Ava Auctions 14th Spring Auction - Chinese Customs & Imperial Post

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All lots Aftersale lots Sold at auction

China Small Dragon

Egypt Postal stationery

United States Postal stationery

China Small Dragon

Egypt Postal stationery

China Small Dragon

Lot 54

50,000 HKD

Live

1891 Germany (26 Mar) to German Legation Peking, f.w. German Eagle 20pf, tied by Hannover cds. Transit Shanghai German PO (2 May), Customs

1891 Germany (26 Mar) to German Legation Peking, f.w. German Eagle 20pf, tied by Hannover cds. Transit Shanghai German PO (2 May), Customs Tientsin (7 May). In combination with Small Dragon 3ca for Chinese domestic rate, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal.1891.3.26 德國寄德國駐北京公使館，貼鷹徽圖20芬尼，銷漢諾威日戳。5.2經上海德局落地。5.7經天津海關。加貼小龍3分銀補中國國內郵資，銷天津中文戳記。

Egypt Postal stationery

Lot 55

16,000 HKD

Sold

1893 (3 Jan) Eygptian 1 mil stationery cover to France, redirected to Peking, uprated by 1mil, tied by Alexandrie cds. Transit Shanghai

1893 (3 Jan) Eygptian 1 mil stationery cover to France, redirected to Peking, uprated by 1mil, tied by Alexandrie cds. Transit Shanghai French PO (Mar), Customs Tientsin (9 Mar). In combination with Small Dragon 3ca for domestic rate and tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G. of Customs Peking (11 Mar) arrival cds. Michael Ho stated that there are only two incoming covers from Eygpt to Peking with Small Dragon stamps for supplementary domestic postage. Here is the third one.1893.1.3 埃及1米爾郵資封寄法國，改寄北京，加貼1米爾，銷亞歷山大日戳。3月經上海法局，3.9經天津海關。加貼小龍3分銀作中國國內郵資，銷北京漢文戳記，另鈐3.11北京海關到達戳。何沐源指埃及進口北京並貼小龍票作補資者僅見兩件，此為第三件。

United States Postal stationery

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

United States Postal stationery

Lot 79

8,000 HKD

Sold

1893 (9 Aug) US 5c stationery cover to Ningpo, applied with Boston machine d.s., matching cds on reverse. Transit San Francisco (14 Aug),

1893 (9 Aug) US 5c stationery cover to Ningpo, applied with Boston machine d.s., matching cds on reverse. Transit San Francisco (14 Aug), USPA Shanghai (12 Sep), Shanghai LPO (12 Sep). Arrived Customs Ningpo (14 Sep) with cds in red. Spectacular incoming example jointly delivered by US Post, Shanghai local post and Customs Post.1893.8.9 美國2分郵資封寄寧波，銷波士頓機戳，背鈐圓形日戳。8.14經三藩市，9.12經上海美國郵政代理落地。同日交上海工部郵局。9.14抵寧波海關，鈐紅色日戳。由美國客郵、工部郵局及海關郵政合作送遞之出色進口例子。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Lot 82

1,500 HKD

Sold

London UK to Shanghai China via Shanghai Customs14 April 1882, Great Britain three half pence UPU card upgrated by a green half penny

London UK to Shanghai China via Shanghai Customs14 April 1882, Great Britain three half pence UPU card upgrated by a green half penny stamp, both indicium and stamp were cancelled by duplex obliterators "LOMBARD-ST" and "LS. 14"; on card front side, cancelled by a grey dark "CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MY 28/82"; on the reverse side, cancelled by transit Hong Kong c.d.s. "HONG-KONG MY 20".UK postal card written French to Imperial Chinese Customs in Shanghai with unusual watery black c.d.s. which is very early for a postal card during large dragon period. Lower end of the card has small tears but it is a desirable item for such early usage of Customs mail on UPU card.倫敦寄上海經上海海關轉遞。1882年4月14日,英國1%便士萬國郵聯(UPU)郵政明信片加貼以便士綠色郵票升值寄出。正面所附印花與附加郵票,均蓋銷倫敦 LOMBARD STREET 雙圈日戰戳(LOMBARD-ST/L. S. 14):正面右侧並蓋有一枚灰黑色「CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / MY 28/82」海關到達戳:背面則顯示經香港中轉日戰「HONG-KONG / MY 20/82」。此件由英國倫敦寄往中國上海總海關(Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs)的明信片,以法文書寫,表明乃發往海關官方機構之通訊。其上海海關戰以帶水痕之灰黑色墨水蓋銷,為1882年大龍郵票期間罕見的早期明信片海關使用實例。卡片下端略有小製痕, 惟不損整體歷史價值。此卡為早期英國郵政明信片至中國海關官方郵件的實例,兼具郵政史、語言與制度演變三重研究價值,誠為海關郵集與大龍時期郵政收藏佳品。

Lot 83

5,000 HKD

Sold

1887 Norway (25 Feb) to Customs Tientsin, redirected to Foochow. Norwegian 5 ore PSC, uprated by 10 ore, tied by Holmestrand cds. Transit

1887 Norway (25 Feb) to Customs Tientsin, redirected to Foochow. Norwegian 5 ore PSC, uprated by 10 ore, tied by Holmestrand cds. Transit with Singapore-to-Hong Kong marine sorter (10 Mar), Customs Shanghai (10 Apr), Customs Tientsin (15 Apr) but redirected to Foochow via Customs Shanghai again (19 Apr). Very rare incoming example from Norway.1887.2.25 挪威寄天津海關，改寄福州。挪威5歐爾郵資片，加貼10歐爾，銷Holmestrand日戳。3.10經新加坡至香港海上分揀。4.10經上海海關，4.15經天津海關，4.19再經上海海關改寄福州。非常少見難得之挪威進口例。

Lot 84

2,400 HKD

Sold

London to Tientsin, China via China Customs System. June 1892, half penny imprinted wrapper with upper left-hand corner endorsed as ASONIA

London to Tientsin, China via China Customs System. June 1892, half penny imprinted wrapper with upper left-hand corner endorsed as ASONIA CLOCK COMPANY LONDON E.C., sent to Messers & Meyer & Co., Tientsin, China. The QV half penny indicium cancelled by obliterator "FC 92". Adjacent to it, cancelled by a fine double ringed 'CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/JUL 10/92" in red.倫敦寄中國天津-經中國海關郵政遞送。1892年6月,維多利亞女王半便士郵資信封(wrapper)。本件為英國半便士印刷郵責信封(wrapper),左上角印有寄件人名稱“ASONIA CLOCK COMPANY LONDON E.C.”,寄至中國天津 Messers Meyer & Co.商行。信封右上角之**維多利亞女王半便士印記林由倫敦“FC92”圓形銷戰註銷。旁另加蓋**"CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/JUL 10/92”紅色雙圈到達日戳,表示由中國海關郵政系統負責最終派遞**這是19世紀晚期英國商業印刷品寄往中國內地並由清朝海關郵政系統負責遞送的典型範例。

China Pre-philately

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

China Pre-philately

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

China Pre-philately

Lot 85

800 HKD

Live

1893 Britain (31 Oct) to British Legation Peking via Yizhan, f.w. QV 1d for British domestic rate, tied by Nestport duplex d.s. Chinese

1893 Britain (31 Oct) to British Legation Peking via Yizhan, f.w. QV 1d for British domestic rate, tied by Nestport duplex d.s. Chinese domestic rate was not applied as diplomatic mails were delivered via Yizhan. 1521893.10.31 英國經驛站寄英國駐京公使館，貼維多利亞女皇像1便士合英國國內郵資，銷Nestport雙聯日戳。因外交郵件經驛站分揀而免卻中國國內郵資。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Lot 86

4,000 HKD

Live

Italy to Tientsin, China going through China's Customs System24 March 1894, Italian Postal 10-centesimi stationery card despatched

Italy to Tientsin, China going through China's Customs System24 March 1894, Italian Postal 10-centesimi stationery card despatched from Napoli to Tientsin China c/o Imperial Germanial Consulate.On the front side, 10-centesimi indicium cancelled by the boxed obliterator NAPOLI 24 MR 94 c.d.s., blue crayon manuscript "2" and "Tientsin"; cancelled by double ringed "CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/MAY 1/1894" in blue color, 2 marine sorter c.d.s. "SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG /A/AP 16/94", another Tientsin Customs c.d.s. "CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/APR 30/1894" in red color-red color customs c.d.s. refers to incoming to Tientsin, and the blue color customs c.d.s. refers to dispatch out to re-direct to Peking Customs.On the reverse side, another marine sorter c.d.s. "SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG/A/AP 16/94" (so three times of marine sorter c.d.s. on the card), Germany Imperial P.O. c.d.s "TIENTSIN/KAISERL. DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR 4/5 94", arrival customs c.d.s. "I.G. OF CUSTOMS PEKING/MAY 4/94".A very good Italian postal card illustrating the inter-connections with China's customs system and the use of landing and dispatch TIENTSIN CUSTOMS c.d.s. in different colors.義大利寄中國天津,經中國海關郵政體系1894年3月24日,義大利10分郵資明信片由拿坡里(Napoli)寄往中國天津,收件地址為德國領事館代收。正面所見:印刷郵票面值10分(centesimi)的明信片上,貼印郵資圖案由方框型日戳「NAPOLI 24 MR94」銷戰,並以藍色蠟筆手寫「2」及「Tientsin」;另有林 CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/APR 30/1894」紅色雙圈日戰林,表示郵件抵達天津海關。再加上**「CUSTOMS TIENTSIN/MAY 1/1894」藍色日戳**,表示此信由天津海關轉寄至北京海關。途中經過的船郵戳記為**「SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG/A/AP 16/94」**海運分揀日戳,共出現三次。背面所見:再一次出現**「SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG/A/AP 16/94」海運日戳, 另蓋有德國天津郵局「TIENTSIN/ KAISERL. DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR 4/5 94」日戳 **,以及最終送達的**「I.G. OF CUSTOMS PEKING/MAY 4/94」北京海關到達日戳林。此件義大利郵政明信片完整展示了19世紀末國際郵件如何透過中國海關郵政體系遞送,同時具備天津海關紅色抵達觀與藍色轉寄戳的雙色組合,並與德國郵政局及北京海關相互銜接,具有高郵政史價值。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

China Customs Mail

Lot 87

700 HKD

Sold

1895 (17 Sep) French Peace and Commerce 10c stationery card to Shanghai, tied by Douai cds., alongside with Edmond Fremy philatelic d.s.

1895 (17 Sep) French Peace and Commerce 10c stationery card to Shanghai, tied by Douai cds., alongside with Edmond Fremy philatelic d.s. Transit Shanghai French PO (24 Oct). Arrived Customs Shanghai (24 Oct).1895.9.17 法國和平及商貿神像10生丁郵資片寄上海，銷Douai日戳，旁鈐Edmond Fremy集郵日戳。10.24上海法局落地。10.24抵上海海關。

China Customs Mail

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

China Customs Mail Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail

Lot 88

2,000 HKD

Live

1896 Britain (13 Feb) to Amoy and redirected. British 1d PSC, tied by Norwich duplex d.s. Transit Hong Kong (21 Mar), Amoy BPO (24 Mar).

1896 Britain (13 Feb) to Amoy and redirected. British 1d PSC, tied by Norwich duplex d.s. Transit Hong Kong (21 Mar), Amoy BPO (24 Mar). Arrived Customs Amoy (24 Mar) with cds in red. Redirected via Customs Shanghai (29 Mar). Despite the faint strike, it is very rare to see Customs Amoy cds on incoming mail.1896.2.13 英國寄廈門，隨後改寄。英國1便士郵資片，銷Norwich雙聯日戳。3.21經香港，3.24經廈門英局，同日交廈門海關，鈐紅色日戳。3.29經上海海關改寄。雖郵戳較淺，但進口郵件上見廈門海關日戳者甚為少見。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

China Customs Mail Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Lot 89

1,500 HKD

Sold

Austria-Hungary to China - Postal Card via Hungarian Royal Post. 12 JUL 1896, Austria-Hungary UPU 2 krajczár UPU card uprated by3

Austria-Hungary to China - Postal Card via Hungarian Royal Post. 12 JUL 1896, Austria-Hungary UPU 2 krajczár UPU card uprated by3 krajczár blue adhesive, sent from Sepsiszentgyörgy, Austria-Hungary (today Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania) to Shanghai, China, both tied by a clear SEPSISZENTGYÖRGY 33/7 96 c.d.s. Addressed to Monsieur R.A. de Villers, Inspector General of Customs, Imperial Maritime Customs, Shanghai. Reverse bears a light blue SHANGHAI CUSTOMS c.d.s. dated OCT 10, 1896, confirming arrival and handling by the Chinese Imperial Customs Post. Beautiful multicolor vignette depicting Herkulesfürdő (now Băile Herculane, Romania) on the reverse, with handwritten German message. This card illustrates an early postal communication between Hungary and Qing Imperial Post Office in China, addressed to a senior figure of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs R.A. de Villers, a known official under Sir Robert Hart. The application of the Shanghai Customs postmark in light blue adds significant rarity and philatelic value, particularly for collectors of China's foreign mail period and early Customs postal markings. Usage and survivals to Customs mails are scarce.匈牙利寄中國上海海關。12.07.1896,此為1896年匈牙利寄中國清末上海的彩繪明信片,寄往中國海關總稽查 R. A. de Villers 閣下。正面使用2克拉采匈牙利明信片加貼3克拉采藍色郵票補資,全數以SEPSISZENTGYÖRGY 戳記銷蓋。背面圖像為著名溫泉勝地 Herkulesfürdő (今日羅馬尼亞),並蓋有1896年10月10日上海海關淡藍色抵達戳,比較早期的奥匈帝國入口海關用途。罕少。

China Customs Mail Cancellations and seals

Lot 90

4,000 HKD

Live

2 April 1896, a Ceylon 5 cents QV postal stationery envelope, uprated with 2c green and 6c orange adhesives, all cancelled by barred

2 April 1896, a Ceylon 5 cents QV postal stationery envelope, uprated with 2c green and 6c orange adhesives, all cancelled by barred obliterators with COLOMBO/AP 2/96 c.d.s. Addressed to C.S. Tanank Esq., Imperial Maritime Customs, Shanghai, an officer in the Qing-era Inspectorate General under Sir Robert Hart. Reverse bears full transit and arrival markings:MARINE SORTER/INDEX B/SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG c.d.s. (sea-mail sorting mark)CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / APR 22 96 arrival c.d.s.-I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING / APL 28 96 in blue.A rare commercial postal link from Ceylon to Qing China, showing official mail processed through marine sorter RMS route, with dual customs backstamps-Shanghai and Peking. Scarce and historically significant usage of Ceylon stationery on China-bound official mail.錫蘭5分郵政信封寄清代中國海關-1896年經海上分揀船寄上海。2.4.1896 難得一見之郵品,使用錫蘭維多利亞女王像5分郵政信封,加貼2分綠色及6分橙色郵票補足郵資,全部蓋銷COLOMBO/AP2/96 圓戳與條紋抹銷戳。信件寄往中國上海海關,C. S. Tanank 閣下,其時為清朝海關總稅務司署官員,屬赫德爵士主理之海關體系。背面銷有完整過站與到達郵戳:- 新加坡至香港/MARINE SORTER INDEX B 海運郵袋分揀戳- 上海海關/ CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / APR 2296 到達戳- 總稅務司署/I.G. OF CUSTOMS/PEKING/APL 2896 藍色戳記此件為錫蘭至清代中國海關官信郵件之罕見例證,展現經 RMS 海運郵袋分揀路線及同時蓋有上海與北京兩地海關戳記之官方郵件,具歷史與郵政研究價值。

United States Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

United States Cancellations and seals

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

United States Cancellations and seals

Lot 92

5,000 HKD

Sold

Boston, U.S.A. to Peking, China in use of US postal office in Shanghai and China Customs Mail System 11 November 1889, a cover affixed US 5

Boston, U.S.A. to Peking, China in use of US postal office in Shanghai and China Customs Mail System 11 November 1889, a cover affixed US 5 cents adhesive in deep blue addressed to Mr Edwin E. Aiken, Peking, China (Edwin Aiken was a missionary actively involved in congregational education etc in China for 4 years), cancelled by the 6-lined long bar cancellation "3" and BOSTOM MASS. c.d.s. (Nov 11, 1889), a boxed "TO PAY" in red color. On the back side, cancelled by an oval c.d.s. in purple "U.S. POSTAL AGENCY/SHANGHAI/17 DEC 89", a legible "CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / DEC 18/89" and two other transit c.d.s. from the US. The left side of the cover is modestly reduced but little impact of the attractiveness of the cover having "TO PAY" and customs mail system.美國波士頓寄往中國北京之郵件,經美國駐上海郵局與中國海關郵政體系轉遞 1889年11月11日,一封貼有美國5分深藍色郵票的信封,寄給駐華傳教士 Edwin E. Aiken 先生(Edwin Aiken 為來華四年之公理會教士,積極從事教育及傳教工作),信封銷有**“BOSTON, MASS, NOV 11, 1889 日戳**,並施以六線長條"3" 數字取消戳。信封正面另蓋有紅色框線“TO PAY”欠資戳。背面則蓋有多個重要轉遞郵戳,包括: 紫色橢圓戳“U. S. POSTAL AGENCY / SHANGHAI / 17 DEC89”(美國駐上海郵政代理局) "CUSTOMS SHANGHAI / DEC 18/89”中國上海海關日戳另有兩枚美國本土中轉戳記信封左邊邊緣略有修剪,但不影響整體觀賞性,此封兼具紅色“TO PAY”欠資觀與中國海關郵政轉遞系統戳記,具重要郵政史價值與視覺吸引力。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Lot 93

24,000 HKD

Sold

1891 Austria (28 Mar) to Peking. Austrian 2k PSC, uprated by 1k + 5k, tied by Ambulant Post No. 4 cds. Showing "Via Suez" annotation.

1891 Austria (28 Mar) to Peking. Austrian 2k PSC, uprated by 1k + 5k, tied by Ambulant Post No. 4 cds. Showing "Via Suez" annotation. Transit Hong Kong (6 May). Transit Customs Tientsin (16 May) with "TO PAY" horizontal cachet in blue for Chinese domestic rate. Paul K S Chang recorded this type of "To Pay" cachet on Tientsin postmark proof but did not record any example on cover. Incoming examples from Austria are also scarce. In 2024 (Jul), AVA offered an incoming postcard from Austria to Peking with same type of To Pay mark in red was hammered at HKD$56,000 (lot 355).1891.3.28 奧國寄北京。奧國2k郵資片，加貼1k + 5k，銷行動郵局4號日戳。寫有“Via Suez”批示。5.6經香港。5.16經天津海關，旁鈐天津“TO PAY”藍色補資橫戳。張愷升於天津郵務戳樣中得悉此戳，但未見實寄封片。奧國進口中國十分稀罕少見。2024年7月艾華夏拍，一件鈐相同紅色TO PAY橫戳之奧國寄北京片以港幣56,000元拍出（拍品號355）。

China Customs Mail Postal stationery

Canada Postal stationery

Lot 94

8,000 HKD

Sold

1893 Netherlands (12 Sep) to Dutch Minister Peking. Dutch 2-1/2c PSC, uprated by 2-1/2c, tied by Hague cds. Transit Marseilles (14 Sep),

1893 Netherlands (12 Sep) to Dutch Minister Peking. Dutch 2-1/2c PSC, uprated by 2-1/2c, tied by Hague cds. Transit Marseilles (14 Sep), Shanghai French PO (22 Oct), Customs Shanghai (22 Oct) with framed "TO PAY" cachet in red on address side for domestic rate. Arrived Customs Peking (29 Oct). Scarce incoming example from Netherlands.1893.9.12 荷蘭寄荷蘭駐京公使。荷蘭2-1/2分郵資片，加貼2-1/2分，銷海牙日戳。9.14經馬賽，10.22經上海法局，10.22經上海海關，正鈐“TO PAY”紅色橫戳補資。10.29抵北京海關。非常少見難得之荷蘭進口例。

Canada Postal stationery

Lot 95

42,000 HKD

Sold

1894 Canada (28 Apr) to Peking. Canadian 1c PSC, uprated by 3c, tied by Toranto cds. Transit San Francisco (5 May / 2 Jun). In combination

1894 Canada (28 Apr) to Peking. Canadian 1c PSC, uprated by 3c, tied by Toranto cds. Transit San Francisco (5 May / 2 Jun). In combination wih US 1c on content side but not cancelled. Transit Customs Tientsin (7 Jun). Address side applied with unframed "TO PAY" cachet in red for domestic rate. Arrived I.G. of Customs Peking (8 Jun). Very rare incoming example from Canada.1894.4.28 加拿大寄北京。加拿大1分郵資片，加貼3分，銷多倫多日戳。5.2/6.2經三藩市。內容一面貼美國票1分但未蓋銷。6.7經天津海關，鈐“TO PAY”紅色補資橫戳。6.8抵北京海關。非常少見難得之加拿大進口例。