Los 8055
1874: Cover from Mulhouse (Alsace) to Shanghai, China (Peil correspondence) endorsed 'China via Brindisi' at top, franked by 1872 Small Large Shield 1/4 gr. violet, 1/2 gr. orange each crossed by ironed file fold and a fine 2 gr. blue horizontal strip of three tied by MULHAUSEN I. ELS datestamps (May 15) in black. Framed 'P.D.' in red at left and reverse with Brindisi cds (May 18) and HONG-KONG transit cds (June 21) in black. Despite imperfections a fine and scarce three colour first issue franking to China. Cert. Holcombe (1988).
F. Peil was a German merchant in Hong Kong, employed by the German Krupp Steel company in 1866 after Krupp having failed to sell 1.000 cannons to China. F. Peil originally specialized in the import & export of wines and spirits. At the end of 1870 the Chinese Government finally purchased 191 Krupp cannons.
