Lot 30376 – 1895, cover to Germany with “CUSTOMS SHANGHAI MAR 8 1895” cds

1895 (Mar 8) Cover to Germany franked with France “CHINE” 25c Sage tied by Shanghai cds sent to Hannover and redirected to Erfurt with blue one line “NACHZUSENDEN NACH” and ms ” Erfurt”, reverse with embossed flap “INSPECTORATE GENERAL OF CUSTOMS STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT” and the rare departure cds “CUSTOMS SHANGHAI MAR 8 1895” normally only found as departure markings on inland mail or as transit marking on foreign mail as it is most unusual to find foreign mail from Shanghai that was not directly posted at the foreign post offices, very few such CUSTOMS SHANGHAI covers are known, and thought to be unique to Germany.