David Feldman's 21st Rarities of the World Auction - June 13, 2018

Rarities of the World – 24 – FOREIGN POST OFFICES IN CHINA 40007 CC THE MOST ELUSIVE SET IN ITALIAN AND CHINESE PHILATELY • 1917 Locally overprinted 1906-11 King Victor Emmanuel III issues:  • 2c on 5c green, never hinged, cert. Raybaudi (1985), Sassone €1’500 • 4c on 10c rose, never hinged, cert.Raybaudi (1985), Sassone €2’500 • 6c on 15c grey-black, never hinged, cert. Raybaudi (1985), Sassone €5’500 • 6c on 20c on 15c grey-black, never hinged, cert. Raybaudi(1985), Sassone €18’000 • 8c on 20c orange, never hinged, cert. Diena (1990), Sassone €30’000 • 20c on 50c violet, never hinged, cert. Diena (1990), Sassone €135’000 • 40c on 1L brown and green, cert. Raybaudi (1983), Sassone €625’000 THE COMPLETE SET IN SUPERB NEVER HINGED CONDITION. Catalogue value: €817’500. We know of no other complete example of this very elusive and exotic set of Italian Foreign Post-Office in China set. The 40c being the highest priced single stamp in the whole of Italian Philately. This set was last seen on the market in the 1980s and we may need to wait another 30 years before we see it again Some historical background: Following a vast movement of insurgent Chinese people (so called Boxers) the Anglo-French colonies existing in China were invaded in June and July of 1900. The insurrectionnel movement culminated with such a devastation and massacre provoking a collective intervention by European troops, to restore the lost order. Italy participated with two army battalions that reached Ta-ku province on 29th of August 1900. After fierce fighting, the Chinese troops capitulated in February 1901 and the peace was gained on 7th september 1901 with the so called “Pechino treaty”. Following this agreement, China had to give the concession of some territories to Italy. The Italian troops deployed in China founded a Military Post Office service, using Italian Sovereign stamps (King Victor Emmanuel III). On the initiative of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, the Post Offices in Pechino and Tientsin were established in September 1917. This service was solely reserved to the personnel of the Embassy, Consulate, Military personnel in the Royal Army and Navy; the main purpose was to facilitate the acts and documents for the transfer of prisoners who became Italian originating from Trentino Alto Adige and Venezia Giulia, who were held in Russian-controlled camps in Europe. Both Pechino and Tientsin Post Office were closed in 1922. Start Price: €160’000 China