Los 8072
1860: 2nd Opium War, Covers (2) both with original contents from the same correspondence to a Lieutenant Geoffrey Mairis with the Royal Marines Expeditionary Force in China, each franked by 1858 2 d. blue pl. 8 and 1856 6 d. pale lilac and each tied by 'Clifton / 959' duplexes and endorsed 'via Marseilles'. The earlier cover (May 25) with slight flap repair, showing '1d.' credit marking for Hong Kong in red, the second cover (Aug 9) is addressed to Chusan, with Hong Kong backstamp (Sept 19) in black. A scarce and attractive pair.
Note: Lieutenant Mairis of the Royal Marines, later General, fought in China 1857-1861, including White Cloud Mountain (1858), occupation of Tsin-Hai, Chusan in april 1860, and the storming and capture of the Taku Forts.
