Sale #44 - China and Other Asian Countries

China, 1883 (17 Feb.) envelope to King's Lynn, England (24.4) via Hong Kong (17.3), showing "Newchwang Customs/Mail Matter" large double elliptical h.s. (type I) with pointed ends, matching "Customs/Newchwang", "Customs/Tientsin" (6.3) and "Customs/Shanghai" (11.3) double-ring d.s. on reverse, and bearing on front Hong Kong 10c. mauve, cancelled by "S1" barred obliterator, with "Shanghae/A" c.d.s. (14.3) adjacent, the envelope has central horizontal filing crease and two large diagonal opening tears at top corners, one of which has cracked the Hong Kong adhesive. Fine to very fine strike of this unique Customs Mail Matter handstamp and a major postal history item.
Estimate HK$ 400,000 - 500,000
References: Kong Shiu-Ping, "Discovery of the Newchwang Customs Mail Matter Type I Handstamp", Chinese Taipei Philatelic Magazine, No. 86 (10 December 2009), pp. 27-28.
Jeffrey S. Schneider, "A Survey of Customs Mail Matter Handstamps Used During the Large Dragon Period, 1883-1887", Asian Philatelist (R.P.S.L.: Suzhou, 2011), p. 36.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS FIRST TYPE CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER MARKING FOR NEWCHWANG ON COVER.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST USAGES OF THE CUSTOMS MAIL MATTER HANDSTAMP FOR ALL OF CHINA.
Hitherto, the existence of this handstamp was proven by a cut-out on fragment in the Baron von Tanner collection (Sir David Roseway, Robson Lowe, 13.11.64, lot 595; Paul Hock, Robson Lowe, 19.10.83, lot 2; The Revenue Surcharges China 1897, Vol. II, p. 880).