INAUGURAL AUCTION

5c foreign. 1898. Tientsin (18 Jan) to USA. Front/large piece franked with Empress Dowager 8x 2c/2ca + 5c/5ca small setting + ICP 10c stamps, paying 31c rate, tied by Tientsin pakua killers, with Tientsin dollar dater alongside. In combination with 2x 10s Japanese stamp tied by IJPO Shanghai cds (4 Feb). Note pair of 2c/2ca with wing margin. Probably one Chinese and one Japanese stamp missing. Nevertheless an important piece taking the winter route paying winter rate.