Lot 50324 – 1888 Round the world cover from Nikolajevsk bearing

1888 Round the world cover from Nikolajevsk bearing Russia 1884 Imperial Arms 7 kop. blue tied by faint NIKOLAEVSK (17.8.88) cds sent to HAVANT, GB with arrival (Nov 9) and new franking by Great Britain Jubilee 1887 4d. adhesive, despatched Nov 15 via Canada with Windsor Ontario (Nov 29) and San Francisco Steamship (Dec 8) transit, « US POSTAL AGENCY SHANGHAI » oval arrival (Jan 14, 1889), « SHANGHAI LOCAL POST » in blue, finally readdressed back to Great Britain registered through the German PO in Shanghai with German Empire precursor (Vorläufer Deutsche Post in China Michel V41+V42) adhesives, tied by cds « KAISERLICHE DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI 15/1/89 » with matching registration label alongside, transit Brindisi, Modane & « LONDON REGISTERED (Feb 18, 1889). As to be expected some light wear, nevertheless a unique usage and postmark combination that is certainly the most spectacular existing with German Forerunners used in China.