Sale #44 - China and Other Asian Countries

China, Small Dragon : 1888 (15 May) envelope (opened out for display) to a passenger on board the S.S. "Batavia" care of the Agent for the Canadian Pacific Mail Steamship Company at Yokohama (30.5, date reversed) bearing on reverse clean-cut perfs. 12½ 1ca. and 5ca., cancelled by Peking seal in blue, the 1ca. additionally tied by superb strike of matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" type 2 double-ring origin d.s. and "Yokohama" arrival c.d.s., "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. alongside, and bearing on front Japan Koban 5s., cancelled by "crossroads" cork type, with "I.J.P.A./Shanghai" c.d.s. (25.5) adjacent, large part of the flap at back torn away just affecting the arrival c.d.s., fine and appealing. Chan 13, 15.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000
RARE MAIL TO JAPAN, AS MOST SMALL DRAGONS/JAPANESE POST OFFICE COMBINATIONS WERE SENT TO THE U.S.A.
The special 6 candarins rate to the United States and Japan through the Japanese Post Office.