Ava Auctions 16th Auction - Summer 2026 sale

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China Covers / Incoming Mail

Lot 176

2,000 HKD

Live

1900s a group of 5 incoming postcards from Europe, New Zealand, Celyon to China, showcasing various franking and cancellation. Example from

Lot 177

800 HKD

Live

1897. Mexico (20 May) to Shanghai Customs, f.w. Mexican 10c. Transit Texas (May), San Francisco (May), USPA Shanghai (23 Jun). Arrived

1897. Mexico (20 May) to Shanghai Customs, f.w. Mexican 10c. Transit Texas (May), San Francisco (May), USPA Shanghai (23 Jun). Arrived Shanghai Chinese PO (23 Jun) with dollar cds. Very scarce origin

Lot 178

800 HKD

Live

1897 USA (14 Jun) to Tientsin, f.w. US 5c, tied by Mount Vernon cds. Transit San Francisco (20 Jun), USPA Shanghai (23 Jul), transferred to

1897 USA (14 Jun) to Tientsin, f.w. US 5c, tied by Mount Vernon cds. Transit San Francisco (20 Jun), USPA Shanghai (23 Jul), transferred to Shanghai Chinese PO (23 Jul). Arrived Tientsin (27 Jul) with dollar cds

Lot 179

2,000 HKD

Live

1897 (15 Oct) German Eagle 10pf PSC to Adolphus Diercking, Customs Chungking, redirected to Shanghai, tied by Bromberg cds. Transit Hong

Lot 181

1,000 HKD

Live

Hungary to Imperial Chinese Customs-1882 Cover to E. Farago in Peking One of the Earliest Recorded Hungarian Customs Covers to China

Hungary to Imperial Chinese Customs-1882 Cover to E. Farago in Peking One of the Earliest Recorded Hungarian Customs Covers to China January 1882, Hungary, envelope franked with two 10 krajczár blue stamps (Magyar Kir. Posta issue), each tied by a clear "BAJA/82" circular datestamp. Addressed to E. Farago Esq., Inspectorate General of Customs, Peking, China. Reverse with a well-preserved sequence of transit and arrival markings: TRIEST c.d.s. (20.1.82); NAPOLI PORTO c.d.s. (22.1.82); HONG KONG INDEX B transit (FE 27/82); CUSTOMS SHANGHAI arrival c.d.s. (MAR 4/82); Docketed frontside: "Recd. 10th March, 1882". E. Farago Esq., the addressee, was a senior official in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service, and is referenced multiple times in Sir Robert Hart's memoir "The I.G. in Peking". This cover was sent during Hart's tenure as Inspector General. Hungarian correspondence to China during the 19th century is exceedingly rare. This example stands out as one of the earliest known covers addressed to the Chinese Imperial Customs headquarters in Peking, and offers invaluable insights into early international postal routes via Trieste, Naples, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. A truly noteworthy item of early Sino-Hungarian Customs postal history

Lot 182

500 HKD

Live

Brăila, ROMANIA to Shanghai Chine 4 January 1884, a cover sent from Brăila to Shanghai, Chine, affixed a pair of 25-Bani stamps in light

Brăila, ROMANIA to Shanghai Chine 4 January 1884, a cover sent from Brăila to Shanghai, Chine, affixed a pair of 25-Bani stamps in light blue, cancelled by double-ringed c.d.s. "BRAILA / 4 JAN / 84", adjacent further cancelled with a boxed registration mark "RECOMMANDĂT" from Romania. On the front side, further showed two manuscript mark of "121" and "715", believed to be the postal registration numbers. No arrival c.d.s. but so surely mailed with these registration markings. A rare origin in Europe at that time

Lot 183

500 HKD

Live

CONSTANTNPLE 君士坦丁堡, Turkey to British Legation, Peking, China March and August 1894, two covers sent from CONSTANTINOPLE, Turkey

CONSTANTNPLE 君士坦丁堡, Turkey to British Legation, Peking, China March and August 1894, two covers sent from CONSTANTINOPLE, Turkey to N.R. O'Conor, British Legation, Peking, China. (1) The first cover affixed with a pair of 2% d overprinted 40 PARAS QV stamps, cancelled by despatch c.d.s. "BRITISH POST OFFICE - CONSTANTINOPLE/A/MR 19/1894". On its reverse side, cancelled by a slew of transit and arrival c.d.s. including Alexandriea c.d.s. dated 25.III.94, Egypt transit c.d.s. "SUEZ 26 III 94", marine sorter c.d.s. "SINGAPORE TO HONG-KONG/AP 16". There is another CONSTANTINOPLE c.d.s. on the reverse side, but this one is in Index Code "B" instead of Code "A" which was used to cancel the two stamps. Code Index "B" here refers to the date despatched out to Peking China. (2) The second cover is affixed with one single 2% d overprinted 40 PARAS QV stamp, cancelled by despatch c.d.s. "BRITISH POST OFFICE-CONSTANTINOPLE/A/AU 11/1894". On its reverse side, cancelled by three transit and arrival c.d.s. including Alexandria c.d.s. dated 2.VIII.94, Egypt transit c.d.s., marine sorter c.d.s. "SINGAPORE TO HONG-KONG/A SP 8". O'Conor received his first ministerial appointment was in Peking 1885 as the Secretary, and later Chargé d'affaires until mid-1886, at the British Legation in Peking, China

Lot 184

300 HKD

Live

FIRENZE, ITALY to Shanghai China in use of combination stamps 2 November 1900, a picture post card sent from FIRENZE, Italy to Nanyang

FIRENZE, ITALY to Shanghai China in use of combination stamps 2 November 1900, a picture post card sent from FIRENZE, Italy to Nanyang College in Shanghai China, affixed with 10-cents Italian adhesive in red cancelled by boxed circle d.s. FIRENZE dated 2 11 00". Adjacent to the Italian stamp, affixed a Chinese C.I.P. 1c cancelled by a pakua in Shanghai, together with other cancellations of "SHANGHAI LOCAL POST F / DE 8/00", another FIRENZE boxed date stamp, and HK transit c.d.s. dated 3 December 1900

Lot 185

300 HKD

Live

England to Newchwang, China 23 February 1901, a picture postcard addressed to I.M. Customs, Newchwang, China, franked with one-penny

England to Newchwang, China 23 February 1901, a picture postcard addressed to I.M. Customs, Newchwang, China, franked with one-penny postage stamp, cancelled by barred numeral "28B", plus "STREATHAM S.W. / FE 23/01" c.d.s. in England, further cancelled by the arrival China bilingual c.d.s. "NEWCHWANG 9 APR / 01". On the reverse side, Shanghai B.P.O entry c.d.s. "SHANGHAI B.Ρ.Ο. / ΑΡ 3 / 01"

Lot 186

1,000 HKD

Live

French Post Office in Constantinople (Levant) to Tsingtau, China Registered Mail via Suez and Hong Kong 30 May 1904, registered cover sent

French Post Office in Constantinople (Levant) to Tsingtau, China Registered Mail via Suez and Hong Kong 30 May 1904, registered cover sent from the French Post Office in Constantinople (Levant). addressed to Monsieur Bühler, Tsingtau (Kiautschou), China. Franked with a French Levant overprinted stamp, 50c brown with "2 PIASTRES" surcharge, cancelled by the French P.D. in "CONSTANTINOPLE R. DE PERA" double-circle datestamp (30 MAI 04), and boxed "R" registration handstamp at upper left. The front is further endorsed "Recommande" in manuscript with "R" handstamp, indicating registered service. This is a rare origin from Ottoman Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) using French Levant postal issues. Reverse side bears an exceptional array of transit and arrival markings: SUEZ, Egypt (7 VI 04); ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (7 VI 04); HONG KONG Registered/JU 30/04; TSINGTAU/KIAUTSCHOU/8.7.04 arrival (German P.O.); Chinese lunar c.d.s. in KiangSu 「江蘇上海甲辰五月廿一日」;Sender's cachet on reverse: A. Mouradyan, 14 Rue Lalé, Péra, Constantinople (Turquie). This item is a fine and scarce example of French Levant mail from Constantinople, routed via the Suez Canal and British Hong Kong, destined for the German-leased territory of Kiautschou (Tsingtau), combining rare origin, complex routing, and multinational postal systems. Particularly notable as early registered mail linking the Ottoman Empire to German colonial in China

Lot 187

500 HKD

Live

SPEZIA, Italy to Shanghai, redirected to Tangku, China 17 October 1908, Italy postal stationery card with 10-cents indicium, addressed to

SPEZIA, Italy to Shanghai, redirected to Tangku, China 17 October 1908, Italy postal stationery card with 10-cents indicium, addressed to Imperiali Poste Cinesi, Shanghai, Cina, cancelled by two SPEZIA datestamp, adjacent to it cancelled by German P.O. in Shanghai "SCHANGHAI a DEUTSCHE POST/22/11 05", after entering into China through German P.O. in Shanghai, transferred to Shanghai Local Post (NOV 23/05), and then Chinese P.O. The address was crossed out and replaced by Tangku, and hence the card directed to the Northern part in China. A very fine quality Italian postal stationery card

Lot 188

300 HKD

Live

Belgium to China – 1910 Redirected Postcard from Huy (Nord) to Chin-Wan-Tao 秦皇島 6 January 1910, a picture postcard titled "Vue

Belgium to China – 1910 Redirected Postcard from Huy (Nord) to Chin-Wan-Tao 秦皇島 6 January 1910, a picture postcard titled "Vue prise des hauteurs des Forges, Huy" (View from the heights of Forges, Huy, Belge), franked with a 5c green King Leopold II stamp of Belgium, cancelled by a "HUY (NORD)" circular date stamp dated 6 April 1910. Originally sent from HUY, Belgium to Chun Liang-Cheng?, China, and addressed to Mr. Wathlet, c/o Capoul Gérant Tanneau. It was redirected to Chin-Wan-Tao (now called Qinhuangdao 秦皇島) after transit through multiple postal stations. Transit and arrival markings include: BRUXELLES DÉPART (15 MARS 1910); SHANGHAI B.P.O. (APR 18, 1910); TANGKU (23 APR 10); a bilingual SHANGHAI c.d.s. (18 April 26 - error year slug). This piece showcases Belgian-Chinese international mail redirection, multiple transit handstamps, and a rarely seen HUY (NORD) postmark

Lot 190

1,200 HKD

Live

Algeria, North Africa to Shanghai via French Packet 18 January, 1898 Algiers, Algeria Registered Cover via French Packet, addressed to Mr.

Algeria, North Africa to Shanghai via French Packet 18 January, 1898 Algiers, Algeria Registered Cover via French Packet, addressed to Mr. P.L. Barbier at the Imperial Maritime Customs in Shanghai, China. On the front side, franked with a combination of five French stamps totaling 50 centimes, including the 25c black on rose, a pair of 5c green, a 15c blue, all stamps are cancelled by the double-circle postmark "ALGER/18 JANV/98". A large blue "R" handstamp and a octagonal boxed "R" in black, accompanied by the manuscript registry number "401". The reverse bears a "MARSEILLES-BU-DU-RHONE" French paquebot transit mark dated 19 January 1898 and a bold "SHANGHAI / 25 FEB/98" large dollar arrival postmark in China. Carried by French packet via Marseille and the Suez Canal, this cover represents a complete and well-preserved example of late 19th-century intercontinental registered mail from French North Africa to the Far East. Mail from Algeria to China is uncommon and even more to a registered mail

Lot 192

800 HKD

Live

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE to Shanghai, China 14 June 1898, a Cape of Good Hope postal stationery envelope addressed to Diercking Esq. c/o Customs

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE to Shanghai, China 14 June 1898, a Cape of Good Hope postal stationery envelope addressed to Diercking Esq. c/o Customs House, Shanghai, China, cancelled the two-pence indicium by "EAST LONDON /JU 14/98" boxed obliterator, On the reverse side, cancelled by transit mark: "DURBAN 16 JU 98”, “COLOMBO / MY 11/98", HK transit c.d.s. "HONG-KONG JY 26/98", China entry port c.d.s. "SHANGHAI / JY 29/98" from the B.P.O. in Shanghai, then taken to "SHANGHAI LOCAL POST / JY 29 / 98", arrival Chinese P.O. with dollar chop "SHANGHAI / 29 JUL 98"

Lot 194

500 HKD

Live

NATAL to Shanghai, China (Natal was a British colony located on the southeastern coast of Africa, now part of KwaZulu-Natal Province in

NATAL to Shanghai, China (Natal was a British colony located on the southeastern coast of Africa, now part of KwaZulu-Natal Province in modern-day South Africa) 13 February 1907, picture post card sent from NATAL addressed to St Josephs Institute, Shanghai China, franked with a pair of NATAL postage 1d stamps in red, cancelled by "NEUWEIER/WARTBURG/NATAL/FE 13/07", transit via "TUTICORIN" in India dated 14 March, further cancelled by the entry to China c.d.s. "SHANGHAI B.P.O. / MR 31". A truly rare place of origin in early 1900s

Lot 195

1,000 HKD

Live

South Africa to Kongmoon, China(廣東江門)-Registered Cover via Mozambique and Hong Kong (1912) 27 November 1912, remarkable registered

South Africa to Kongmoon, China(廣東江門)-Registered Cover via Mozambique and Hong Kong (1912) 27 November 1912, remarkable registered cover sent from Pretoria, Transvaal/South Africa to Mr. E. Volekmann, c/o Customs House, Kongmoon (now Jiangmen), West River, Kwangtung Province, South China. The envelope bears a rare multi-country postal routing, with evidence of transit via Lourenço Marques (Mozambique) and Hong Kong, before reaching interior China. Envelope Front: franked with three different types of South African colony stamps, including a Natal overprint "HALF" on 1d and a Transvaal 1d definitive. Registered handstamp and "Pretoria" cds dated 27 OCT 12. Destination noted as "Kongmoon West River", with routing through British Hong Kong. Envelope Back: a striking block of 10 x ½d Transvaal green KEVII stamps, tied by multiple Pretoria registration handstamps, and with an important transit "Lourenço Marques Registered/28 NOV 12 (Portuguese Mozambique)"; Hong Kong/13 JA 13 arrival cds., Chinese handstamp “福”(possibly a handling postal officer mark in China). This cover refers to a rare destination to interior South China (Kongmoon, now Jiangmen), a river port not commonly seen on early 20th century covers. More importantly, the unusual routing via Mozambique - Portuguese East Africa, showcasing complex logistics of cross-continental registered mail at the time

Lot 196

1,000 HKD

Live

Persia to China - Redirected Registered Cover from Hamadan to Shanghai, Then Forwarded to Hong Kong (1919) 10 October 1919, A rare

Persia to China - Redirected Registered Cover from Hamadan to Shanghai, Then Forwarded to Hong Kong (1919) 10 October 1919, A rare registered cover, endorsed American Persian Relief Commission, sent from Hamadan, Persia, addressed initially to Mr. George Daniel, YMCA, Shanghai, and redirected to Hong Kong. Front Side: (1) endorsed manuscript sender: from Saul Peras, A.P.R. Com., Hamadan, Persia, (2) black Persian boxed registration mark: "R/HAMADAN/N 1359", (3) originally addressed to 79 Rue du Consulat, Shanghai, then redirected to Hong Kong, with various forwarding notations and trilingual markings ("China" in French, English, and Chinese), (4) blue Persian annotation and script in Arabic handwriting Reverse Side: (1) franked with Persian provisional handstamped issues of 1919: 1x 6 chahis violet, 2x 3 chahis green (provisional overprints "Provisoire 1919"); (2) postmarked with Persian cancels, Hamadan origin dated (10 X 1919); (3) registered cachets of "REGISTERED G.P.O. HONG-KONG/15 DE 19", Shanghai B.P.O. registration oval cancellation "REGISTERED SHANGHAI B.P.O. / DE 8 19", (4) Shanghai Chinese P.O. c.d.s. Registered mail from interior Persia was relatively scarce, especially addressed to China, and this example demonstrates the use of Persian provisional issues during a transitionary postal phase; multiple postal agencies (Persian, Chinese, British) handled the registered mail item, evidenced by layered postmarks and redirection

Lot 197

1,000 HKD

Live

Republic of Georgia 格魯吉亞to Tientsin, China via Poti - Registered 1923 13 July 1923, a remarkable early Soviet-era registered cover

Republic of Georgia 格魯吉亞to Tientsin, China via Poti - Registered 1923 13 July 1923, a remarkable early Soviet-era registered cover posted from the rural Georgian locality of Kumari, as evidenced by the clear Cyrillic postmark: "КУМАРИ ТИФЛ. ОКР. ПОчт. КОНТ. / 13.7.23" (Kumari, Tiflis District Postal Control, 13 July 1923) addressed to Mrs. J. J. Gaull, Imperial Hotel, Tientsin, China, The cover bears a Poti registration label (No. 536), showing it was routed through the Black Sea port city of Poti, a regional hub under the Tiflis postal district, franked with a combination of 1922-23 overprinted Soviet Georgia high-denomination stamps, including 3 x 3000 maneti (brown), 4 x 2000 maneti (dark blue) tied by Kumari datestamps; also cancelled with a bold bilingual arrival mark: "TIEN TSIN / 11 AUG 23". This is a rare Soviet Transcaucasia to Tientsin from the early Georgian SSR under Soviet administration