Ava Auctions 16th Auction - Summer 2026 sale

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All lots Aftersale lots Sold at auction

China Republic of China

Russia Covers bulk lot

China French PO

China Republic of China

Russia Covers bulk lot

China Republic of China

Lot 566

80,000 HKD

Live

1920 (7 May) Tientsin - Peking FFC, used on Hong Kong GPO OHMS cover, f.w. Junk 1-1/2c x3 + 3c x3, for 13c domestic express letter rate

1920 (7 May) Tientsin - Peking FFC, used on Hong Kong GPO OHMS cover, f.w. Junk 1-1/2c x3 + 3c x3, for 13c domestic express letter rate (because there was no airmail postage yet), tied by Tientsin GPO Aeroplane Service bilingual cds. On reverse sealed with Hackmack & Co / Tientsin-Peking label. Cover with folds and creases, but not affecting its historical significance. Plus an Aston Hotel Tientsin advertisement of providing mail service supported by air flight from Tientsin to Peking. With folds and creases. Very historical and interesting. (43 x 30cm). In 1919, the Peiyang Government established Aeroplance Service in Peking. On 7 May 1920, inaugural flight from Peking to Tientsin and then returned to Peking was conducted. 195 mails were carried back to Peking. A milstone piece for Chinese airmail postal history.1920.5.7 天津-北京首航封，使用香港郵政OHMS封作載體，貼帆船1分5厘x3 + 3分x3，合1角3分外埠快信郵資（當時尚未有航空郵資），銷“中華郵政飛艇寄遞”漢英日戳。封帶折痕和裂，但不影響郵票郵戳。背面以雅利公司封口紙封口。另附一幅亞多斯飯店廣告，指提供收寄郵件服務，並由天津飛往北京之航班轉寄。帶裂痕和折痕。極具歷史意義。（43 x 30厘米） 1919年，北洋政府成立航空事宜處。1920年5月7日，京滬線北京-天津段開航。飛機當天從北京飛抵天津，然後返回北京，攜帶信函195封。此為中國航空郵政史之一大里程碑。

Russia Covers bulk lot

Lot 822

10,000 HKD

Sold

A collection of 5 early official covers from Russian to Urga, frankless as dated before the issuance of postage stamps. Very scarce early

A collection of 5 early official covers from Russian to Urga, frankless as dated before the issuance of postage stamps. Very scarce early mails to Mongolia, probably the oldest.一組五件早期俄國寄庫倫封，無貼票，日期為郵票發行之前。非常難得稀罕，可能為俄國寄蒙古之最早郵件。

China French PO

Hong Kong

China French PO

Lot 973

4,000 HKD

Sold

1915 (Jun) Large official cover from Governor of Suikai to Kouang Tcheou Wan Commissaire, f.w. Junk 2c + 3c in block of 4, tied by

1915 (Jun) Large official cover from Governor of Suikai to Kouang Tcheou Wan Commissaire, f.w. Junk 2c + 3c in block of 4, tied by Kwangtung Suikai cds. Transit Luichow Chinese PO, Taiping French PO (13 Jun), Potsi (14 Jun). Arrived Fort Bayard (14 Jun). All French PO applied with type 3 cds. A very rare cover gathering the extremely scarce Taiping and Potsi type 3 bilingual cds, not to mention the official cover nature. Cover opened at top and folded at middle.1915.6 大型公文封自遂溪縣知事寄廣州灣總公使，背貼帆船2分 + 3分四方連，銷廣東遂溪三格日戳。經雷州中國郵局，6.13經太平法國客郵局，6.14經鋪仔。6.14抵經西營。所有法國客郵局均鈐3型日戳。集稀罕之太平及鋪仔3型日戳之出色例子，大型公文封更是可遇不可求。

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Queen Victoria Cancellations and seals

Hong Kong

Lot 1544

700 HKD

Sold

Great Britain to Hong Kong - Official Parliamentary Mail by Austen Layard, M.P. 21 July 1865, an official letter endorsed by Austen H.

Great Britain to Hong Kong - Official Parliamentary Mail by Austen Layard, M.P. 21 July 1865, an official letter endorsed by Austen H. Layard, Esq., M.P., bearing a red circular "OFFICIAL PAID / LONDON / JY 21/65" handstamp, and addressed to Hongkong. The reverse side cancelled by Hong-Kong c.d.s. dated 19 September 1865. The letter bears no adhesive postage, as it was carried under official franking privilege only granted to members of Parliament and government officials. A red manuscript "1d" charge is noted at upper right, likely a postage mark credited to Hong Kong as an internal accounting. Black manuscript made to the upper left-hand side: Austen Layard Esq. (1817-1894), who is a celebrated British politician, diplomat, and archaeologist, was serving as Member of Parliament and Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the time. He later served as Ambassador to Spain and the Ottoman Empire. This letter reflects the use of UK official diplomatic or parliamentary channels for overseas communication during the mid-19th century British Empire, and its destination-Hong Kong-underscores Britain's strategic colonial presence in East Asia. Rarely seen.1865.7.21 英國國會議員Austen Layard寄香港之公文已付封。封剖開作展示。

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Queen Victoria Cancellations and seals

Lot 1573

8,000 HKD

Sold

1890-1930s a group of 4 Hong Kong OHMS covers. Frankless for those addressing to England and India while two to France and USA f.w. Hong

1890-1930s a group of 4 Hong Kong OHMS covers. Frankless for those addressing to England and India while two to France and USA f.w. Hong Kong and US adhesive. Showcasing Hong Kong cds and "Official Paid" cds.1890至1930年代一組四件香港OHMS封。寄英國及印度者無貼票，寄法國及美國則貼香港及美國票。鈐香港日戳及公文已付日戳。

Hong Kong Queen Victoria Cancellations and seals

Lot 1574

2,400 HKD

Sold

1895 (11 May) OHMS cover from Hong Kong to India, frankless and applied with Hong Kong cds and Webb type X / Proud type PD23 circled "PAID"

1895 (11 May) OHMS cover from Hong Kong to India, frankless and applied with Hong Kong cds and Webb type X / Proud type PD23 circled "PAID" red mark. Transit Calcutta (1 Jun), Arrived Lahore (25 Jun), forwarded to Lahore DLO (25 Jun). Redirected to Bombay DLO (1 Aug). Proud stated that this type of marking was used on official mail for addressee in Hong Kong or other treaty ports in batches of not less than ten of uniform size and weight.1895.5.11 OHMS封自香港寄印度，無貼票，鈐香港日戳及Webb X型 / Proud PD23“PAID”紅色圓戳。6.1經加爾各答。6.25抵Lahore，6.25轉至Lahore死信局。8.1抵孟買死信局。Proud指此戳用於寄香港或其他商埠，內含不少於十件相同重量及尺寸郵件之總包。

Hong Kong

China Pre-philately

Official mail

Hong Kong

China Pre-philately

Hong Kong

Lot 1575

3,800 HKD

Sold

1938 (9 Nov) OHMS cover from Returned Letter Office, HK GPO to HMS Kent, redirected to HMS Westcott, applied with Hong Kong GPO registered

1938 (9 Nov) OHMS cover from Returned Letter Office, HK GPO to HMS Kent, redirected to HMS Westcott, applied with Hong Kong GPO registered cds and registered labe. 70c was charged for registration.1938.11.9 OHMS封由香港總局退信局寄英軍戰艦Kent號，改寄Westcott號。鈐香港總局掛號日戳，貼掛號標籤。因掛號而欠資70仙。

China Pre-philately

Lot 1909

9,500 HKD

Sold

Kuang Hsu Year 21 (1896) Official cover from the Viceroy光緒三十一年（1905）郵驛咨片，飛遞盛京將軍。

Kuang Hsu Year 21 (1896) Official cover from the Viceroy光緒三十一年（1905）郵驛咨片，飛遞盛京將軍。光緒二十一年（1896）吉林將軍致寧古塔副都統公文，鈐吉光緒二十一年（1895）甲午戰爭後期從遼寧戰場發出之公林將軍官印三方。文。統領湖廣愷字炮隊廣東大鵬協鎮吳自錦州西海口發，致南洋大臣兩江總督張之洞。

Official mail

China Imperial Post

Official mail

Lot 1910

1,000 HKD

Sold

1899 Large official cover from Heilungkiang Border Army Headquarter, Tsitsihar to the outlaying officials, applied with official seals. One

1899 Large official cover from Heilungkiang Border Army Headquarter, Tsitsihar to the outlaying officials, applied with official seals. One year later, Russia invaded and occupied Manchuria in Boxer Rebellion.1899年大型公文封，自黑龍江鎮邊軍總理營務處寄四起營官，正背鈐官印。一年後沙俄便於義和團事件中入侵東北三省。

China Imperial Post

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

Cover

China Imperial Post

Lot 1959

12,000 HKD

Live

1911 Moukden (10 Apr) to Théophile Piry, Postmaster General of Imperial Post. Red band cover, f.w. “SERVICE DES POSTES” bilingual h.s.

1911 Moukden (10 Apr) to Théophile Piry, Postmaster General of Imperial Post. Red band cover, f.w. “SERVICE DES POSTES” bilingual h.s. Transit Newchwang (12 Apr). Scarce example of of this h.s. 1911.4.10 奉天寄北京之大清郵政總辦帛黎。紅條封，鈐“郵政公事”中文法文圓戳。4.12經牛莊。少見。

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

Cover

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

Lot 2004

3,000 HKD

Live

1915 (27 Jan) Official cover from the foreign affairs officcial of Heilungkiang to Russian Consulate in Harbin, f.w. Junk 1c in pair + 3c

1915 (27 Jan) Official cover from the foreign affairs officcial of Heilungkiang to Russian Consulate in Harbin, f.w. Junk 1c in pair + 3c in pair, tied by Tsitsihar bilingual cds., along with Wenbaoju registered mark. 1915.1.27 民國外交部特派黑龍江交涉員寄俄國駐哈爾濱領事之公文封，貼帆船1分雙連 + 3分雙連，銷齊齊哈爾腰框英漢日戳，另見“文報掛號”戳。出色。

Cover

Lot 2053

3,000 HKD

Live

1934.6.8 Shuangcheng to Shanghai, official cover affixed with commemorative stamps and marking, rare thus. Transit Shanhaikwan with due

1934.6.8 Shuangcheng to Shanghai, official cover affixed with commemorative stamps and marking, rare thus. Transit Shanhaikwan with due marking and Chinese postage due stamps affixed.1934.3.2 雙城寄上海公文封，少見的貼用紀念郵票和紀念戳，經山海關鈐欠資戳記並加貼欠資郵票。

China Province Sinkiang

Lot 2116

3,000 HKD

Lot retreated

1910s a group of 13 Sinkiang official covers, mostly from Tihwa to Turfan, f.w. Coiling Dragon ovpt. ROC issues. Partly with scarce

1910s a group of 13 Sinkiang official covers, mostly from Tihwa to Turfan, f.w. Coiling Dragon ovpt. ROC issues. Partly with scarce “Sinkiang Tihwa Wenbao” registered marks. A comprehensive lot.1910年代一組13件新疆大型公文封，大多自迪化寄吐魯番，貼民國蟠龍票。部分帶少見之“新疆迪化文報”掛號戳。豐富齊全。

Lot 2117

30,000 HKD

Lot retreated

1880-1930s a group of about 13 Sinkiang large official covers, mostly dated early ROC period and f.w. Coiling Dragon ovpt. ROC issues. More

1880-1930s a group of about 13 Sinkiang large official covers, mostly dated early ROC period and f.w. Coiling Dragon ovpt. ROC issues. More outstanding items include the earliest Yizhan cover during Guangxu years.1880至1930年代一組約13件新疆驛站公文封，大多出自民國早年，貼民國蟠龍票。當中較佳者包含一件最早之光緒年間新疆驛站封。

China Province Sinkiang

China Province Yunnan Pre-philately

Lot 2135

2,000 HKD

Live

1942 (16 Dec) Large official cover from the Office of Sinkiang Governor-Inspectorate, Tihwa to Hutupi, applied with Tihwa cds in violet as

1942 (16 Dec) Large official cover from the Office of Sinkiang Governor-Inspectorate, Tihwa to Hutupi, applied with Tihwa cds in violet as censor mark. Arrived Tutupi (17 Dec).1942.12.16 大型公文封自新疆邊防督辦公署寄呼圖壁，鈐迪化紫色日戳作檢查戳。12.17抵呼圖壁。

China Province Yunnan Pre-philately

Official mail

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

China Province Yunnan Pre-philately

Lot 2144

8,000 HKD

Sold

Hsuan Tung Year 2-3 (1910-1911) a group of 3 Yizhan official covers used in Yunnan.

Official mail

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

Official mail

Lot 2149

800 HKD

Sold

Kuang Hsu (Guangxu) Year 34 (1908) Ministry of Finance postal memo to Ministry of the Army, regarding conveyance of an official mail to the

Kuang Hsu (Guangxu) Year 34 (1908) Ministry of Finance postal memo to Ministry of the Army, regarding conveyance of an official mail to the Szemao Customs in Yunnan. The Customs Post was operative but Chinese government mails still went through Yizhan. 光緒三十四年（1908）度支部為發雲貴總督及思茅關驛遞公文事，咨陸軍部片。

Early Mail Yizhan (Imperial Courier Post)

Lot 2152

3,000 HKD

Sold

Xianfeng Year 9 (1859) Express official cover from Tengyueh to the Yunnan border, applied with red official seal. In 1856, the Panthay

Xianfeng Year 9 (1859) Express official cover from Tengyueh to the Yunnan border, applied with red official seal. In 1856, the Panthay Rebellion broke out. Qing army was gathered to oppress. 咸豐九年（1859）公文快信封，由騰越寄邊防重鎮民光隘，鈐紅色官印。1856年，杜文秀起義爆發。清軍調集至雲南圍剿。