redirected to Shanghai, tied by Bromberg cds. Transit Hong Kong (16 Nov). Arrived Shanghai LPO (23 Nov).1897.10.15 德國鷹徽圖10芬尼郵資片，寄重慶海關英籍客卿德鏗，銷Bromberg日戳。11.16經香港。11.23抵上海工部郵局。

China Province Yunnan

Lot 1336

80,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 Mengtsz (15 Jun) to Great Northern Telegraph Co., Shanghai, applied with Customs Mengtzo type C cds in black. In combination with

1897 Mengtsz (15 Jun) to Great Northern Telegraph Co., Shanghai, applied with Customs Mengtzo type C cds in black. In combination with Navigation and Commerce issue 25c in pair, tied by Laokay (21 Jun) cds. Transit Yen-Bai (23 Jun), Hanoi (26 Jun), Haiphong (27 Jun), Hong Kong (7 Jul). Arrived Shanghai BPO (12 Jul). Customs Post was only available for internal mails so no Chinese franking was required.1897.6.15 蒙自寄上海大北電報公司，背面鈐蒙自海關C型黑色日戳。正面加貼航海及商貿神像25生丁雙連，銷老街6.21日戳。6.23經安沛，6.26經河內，6.17經海防，7.7經香港。7.12抵上海英局。當時海關郵政僅供關員使用，故鈐蒙自海關日戳後只需貼印支票，

China Customs Mail

Macao

China Customs Mail

Lot 1887

12,000.00 HKD

Live

1889 Canton (11 Jan) to Customs Chaochow. Red band cover, applied with Customs Canton type A cds. On reverse f.w. Hong Kong QV 5c, tied by

1889 Canton (11 Jan) to Customs Chaochow. Red band cover, applied with Customs Canton type A cds. On reverse f.w. Hong Kong QV 5c, tied by B62 obliterator, alongside with Hong Kong (12 Jan) cds. Arrived Swatow. Red band top damaged but the postmark still clear. Illustration fig 3-6, p. 22 in “Customs Dater (1875-1913)” 1889.1.11 廣州寄潮州海關。紅條封，鈐廣州海關A型日戳。背貼香港維多利亞女皇像5仙，銷B62殺手戳，旁鈐香港1.12日戳。抵汕頭。紅條上方受損但不影響郵戳。《海關郵戳（1875-1913）》第22頁圖3-6原件。

Lot 1888

48,000.00 HKD

Sold

1896 Canton (12 Feb) to England. Double-registered cover, applied with Customs Canton type C cds in violet on reverse. F.w. Hong Kong QV

1896 Canton (12 Feb) to England. Double-registered cover, applied with Customs Canton type C cds in violet on reverse. F.w. Hong Kong QV 10c in pair + 5c on front, tied by Canton BPO Webb type C cds. Transit Hong Kong (13 Feb). Showing circled R mark, AR mark and handdrawn R. Arrived London (16 Mar). Scarce double-registered usage. 1896.2.12 廣州寄英國。雙掛號封，背鈐廣州海關C型紫色日戳。正貼香港維多利亞女皇像10仙雙連 + 5仙，銷廣州英局Webb C型日戳。 2.13經香港。見R章、AR章及手寫R字。3.16抵倫敦。少見之雙掛號郵例。

Macao

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Macao

Lot 1984

13,000.00 HKD

Sold

20 March 1887-Provincia de Macau e Timor 20 Reis Postal Card Sent from Macau to Peking, endorsed “pr. French Mail”. The card bears a

20 March 1887-Provincia de Macau e Timor 20 Reis Postal Card Sent from Macau to Peking, endorsed “pr. French Mail”. The card bears a superb strike of the oval “SHANGHAI CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER” in blue at upper right, two fine strikes of the double-ring “MACAO / MR 20 / 87” datestamp (without crown) centrally placed, and a double-ring “CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MAR 26 / 87” at upper left. On the reverse is a clear Hong Kong transit c.d.s. dated 21 March 1887.The original red color of the Provincia de Macau e Timor 20 Reis postal card has faded, with the imprint lettering still visible. Despite this de-colorisation, this remains an item of exceptional rarity—very likely the unique recorded use of a Shanghai Customs Mail Matter handstamp on a Macau UPU postal card. All markings, including the two Customs House strikes and the Macao c.d.s., are well-preserved and crisp, making this an outstanding exhibition piece of Sino–Macau postal history.1887年3月20日 – 澳門暨帝汶省20雷亞郵明信片由澳門寄往北京，信面註明「pr. French Mail」，右上角蓋有極為清晰的藍色橢圓形「SHANGHAI CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER」戳記；中央加蓋兩枚清晰的無皇冠雙圈「MACAO / MR 20 / 87」日戳；左上角則為雙圈「CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MAR 26 / 87」戳記。背面並見香港過路日戳，日期為1887年3月21日。此枚澳門暨帝汶省20雷亞郵明信片原有之紅色已退色，但版銘字樣依然清晰可見。儘管經過退色，本品仍屬極罕之郵史珍品——或為唯一一件蓋有「上海海關Mail Matter」戳記之澳門UPU明信片。所有郵戳，包括兩枚海關戳記及澳門日戳，均保存完好、印跡清晰，為中澳郵史展品中的頂級珍稀之作。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Hongkong Treaty Ports

China Customs Mail

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Lot 1985

13,000.00 HKD

Sold

1903- Macau Postal Card uprated and registered via Kowloon Customs A blue Macau Postal Card franked with a Portugal King Carlos 10 Reis

1903- Macau Postal Card uprated and registered via Kowloon Customs A blue Macau Postal Card franked with a Portugal King Carlos 10 Reis adhesive, addressed to England. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the card was additionally franked with a Hong Kong Queen Victoria 10c stamp, tied by a fine strike of the double-ring “CUSTOMS KOWLOON / SEP 24 / 1903” c.d.s. Registered by the Hong Kong G.P.O. on 25 September, showing black registration label “R / HONGKONG CHINA / No. 3315”, and an oval London Registered arrival datestamp in red dated 26 October 1903. On the face are manuscript registration markings in blue crayon “137” and a registration cross in both blue and red pencil. This is a highly unusual and important postal history item: a Macau postal card carried into the Hong Kong system, where it was uprated and registered through Kowloon Customs, then processed by the Hong Kong G.P.O. for transmission to England. Very few examples are recorded showing the rare Kowloon Customs datestamp applied to registered Hong Kong overseas mail, making this a significant cross-jurisdictional usage between Macau and Hong Kong and a desirable exhibition item for both Macau and Hong Kong postal history collections.1903年 – 澳門明信片經九龍海關加貼掛號藍色澳門明信片，貼葡萄牙卡洛斯國王10雷亞郵票，寄往英國。到達香港後，再加貼一枚香港維多利亞女王像10仙郵票，並蓋「CUSTOMS KOWLOON / SEP 24 / 1903」雙圈日戳清晰銷訖。其後於9月25日由香港總郵政局掛號，貼有黑色掛號號籤「R / HONGKONG CHINA / No. 3315」，另於1903年10月26日蓋有紅色倫敦掛號到達日戳。信面上並見藍色蠟筆“137”號碼及藍紅色十字掛號標記。此為一件極罕見兼具重要意義的郵史實物：澳門明信片經香港轉遞時，由九龍海關銷訖並加貼香港郵票作掛號郵寄，再交香港總郵政局轉寄往英國。已知蓋有九龍海關日戳的掛號香港海外郵件極為稀少，本件展現了澳門與香港之間跨境郵政聯合合作的珍貴範例，對於澳門及香港郵史收藏均屬難得之展品。

Hongkong Treaty Ports

China Customs Mail

Hongkong Treaty Ports

Lot 2324

4,000.00 HKD

Live

1881 Dutch Legation Peking (26 Dec) to Shanghai, returned to Peking. Hong Kong QV surch 1c/4c PSC (Yang P8) first carried by to Shanghai

1881 Dutch Legation Peking (26 Dec) to Shanghai, returned to Peking. Hong Kong QV surch 1c/4c PSC (Yang P8) first carried by to Shanghai privately. Then applied with Customs Shanghai cds (12 Jan) for return to Peking while indicia tied by Shanghae BPO Webb type Bi cds. It is the earliest recorded example of type Bi cds on postal card.1881.12.26 荷蘭駐北京公使寄上海，寄回北京。香港維多利亞女皇像改值1仙蓋4仙郵資片（楊目P8），先私遞至上海。再鈐上海海關1.12日戳寄回北京，郵資圖銷上海英局Webb Bi型同日日戳。此為Bi型日戳在明信片上之最早記錄。

China Customs Mail

Lot 2330

11,000.00 HKD

Sold

1897 Customs Shanghai (19 May) to England. Registered Cash Cover, applied with Customs Shanghai origin cds, matching with “CUSTOMS HOUSE

1897 Customs Shanghai (19 May) to England. Registered Cash Cover, applied with Customs Shanghai origin cds, matching with “CUSTOMS HOUSE / SHANGHAI” bilingual wax seal on reverse. On front f.w. Hong Kong QV 10c in strip of 4, tied by Shanghai BPO Webb type Fii cds., alongside with R marks. Transit Hong Kong (23 May). Arrived London (25 Jun). It is uncertain that whether this Customs House Shanghai wax seal is the same type with the postmark. Still, a very scarce usage. In Nov 2023, an incoming cover applied with Customs House Shanghai oval h.s. was hammered at HKD150,000 (lot no.1). 1897.5.19 上海海關寄英國。掛號現金封，鈐上海海關始發日戳。背面以橢圓形“上海關”火漆封口。正貼香港維多利亞女皇像10仙橫四連，銷上海英局Webb Fii型日戳，旁鈐R章。5.23經香港。6.25抵倫敦。未知此“ 上海關”火漆與“上海關”郵戳是否為同一把戳，但無論如何仍極為珍罕。2023年11月艾華秋拍中，一件鈐“ 上海關”郵戳之進口封以15萬港幣落鎚（拍品號1）。