Los-Nr. 8080

1868: Cover at seven times rate (under 3 1/2 ounces) mailed from London to Shanghai, China endorsed 'via Southampton, April 19th 1860, Postage 7/-' franked by 1867 2 s. blue and 5 s. rose, pl. 1 tied by bold London '56' obliterators in black. Reverse with London datestamp in blue (April 17) and British P.O. SHANGHAE cds of receipt (June 8) in black. Some repairs to envelope at edges but a most extraordinary cover with just 22 known usages of the 1867 5 shilling value on letter of which just 2 covers are addressed to China. Certs. Richter (1989), K. Louis (2016). Note: The addressee's of the 2 covers of lots 8079 and 8080, Bower, Hanbury & Co., were currency and cotton traders in Shanghai. Thomas Hanbury (1832-1907) was director of the Woosung Railway, the first Railway line to be built in China. He amassed great wealth and was said to be the largest property owner in Shanghai.