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