Ava Auctions 12th Autumn Auction

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All lots Aftersale lots Sold at auction

China Pre-philately

China Imperial Post Pre-philately

China Imperial Post Picture postcards

China Pre-philately

China Imperial Post Pre-philately

China Pre-philately

Lot 20

3,000.00 HKD

Sold

Qing Dynasty a group of 9 Yizhan official covers and tax receipts, mostly used in Shehsien. Including two covers of Hwaiking Food, Salt and

Qing Dynasty a group of 9 Yizhan official covers and tax receipts, mostly used in Shehsien. Including two covers of Hwaiking Food, Salt and Water department.清朝一組九件公文封及稅票，大多用於歙縣。包括兩件懷慶糧捕鹽務水利分府封。

China Imperial Post Pre-philately

Lot 21

2,000.00 HKD

Sold

ca 1900s Double-registered red band cover Nanning to Shanghai by Minchu, frankless, showing annotation of delivery time and Shanghai Minchu

ca 1900s Double-registered red band cover Nanning to Shanghai by Minchu, frankless, showing annotation of delivery time and Shanghai Minchu address seal on reverse. Double-registered example by Minchu is rather scarce.約1900年代雙掛號紅條封，由民信局自南寧寄上海，背面寫有送遞時間記錄，鈐上海老福興信局地址直戳。民信局雙掛號封較少見。

China Imperial Post Picture postcards

China British PO

China Imperial Post Picture postcards

Lot 24

1,000.00 HKD

Live

Picture postcard of foreign embassador attending to the Chinese emperor. Unused.

China British PO

China Customs Mail

China Large Dragon

China British PO

Lot 25

30,000.00 HKD

Sold

1878 Canton (9 Jan) to Scotland, applied with light but clear strike of Customs Canton type A origin cds on reverse. Showing "per French

1878 Canton (9 Jan) to Scotland, applied with light but clear strike of Customs Canton type A origin cds on reverse. Showing "per French Mail" annotation. F.w. Hong Kong QV 12c, tied by B62 obliterator, alongside with Hong Kong (10 Jan) cds. Arrived Edinburgh (15 Feb). Only 5 covers from Customs Canton prior to the Large Dragon issue were recorded, and this is one of three from the Hobson correspondence.1878.1.9 廣州寄蘇格蘭，背鈐輕淡但清晰之廣州海關A型始發日戳。正貼香港維多利亞女皇像12仙，銷B62殺手戳，旁鈐香港1.10日戳。2.15抵愛丁堡。大龍郵票發行前，廣州海關寄出之郵件僅見五件。

China Customs Mail

China Large Dragon

China Customs Mail

Lot 26

40,000.00 HKD

Sold

1878 Chinkiang (7 Apr) to USA, applied with Customs Chinkiang type A cds on reverse, Transit Shanghai Local Post (8 Apr). F.w. Japanese 2x

1878 Chinkiang (7 Apr) to USA, applied with Customs Chinkiang type A cds on reverse, Transit Shanghai Local Post (8 Apr). F.w. Japanese 2x 5s on front, cancelled with crossroad obliterator in black, alongside with IJPA Shanghai cds (10 Apr). Transit Yokohama (21 Apr), San Francisco (9 May), re-directed to New York (21 May). Very early example of Customs Chinkiang as the earliest record in "Customs Dater (1875-1913)" was 29 Mar 1879.1878.4.7 鎮江寄美國，背面鈐鎮江海關A型日戳。4.8經上海工部郵局。正貼日本小判5錢x2，銷空十字殺手戳，旁鈐上海日局4.10中轉戳。4.21經橫濱，5.9經三藩市，5.21改寄紐約。《海關日戳（1875-1913）》中最早之鎮江海關封為1879年3月29日，故此例極早。

China Large Dragon

Lot 31

7,500.00 HKD

Sold

ca 1882 Peking to Customs Shanghai. Cover front, f.w. Large Dragon wide margin 3ca (with broken frame at lower right), tied by Peking

ca 1882 Peking to Customs Shanghai. Cover front, f.w. Large Dragon wide margin 3ca (with broken frame at lower right), tied by Peking Chinese seal in blue. Addressee's name removed. With certificate.約1882年北京寄上海海關。僅封面，貼寬邊大龍3分銀（右下破框），銷北京中文藍色戳記。收件人名字被裁去。附證書。

Lot 32

120,000.00 HKD

Live

1884 Peking (22 Jan) to Hawaii, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper, clean perf 3ca on reverse, tied by Peking Chinese seal, alongside with I.G.

1884 Peking (22 Jan) to Hawaii, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper, clean perf 3ca on reverse, tied by Peking Chinese seal, alongside with I.G. of Customs Peking cds in violet. Transit Customs Tientsin (24 Jan), Customs Shanghai (7 Feb), In combination with Japanese 5s, tied by black cork obliterator, alongside with IJPA Shanghai (20 Feb) cds. Cover opened out for display. Highly unusual destination for Large Dragon cover. With RPSL certificate. Ex- Ryohei Ishikawa. Illustration no. 242, p. 387 in "A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of the Large Dragons" by James B Whang. 2014 (Jan) Interasia Auctions, lot 75 (Realized HKD1.15 million)1884.1.22 北京寄夏威夷，背貼厚紙光齒大龍3分銀，銷北京中文戳記，旁鈐北京海關藍色始發日戳。1.24經天津海關，2.7經上海海關。加貼日本小判5錢，銷黑色空十字戳，旁鈐上海日本郵政代理2.20日戳。封剖開以作展示。極為稀罕冷門的目的地。附皇家郵學會證書。石川良佐舊藏。黃建斌《大龍信封存世考》第387頁第242件原件。2014年1月Interasia Auctions拍品號75，成交價港元115萬。

Lot 33

220,000.00 HKD

Sold

1884 Shanghai (4 Nov) to USA, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper 3ca x2, tied by Shanghai Chinese seal, matching Customs Shanghai cds on

1884 Shanghai (4 Nov) to USA, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper 3ca x2, tied by Shanghai Chinese seal, matching Customs Shanghai cds on reverse. In combination with Japanese Koban 5s, tied by black cork obliterator, alongside with IJPA Shanghai cds (6 Nov). Transit Yokohama (18 Nov), San Francisco (4 Dec). One of the 3ca stamp f.w. over the top of the cover and therefore folded. With Holcombe certificate. Although outgoing mails usually transited at Shanghai, mails originating from Shanghai are extremely scarce as there were mulitple foreign post offices at Shanghai. It is the only recorded Large Dragon cover sending from Shanghai recorded by James Whang. It is also the earliest Large Dargon cover charged with new 6ca rate to USA (wef 15 Dec 1882). Ex- Dr. Warren G Atwood, Dr. Robert CH Lee, James B Whang. No. 265 cover in "A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons" by James B Whang.1884.11.4 上海寄美國，貼厚紙大龍3分銀x2，銷上海中文戳記，背鈐上海海關始發日戳。加貼日本小判5錢，銷黑色空十字戳，鈐上海日本郵政代政11.6日戳。11.18經橫濱，12.4經三藩市。一枚3分銀貼於封頂故曾被折。附Holcombe證書。雖然寄國外郵件大多經上海中轉，但由於上海有著多國客郵局，故由上海寄出之大龍封極為稀罕難得，此為黃建斌記錄的孤例，同時為貼付寄美國6分銀新郵資之最早大龍封（該郵資於1882年12月15日生效）。 Dr. Warren G Atwood, Dr. Robert CH Lee及黃建斌舊藏。黃建斌著《大龍信封存世考》中第265件大龍封。

China Large Dragon

China French PO

Lot 34

80,000.00 HKD

Live

1885 Tientsin (8 Nov) to England, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper, rough perf 1ca + 3ca + 5ca complete set on reverse, tied by Tientsin

1885 Tientsin (8 Nov) to England, f.w. Large Dragon thick paper, rough perf 1ca + 3ca + 5ca complete set on reverse, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, alongside with Customs Tientsin cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (16 Nov) cds. In combination with French Peace and Commerce issue 25c, tied by Shanghai French PO (18 Nov) cds. Arrived England (29 Dec). Brilliant tri-colour franking of the Large Dragon complete set. Cover opened out for display. 1885.11.8 天津寄英國，背貼厚紙毛齒大龍1分銀 + 3分銀 + 5分銀全套，銷天津中文戳記，旁鈐天津海關日戳。11.16經上海海關。加貼法國和平及商貿神像25生丁，銷11.18上海法局日戳。12.29抵英國。出類拔萃之三色大龍全套貼票。封剖開以作展示。

China French PO

China British PO

China Customs Mail

China French PO

Lot 35

300,000.00 HKD

Live

1886 Chinkiang (28 Nov) to Denmark, f.w. Large Dragon 1ca + 3ca + Small Dragon 5ca on reverse, tied by Customs Chinkiang cds. Transit

1886 Chinkiang (28 Nov) to Denmark, f.w. Large Dragon 1ca + 3ca + Small Dragon 5ca on reverse, tied by Customs Chinkiang cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (29 Nov). In combination with Peace and Commerce issue 25c on front, tied by Shanghai French PO (30 Nov). Arrived Denmark (10 Jan). With BPA certificate.1886.11.28 鎮江寄丹麥，背貼大龍1分銀 + 3分銀 + 小龍5分銀，銷鎮江海關日戳。11.29經上海海關。加貼和平及商貿神像25生丁，銷上海法局11.30日戳。1.10抵丹麥。附BPA證書。 SMALL DRAGON COMBINATION COVERS 大小龍混貼封根據記錄，在海關郵政期間正常使用的大小龍混貼封共有5件，另有1件在大清郵政期間使用，即： We have recorded only 5 Large Dragon – Small Dragon combination covers within the normal usage period, and one outside the period, viz. 1886.11.28 鎮江寄丹麥哥本哈根Chinkiang to Copenhagen (Chazen Collection) 1887.1.9 鎮江寄丹麥哥本哈根Chinkiang to Copenhagen (p.531, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons) 1887.5.18 鎮江寄丹麥哥本哈根Chinkiang to Copenhagen (p.537, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons) 1888.1.23 北京寄巴黎Peking to Paris (p.540, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons; Mizuhara: Spink 2016.1.17, lot 1699) 1888.7.24 天津寄倫敦Tientsin to London (Chazen: Ava Auctions, 2023.7.8) 1901.10.8 膠州寄德國（穆斯封）Kiaochow to Lichtenthal, Germany (p.578, A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons; Maus cover)

China British PO

China Customs Mail

China British PO

Lot 36

240,000.00 HKD

Sold

1880 Customs Wenchow to England. Hong Kong QV 3c PSC, applied with extremely scarce "Customs / Wenchow" handfilled circular h.s. in red.

1880 Customs Wenchow to England. Hong Kong QV 3c PSC, applied with extremely scarce "Customs / Wenchow" handfilled circular h.s. in red. Transit Customs Shanghai (24 Apr). Indicia tied by S1 obliterator in black, alongside with Shanghai BPO (24 Apr) cds. Transit Hong Kong (29 Apr). Only one usage of the type of Customs Wenchow ciruclar postmark was recorded by Paul K S Chang, dated May 1881. Probably the earliest cover from Customs Wenchow.1880年溫州海關寄英國。香港維多利亞女皇像3仙郵資片，鈐極罕之溫州海關紅色到倒無日期圓戳。4.24經上海海關。郵資圖銷S1黑色殺手戳，旁鈐上海英局4.24日戳。4.29經香港。此款溫州海關圓戳於張愷升的記錄中僅見一例，日期為1881年5月。可能是溫州關最早的郵品，珍罕。

China Customs Mail

Lot 37

6,000.00 HKD

Live

1884 Chinkiang (Jun) to France. Cover front, bearing oval “CHINKIANG CUSTOMS / MAIL MATTER” cachet. F.w. French Peace and Commerce

1884 Chinkiang (Jun) to France. Cover front, bearing oval “CHINKIANG CUSTOMS / MAIL MATTER” cachet. F.w. French Peace and Commerce issue 25c, tied by Shanghai French PO (13 Jun) cds. Arrived France (27 Jul). Nice cancellation.1884.6 鎮江寄法國。殘封封面，鈐橢圓形“CHINKIANG CUSTOMS / MAIL MATTER”戳記。貼法國和平及商貿神像25生丁，銷上海法局6.13日戳。7.27抵法國。戳記出色之早期例子。

China Customs Mail

China French PO

China Japanese PO

China Customs Mail

China French PO

Lot 38

9,500.00 HKD

Live

1897 Chinkiang (25 Sep) to Shanghai, frankless and applied with scarce "CHINKIANG CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER" oval seal and Chinkiang Dollar cds.

1897 Chinkiang (25 Sep) to Shanghai, frankless and applied with scarce "CHINKIANG CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER" oval seal and Chinkiang Dollar cds. Arrived Shanghai (Sep) also with dollar cds. Rather late example of Chinkiang Mail Matter seal.1897.9.25 鎮江寄上海，無貼票，鈐少見之鎮江海關公文戳及鎮江大圓戳。同月抵上海，鈐大圓戳。為鎮江海關公文戳之較晚例子。

China French PO

Lot 42

70,000.00 HKD

Sold

1886 Peking (16 Mar) to Ireland, f.w. Small Dragon 2x 3ca on reverse for domestic double rate, tied by Peking seal cancels, with “I.G. of

1886 Peking (16 Mar) to Ireland, f.w. Small Dragon 2x 3ca on reverse for domestic double rate, tied by Peking seal cancels, with “I.G. of Customs Peking” cds alongside. Transit Customs Shanghai (May). In combination with Peace and Commercei issue 2x 25c, tied by Shanghai French PO (24 Mar) cds. Transit Paris (3 May) and “H & K Packet” (4 May). Roughly open affecting French stamps. Part of flap missing. One of the 16 Small Dragon covers dated 1886 recorded by Michael Ho. It is the earliest outgoing Small Dragon cover as well as the earliest combination cover of Small Dragon and French issues, Illustration fig 3-2, p. 107 in “The Small Dragon” by Michael M Y Ho. 1886.3.16 北京寄愛爾蘭，背貼小龍3分銀x2，合國內雙倍郵資，銷北京中文戳戳，旁有北京海關A型日戳。同月經上海海關。加貼和平及商貿神像25生丁雙連，銷上海法局3.24日戳。5.3經巴黎，5.4經英國輪船H&K Packet。拆封導致法國票有損，部分封舌缺失。此為何沐源記錄之16件1886年小龍封之一，同為最早之寄國外小龍封，以及最早之混貼法國票及小龍封。何沐源著《小龍郵票》第107頁圖3-2原件。

China Japanese PO

China Customs Mail

China Japanese PO

Lot 43

15,000.00 HKD

Sold

1894 Wuhu (22 Jun) to USS Baltimore, Chemulpo, Korea, f.w. Small Dragon perf 11-1/2 3ca with left gutter margin, tied by Customs Wuhu

1894 Wuhu (22 Jun) to USS Baltimore, Chemulpo, Korea, f.w. Small Dragon perf 11-1/2 3ca with left gutter margin, tied by Customs Wuhu origin cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (24 Jun). In combination with Koban 2s + 3s tied by Shanghai IJPO (30 Jun). Transit Nagasaki (5 Jul). A very rare and unusual destination, sent shortly before the Sino-Japanese War and the subsequently closure of Japanese post offices in China. Combination of Small Dragon and Japanese issue is also scarce. Illustration fig 3-153, p. 265 in "The Small Dragon" by Michael M Y Ho.1894.6.22 蕪湖寄朝鮮之美國戰艦Baltimore，貼小龍11度半光齒3分銀帶左過橋邊紙，銷蕪湖海關日戳。6.24經上海海關。加胋日本小判2錢 + 3錢，銷上海日局6.30日戳。7.5經長崎。此封寄於甲午戰爭爆發前，寄朝鮮之小龍封甚為少見，而小龍混貼日本票同樣難得。何沐源著《小龍郵票》第265頁圖3-153原件。

China Customs Mail

China French PO

China Customs Mail

Lot 44

6,000.00 HKD

Sold

1894 Peking (29 Jun) to O'Conner, British Connsulate Chefoo, f.w. Small Dragon 5ca in pair, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G.

1894 Peking (29 Jun) to O'Conner, British Connsulate Chefoo, f.w. Small Dragon 5ca in pair, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G. Customs of Peking cds on reverse. Transit Customs Tientsin (30 Jun). Arrived Customs Chefoo (2 Jul).1894.6.29 北京寄英國駐煙台領事O' Conner，貼小龍5分銀雙連，銷北京中文戳記，背面另鈐北京海關日戳。6.30經天津海關。7.2抵煙台海關。附原信。

China Customs Mail

China French PO

Lot 45

6,000.00 HKD

Sold

1894 Peking (7 Nov) to O’Conner, British Consulate Chefoo, f.w. Small Dragon 5ca, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching I.G Customs of

1894 Peking (7 Nov) to O’Conner, British Consulate Chefoo, f.w. Small Dragon 5ca, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching I.G Customs of Peking cds on reverse. Transit Customs Tientsin (8 Nov). Arrived Customs Chefoo (Nov). With original letter.1894.11.7 北京寄英國駐煙台領事O' Conner，貼小龍5分銀，銷北京中文戳記，背面另鈐北京海關日戳。11.8經天津海關。11月抵煙台海關。附原信。

China French PO

Lot 46

15,000.00 HKD

Live

1896 Tientsin (17 Oct) to England. Newspaper wrapper, f.w. Small Dragon 3ca and Empress Dowager 1ca, cancelled by Tientsin seal, with

1896 Tientsin (17 Oct) to England. Newspaper wrapper, f.w. Small Dragon 3ca and Empress Dowager 1ca, cancelled by Tientsin seal, with Customs Tientsin origin cds on reverse. Transit Shanghai (21 Oct). In combination with French 5c stamp for 25g rate, cancelled by Shanghai French PO cds (23 Oct). No arrival. Outgoing newspaper wrapper with Small Dragon stamp is extremely scarce with only a few exist.1896.10.17 天津寄英國。報紙包裝紙，貼小龍3分銀 + 慈壽1分銀，銷天津中文戳記，另鈐天津海關始發日戳。10.21經上海海關。加貼法國客郵5生丁合25克印刷品郵資，銷10.23上海法局日戳。寄國外並貼小龍票之印刷品極為難得，存世不過數件。