Los-Nr. 8038

1878: Double rate cover from Kolding to Hong Kong, addressed to a First Mate on a German ship and sent care of the German Consul in Hong Kong, franked by 1875/78 pair of 4 öre blackish blue & dark cobalt blue (11th printing, Facit 29f) and nine examples of the 8 öre brownish grey & carmine rose (11th printing, Facit 31b) including a strip of three and a strip of four, all tied by '36' numeral obliterators with KOLDING datestamp alongside (April 27). Reverse with 'Napoli' transit and rare octagonal 'ITALIE / PAQ. FR. No. 1' datestamp (Salles fig. 1936) in black and carried on Paquebot 'Yangtse' with Hong Kong arrival cds (June 8). The cover sensibly opened for Exhibit display. An extremely rare franking (unique to this destination) and a major rarity of the bicoloured issue. Cert. Moller (2016).