Sale 78 China and other Asian Countries

China, Customs Mail Matter : 1893 (12 Apr.) envelope to Shanghai (15.4), showing "Wenchow/Customs/Mail Matter" oval h.s. in red, and bearing Small Dragons 1ca. green (3), each cancelled by Wenchow small seal in red, with "Customs/Wenchow" double-ring origin d.s. in red, "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s., and "Shanghai/Local Post" arrival c.d.s. in blue on reverse, with local postman's notation in red crayon. An exceptional usage, the envelope originating in the Customs Postal Department, then passed to the Customs Post and finally delivered by the Shanghai Local Post.
Estimate HK$ 35,000 - 40,000

Provenance: Po Bian Bian.

Although philatelic, this represents unusual handling of the mail by the Customs Postal Department and then the Customs Post, with the Mail Matter handstamp applied to indicate origin and special handling. According to The Revenue Surcharges China 1897, Vol. II, p. 830, there are only two covers recorded from Wenchow despatched by the Customs Postal Department.