Ava Auctions 16th Auction - Summer 2026 sale

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China Dowager

Lot 82

20,000 HKD

Live

1894 Spanish Legation Peking (6 Mar) to Philippines, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 4ca + 5ca, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching

1894 Spanish Legation Peking (6 Mar) to Philippines, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 4ca + 5ca, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with Customs Peking cds on reverse. Showing legation seal on front. Transit Customs Shanghai (14 Mar). In combination with Hong Kong QV 10c, tied by Shanghai BPO cds. Transit Hong Kong (19 Mar). Arrived Manila (25 Mar). With BPA certificate. The earlier of the two recorded Dowager covers to Manila.1894.3.6 西班牙駐北京公使館寄菲律賓，貼慈壽初版4分銀 + 5分銀，銷北京中文戳記，背另鈐北京海關始發日戳。正見公使館紫章。3.14經上海海關。加貼香港維多利亞女皇像10仙，銷上海英局日戳。3.19經香港。3.25抵馬尼拉。為兩件寄馬尼拉的慈壽封中較早的一件。附BPA證書。

Lot 83

12,000 HKD

Live

1894 Tientsin (25 Dec) to Peking, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st print 3ca, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, matching with Customs Tientins origin

1894 Tientsin (25 Dec) to Peking, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st print 3ca, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, matching with Customs Tientins origin cds on reverse. Arrived Customs Peking (28 Dec). Nice first year usage of Empress Dowager issue. References:Customs Dater (1875-1913), Taipei: Philatelic.Writers’.Club, 2008, p.168-169. Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong 2011), p. 35.1894.12.25 天津寄北京，貼慈壽初版3分銀，銷天津中文戳記，背鈐天津海關始發日戳。12.28抵北京海關。出色之慈壽首年貼用例子。附BPA證書。參考﹕《海關日戳（1875-1913）》第168-169頁。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第35頁。

Lot 84

15,000 HKD

Live

1895 Chefoo (Jul) to Sweden, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca, tied by Chefoo Chinese seal, matching with Customs Chefoo cds on

1895 Chefoo (Jul) to Sweden, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca, tied by Chefoo Chinese seal, matching with Customs Chefoo cds on reverse. Tranit Customs Shanghai (22 Jul). In combination with German Eagle 20pf, tied by Shanghai German PO cds (26 Jul). The German stamp was affixed by sender himself, hence, an example of relay postage. Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong.Kong 2011), p.141.1895.7 煙台寄瑞典，貼慈壽初版3分銀，銷煙台漢文戳記，背另鈐煙台海關始發日戳。7.22經上海海關。另貼德國票20芬尼，銷上海德局7.26日戳。德國票為寄件人自貼，接力郵資例子。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第141頁。

Lot 85

20,000 HKD

Live

1896 Shanghai (15 Dec) to Peking via winter route, f.w. Empress Dowager first print 3ca x2, tied by Customs Shanghai cds. Arrived Peking (4

1896 Shanghai (15 Dec) to Peking via winter route, f.w. Empress Dowager first print 3ca x2, tied by Customs Shanghai cds. Arrived Peking (4 Jan). It is one of the earliest recorded cover carried by the 1896 Winter route. Robert Kong recorded only 5 domestic mail matter covers taking the northbound winter route and it is the 6th one. Also, it an an important example of transition between Customs and Imperial Post as mails dated before 31 Dec 1896 was still subjected to the regulation of the Customs Posts. 2012 (15 Dec) Interasia "Selection from the Huang Ming-Jeng Grand Prix Collection of Imperial China 19th Century Postal History Part 1", lot 159.1896.12.15 上海經冬季郵路寄北京，貼慈壽初版3分銀x2，銷上海海關日戳。1.4抵北京。此為記錄中走1896年冬令郵路之最早郵例。按龔秀彬記錄，向北走冬令郵路之國內公文封僅有五件，此為第六件。另外由於1896年12月1日前之郵件仍遵行海關郵政之規章，故此可謂海關與大清郵政過渡時期之重要例證。 2012.12.15 Interasia“黃明正大清郵政史得獎郵集第一部分”，拍品號159。

Lot 87

12,000 HKD

Live

1895 Peking (15 Nov) to France. Chinese style cover, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca in strip of 3, tied by Peking Chinese seal,

1895 Peking (15 Nov) to France. Chinese style cover, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca in strip of 3, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G. Customs of Peking cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (21 Nov). In combination with French ovpt Chine 25c, tied by Shanghai French PO (22 Nov) cds. Cover opened out for display. With BPA certificate. Tony To Wah Kwan, Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong.Kong,.2011), p.187.1895.11.15 北京寄法國。中式封，背貼慈壽初版3分銀橫三連，銷北京中文戳記，另鈐北京海關始發日戳。11.21經上海海關。加貼法國客郵加蓋Chine 25生丁，銷上海法局11.12日戳。封剖開以作展示。附BPA證書。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第187頁。

Lot 88

15,000 HKD

Live

1895 Tientsin to USA, f.w. Small Dragon 1c x6 + Empress Dowager 1st printing 1ca + 2ca + 4ca + 5ca on both sides, tied by Tientsin Chinese

1895 Tientsin to USA, f.w. Small Dragon 1c x6 + Empress Dowager 1st printing 1ca + 2ca + 4ca + 5ca on both sides, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal. Transit Customs Shanghai (16 Dec). in combination with Japanese Koban 5s + 10s, tied by IJPO Shanghai cds. Transit Yokohama (28 Dec). Arrived USA (16 Jan). Nice triple preferential rate example. With B.P.A..certificate. Tony To-Wah Kwan,.ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong Kong 2011), p. 199.1896年天津寄美國，正背貼小龍1分銀x6 + 慈壽初版1分銀+ 2分銀 + 4分銀 + 5分銀，銷天津中文戳記。12.16經上海海關。加貼日本小判5錢 + 10錢，銷上海日局日戳。12.28經橫濱。1.16抵美國。附BPA證書。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第199頁。

Lot 89

14,000 HKD

Live

1896 Peking (7 Jan) to USA, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca in horizontal pair, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G.

1896 Peking (7 Jan) to USA, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca in horizontal pair, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G. Customs of Peking cds on reverse. Transit Customs Shanghai (20 Jan) In combination with Japapnese Koban 5s, tied by IJPO Shanghai cds (21 Jan) cds. Transit Yokohama (28 Jan), Vancouver (11 Feb). Arrived New York (18 Feb). Example of 6ca preferential rate to USA through Japanese PO. Provenance:Ex- Ellery.Denison, Christie’s Robson Lowe.(Zurich), (Nov) 1998, lot 1441. Ex- Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby’s and Corinphila (Hong Kong), (Nov) 1999, lot D18. Reference:Tony To-Wah Kwan, ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong.Kong 2011), p.215.1896.1.7 北京寄美國，貼慈壽初版3分銀橫雙連，銷北京漢文戳記，背另鈐北京海關始發日戳。1.20經上海海關。加貼日本小判5錢，銷上海日局1.21日戳。1.28經橫濱，2.11經溫哥華。2.18抵紐約。經日本客郵局寄美國6分銀特惠郵資例子。源流﹕Ellery Denison舊藏（1998年11月蘇黎世佳士得Robson Lowe，拍品號1441）。貝克曼舊藏（1999年11月香港蘇富比及Corinphila，拍品號D18）。參考﹕關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第215頁。

Lot 90

12,000 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。

Lot 91

12,000 HKD

Live

1896 Tientsin (16 May) to England, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 6ca + 12ca on reverse, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, matching with

1896 Tientsin (16 May) to England, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 6ca + 12ca on reverse, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, matching with Custmos Tientsin cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (20 May). In combination with French ovpt. Chine 25c in pair, tied by Shanghai French PO (21 Apr) cds. Transit French paquebot (25 May). Double rate examle. Cover opened out for display. Tony To-Wah Kwan,.ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards (Hong Kong, 2011), p. 288.1896.5.16 天津寄英國，背貼慈壽初版6分銀 + 12分銀，銷天津中文戳記，另鈐天津海關日戳。5.20經上海海關。加貼法國客郵25生丁雙連，銷上海法局5.25日戳。雙倍郵資例子。封剖開以作展示。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》中冊第288頁。

Lot 92

15,000 HKD

Live

1896 Tientsin (3 Feb) to Germany, f.w. Empress Dowager 9ca on reverse, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, along with Customs Tientsin origin

1896 Tientsin (3 Feb) to Germany, f.w. Empress Dowager 9ca on reverse, tied by Tientsin Chinese seal, along with Customs Tientsin origin cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (14 Feb). In combination with German Eagle 10pf x2 + 20pf, tied by Shanghai German PO (14 Feb) cds. Arrived Hamburg (20 Mar). According to the Holcombe certificate, it is unclear whether the sender prepaid the triple internal postage of 9 cand and underfranked the German postage or whether the 9 cand prepaid the entire single rate and it was found to be underpaid and the German P.O. added a further 20Pf. postage. Tony To Wah Kwan,.ed., Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong.Kong,.2011), p. 234.1896.2.3 天津寄德國，背貼慈壽9分銀，銷天津中文戳記，另鈐天津海關日戳。2.14經上海海關。加貼鷹徽圖10芬尼 x2 + 20芬尼，銷上海德局2.14日戳。3.20抵漢堡。Holcombe證書指未知9分銀為三倍國內郵資抑或正常國外郵資。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第234頁。

Lot 93

15,000 HKD

Live

1896 German Consulate Peking to Hong Kong, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 9ca x2, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G Customs

1896 German Consulate Peking to Hong Kong, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 9ca x2, tied by Peking Chinese seal, matching with I.G Customs of Peking cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (27 Nov). In combination with Hong Kong QV 5c in strip of 3, tied by Shanghai BPO. On reverse with German Consulate label. Provenance:Ex- Milo D. Rowell, Christie’s Swire, (Hong Kong), (Sep) 1992, lot 1645.Tony T W Kwan,.ed, Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues. Volume One: First Printing Covers and Cards.(Hong.Kong,.2011), p. 401.1896年德國駐北京領事館寄香港，貼慈壽初版9分銀x2，銷北京漢文戳記，背鈐北京海關始發日戳。11.27經上海海關。加貼香港維多利亞女皇像5仙橫三連，銷上海英局日戳。背以德國領事館貼紙封口。 Milo D Rowell舊藏（1992年9月香港佳士得，拍品號1645）。關道華《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》上冊第401頁。

Lot 94

15,000 HKD

Live

1896 Chinkiang (6 Apr) to USA, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca + 9ca on reverse, tied by Customs Chinkiang cds. Transit Customs

1896 Chinkiang (6 Apr) to USA, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 3ca + 9ca on reverse, tied by Customs Chinkiang cds. Transit Customs Shanghai (8 Apr). In combination with Japanese Koban 10s, tied by IJPO Shanghai cds. Transit Vancouver (29 Apr).1896.4.6 鎮江寄美國，背貼慈壽初版3分銀 + 9分銀，銷鎮江海關日戳。4.8經上海海關。加貼日本小判10錢，銷上海日局日戳。4.29經溫哥華。

Lot 95

20,000 HKD

Live

1894 Tientsin (19 Dec) to London, f.w. Empress Dowager 9ca, cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, alongside with Customs cds. Winter route to

1894 Tientsin (19 Dec) to London, f.w. Empress Dowager 9ca, cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, alongside with Customs cds. Winter route to Shanghai (1 Jan). In combination with Peace and Commerce ovpt. Chine 25c, tied by Shanghai French PO (8 Jan). Arrived London (11 Feb). Illustration A-1 894-029, p. 29 in “Covers and Cards of Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharged Issues” Vol I by Tony To Wah Kwan. 1989 (24 May) Christie’s Ex- Mr Wilson Te 2006 (18 Mar) Zurich Asia.1894.12.19 天津寄倫敦，背貼慈壽9分銀，銷天津中文戳記，另鈐天津海關藍色日戳。走冬季郵路至上海（1.1）。加貼和平及商貿神像加蓋Chine 25生丁，銷1.8上海法局日戳。2.11抵倫敦。關道華著《慈禧壽辰票暨其加蓋票信封圖鑑》第一冊第29頁圖A-1 894-029原件。1989.5.24 佳士得。戴招榮舊藏。2006.5.18 蘇黎世亞洲。

Lot 96

15,000 HKD

Live

1895 Tientsin (23 Jan) to Italy, f.w. Empress Dowager 24ca stamp, cancelled by Tientsin seals, alongside with Tientsin type 2 Registration

1895 Tientsin (23 Jan) to Italy, f.w. Empress Dowager 24ca stamp, cancelled by Tientsin seals, alongside with Tientsin type 2 Registration h.s and Customs Tientsin origin cds. Took Winter Route to Shanghai (1 Feb). In combination with French 75c stamp, cancelled by Shanghai French PO cds (1 Feb). Arrived Firenze (25 Mar). Empress stamp scissored and re-joined. Commerical usage of 24ca stamp is scarce. 1895.1.23 天津寄意大利，貼慈壽24分銀，銷天津中文戳記，旁鈐天津II型橢圓R章及天津海關日戳。經冬季郵路至上海（2.1）。加貼法國客郵75生丁，銷上海法局2.1日戳。3.25抵Firenze。封頂被裁。貼用慈壽24分銀實寄少見。

Lot 97

20,000 HKD

Live

1894 French Legation Peking cover front, to France, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 9ca + 24ca for reigstered triple rate, tied by Peking

1894 French Legation Peking cover front, to France, f.w. Empress Dowager 1st printing 9ca + 24ca for reigstered triple rate, tied by Peking Chinese seal. In combination with French 1f, tied by Shanghai French PO (11 Dec) cds, along with and REGISTERDE mark and R mark. Transit Modane - Paris (16 Jan). Berteaux correspondence. Commercial usage of 24ca stamp is very rare.1894年法國駐北京公使館封封面，寄法國，貼慈壽初版9分銀 + 24分銀，合33分銀掛號三倍重量郵資，銷北京中文戳記。加貼法國票1法郎，銷上海法局12.11日戳。另見REGISTERED橫戳及R章。1.16經Modane-Paris。Berteaux書信。24分銀實寄十分難得少見。

Lot 127

5,000 HKD

Live

1897 Chefoo (29 Sep) to Germany. French ovpt. 10c PSC, f.w. Empress Dowager surch large figure narrow spaced 2c/2ca, tied by Chefoo Dollar

1897 Chefoo (29 Sep) to Germany. French ovpt. 10c PSC, f.w. Empress Dowager surch large figure narrow spaced 2c/2ca, tied by Chefoo Dollar cds. Transit Shanghai (1 Oct) with dollar cds. Indicia tied by Shanghai French PO (2 Oct) cds. Arrived Hamburg.1897.9.29 煙台寄德國。法國加蓋Chine 10生丁郵資片，貼慈壽加蓋大字短距2分蓋2分銀，銷煙台大圓戳。10.1經上海，鈐大圓戳。郵資圖銷上海法局10.2日戳。抵漢堡。