1882 (March 16) a stampless cover endorsed “United States Consulate, Ningpo”, addressed to Geo. H. Jones, US Consul, Nagasaki Japan. On
1882 (March 16) a stampless cover endorsed “United States Consulate, Ningpo”, addressed to Geo. H. Jones, US Consul, Nagasaki Japan. On the obverse, cancelled by a double-ring “I.J. POSTAL AGENCY SHANGHAI MAR 18”, a circular handstamp “DUE 10 (sen)” in black, a small circled “T” market in black. On the reverse side, cancelled by an arrival c.d.s. “NAGASAKI JAPAN / MAR 23” in black, and a blue local c.d.s. “SHANGHAI LOCAL POST / 3 / MH 16 / 82”, Chinese manuscript writing “米国领事馆”. Routed Ningpo to Nagasaki via Imperial Japanese Postal Agency, Shanghai. “DUE 10” indicates the local postage amount due, expressed in Japanese sen at arrival. In the early 1880s, Japan has become a UPU member (from June 1877) and applied UPU rules: unpaid letters were charged double the deficiency. A desirable postage due cover from US Consulate Ningpo in the use of Shanghai L.P. and IJPA Agency for delivery.
