Lot 40226 – 1898One of the earliest items from Port Arthur, with black “CHIFU/POCHTOV.KONTORA” (T&S type 2) and blue “SHANKHAI/POCHTOVAYA KONTORA” (T&S type 1) cds’s

1898 (May 18) 3k stationery card to Hamburg, uprated with Arms 1k for the overseas rate, tied by “PORT ARTHUR/POCHT.KONT” (Type 1) cds’s, showing alongside black “CHIFU/POCHTOV.KONTORA” (T&S type 2) and blue “SHANKHAI/POCHTOVAYA KONTORA” (T&S type 1) cds’s in transit,Hong Kong and Hamburg ds in addition, despatched about a month after the office in Port Arthur was opened, being one of the earliest known examples, and rare combination with the postmarks in China.

Provenance: Raymond Casey