Sale #46 - Northeastern Provinces of China Cancellations and Hung Hsien Empire

China, 1896 (29 Jan.) envelope to Shanhaikwan via Hong Kong (29.2), British Post Office in Shanghai (4.3), Newchwang (2.4), Shanghai (7.4) and Tientsin (11.4) Customs, bearing Great Britain ½d. and 1d. (2), cancelled by "London" squared circle d.s., showing "Inconnu/Not known" framed h.s. in violet (on reverse) and "Address Unknown" h.s. in red, matching "Returned to Sender" and "Returned" h.s., returned via Tientsin (14.4) and Shanghai (17.4) Customs, and British Post Office in Shanghai (30.5), with the various transit d.s. on reverse including excellent strike of "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. of "Apl 2 96", the envelope opened out for exhibition purposes. A very fine and remarkable example of non-deliverable mail depicting the full routing in both directions.
Estimate HK$ 30,000 - 40,000