1882 Tientsin (14 Jul) to the Peking Office of the Viceroy of Chihli. Red band cover, f.w. Large Dragon wide margin 3ca brown red (setting
1882 Tientsin (14 Jul) to the Peking Office of the Viceroy of Chihli. Red band cover, f.w. Large Dragon wide margin 3ca brown red (setting VI or VII) + 5ca pale yellow-ochre in horizontal strip of 4 (setting III, pos. 6-20-13-14) and 5 (full row of 7-5-4-12-8) on reverse, 16 times base rate, tied by multiple oval Tientsin type 1 seal, showing “Customs/Tientsin” double-ring d.s. and framed Chinese datestamp of the Tientsin Customs. Very fine and an exceptional internal franking, only one other cover has been recorded with as many examples of the wide margin 5candarins. A wonderful exhibition item of the highest calibre. Opened out for display. Note: There are approximately 8-10 covers recorded from the “Po Shu Ta Chu” (Post Office), which had taken over the functions of the defunct Hwa Yang Shu Hsin Kuan following its closure in 1882. The majority of covers known are either from the Starr collection or in the Chinese National Postage Stamp Museum. Since the “Po Shu Ta Chu” operated under the direct management of the Tientsin Customs, their mail had stamps affixed. All these covers were between July-December, 1882. Provenance: Starr (Sotheby’s, 12-13 September 1991, ot 303, realized GBP40,700). Siegel Auctions, 23 April 1996, lot 31. Illustrated as plate 147 on p. 253-254 in “A Comprehensive Illustration on Covers of Chinese Large Dragons” by James B. Whang. Cf. Lisa and Sven Beckeman, “Large Dragons on Red Band Covers, Journal of Chinese Philately, No. 280, Vol. 39, No.5, pp. 113-115 Holcombe believed it is genuine, with his 1996 certificate and two-page opinion. RPSL certificate of 2004 stated that “stamps show evidence of being attached to cover subsequent to posting and did not originate on cover”. Photocopies of the certificates are attached. As expert opinions are divided, buyers should exercise caution. We would not be in position to assist in obtaining further certificates nor accept return and refund for this lot.1882.7.14 天津寄北京直隸總督駐京公所，背貼寬邊大龍3分銀 + 5分銀橫四連 + 5分銀橫五 連， 銷橢圓形天津篆文戳，另鈐天津關日戳及撥駟達書信館碑形戳。十六倍郵資之例子，封已 剖開展 出，左側兩票有缺角，無損其撥駟達書信館與高面值封之雙重珍罕性。 出自斯塔遺集，1991.9.12-13蘇富比拍賣第303項。以40700英鎊成交。1996.4.23 Siegel lot 31。 黃建斌著《大龍信封存世考》第253-254頁第147號圖。 本件帶 (1) 1996年Holcombe證書和兩頁説明之副本，鑒定為真。(2) 2004年英國皇家郵學會證書副 本，意見為郵票是後加。鑒於鑒定意見大相徑庭，買方拍賣前務必審慎，本司將不能協助進一步鑒 定，也不接受退貨。
