Sale #44 - China and Other Asian Countries

China, 1873 envelope (opened out for display) from Peking (?) to Paris (7.7) via Hong Kong (22.5), showing on reverse "Custom House/Shanghai/Paid/17 May/1873" oval d.s. in red, and bearing on front Hong Kong 2c. brown and 8c. orange pair, cancelled by "S1" barred obliterator in blue, matching "Shanghae/A" c.d.s. of "My 17 73" (on reverse), showing "P.D" unframed h.s. and "Poss. Ang. V. Brind./a Mod." c.d.s. (7.7), both in red, adjacent, stamps have faults due to application just over the edge of the envelope and there is a small cover tear at foot crossing part of the Customs dater. A fine example of this important Customs marking.
Estimate HK$ 120,000 - 150,000
References: Jeffrey S. Schneider, "A Census of the Customs Post Markings in the Pre-Philatelic Period," Journal of China Philately, Vol. 3 (2008), p. 249. Year date mistakenly listed as 1875.
LESS THAN TWENTY COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THE CUSTOM HOUSE PAID MARKING.
From the famous Vapereau/Garnier correspondence which originated from Peking.
This is the first postal marking of the Chinese Customs, probably indicating payment for foreign postage of non-subscriber or non-closed mail matter from Peking.