Auction 321 - 332 Europe & Overseas Asia / Africa, Europe A –Z, Collections & Accumulations - Day 4

1878: Large Dragon 1 c. green, a sheet marginal example in a deep shade (cliche 21), in combination with 5 c. orange-yellow in a sheet marginal horizontal strip of three (cliches 8-9-10) also in a deep rich shade tied on 1879 double rate cover to Ferrybridge, Yorkshire by "Tientsin" seal handstamp in black and the strip also tied by "CUSTOMS / SHANGHAI" cds (Nov 28) in black. Obverse with France Type Sage 35 c. black on yellow for single rate (the Chinese ½ ounce equalled 14.2 grams, the French 15) with "SHANG-HAI / CHINE" cds adjacent (Nov 28) and Modane transit in red. Reverse with Normanton arrival cds (12 Jan 1880). Illustrated in "Comprehensive Illustration of Covers of Chinese Large Dragons" by James B. Whang on pages 113-114. Slight overall soiling due to journey, but a magnificent and extremely attractive first issue combination cover.rnProvenance: Collections M.D. Chow; Allen Gokson; J.R. Hughes; James B. Whang, Christies Swire, Hong Kong, 2 Nov 1994, lot 1795.