Lot no. 8083

1872: Cover from London to Miss Desgraz, Chinkiang, China endorsed 'via Brindisi' with 1858 2 d. blue pl. 13 (two examples), 1867/80 4 d. vermilion pl. 12 (2, one with barely noticeable perfs. trimmed), 6 d. mauve pl. 8 and 1 s. green pl. 5 for the under 3/4 ounce rate of 2 s. 6 d.; all boldly tied by London E/27 obliterators in black with London despatch cds (Jan 26) alongside. Reverse with HONG KONG transit cds (March 8) in black. A fine and most appealing four colour franking. Opinion Holcombe (1987). Miss Desgraz was at China Inland Mission, Chinkiang. The China Inland Mission is a Protestant Christian mission founded by Hudson Taylor in Britain in 1865. From the beginning it recruited missionaries from the working class as well as single women, which was a new practise for a large mission. Chinkian (Zhenjiang) was the first mission to be opened in 1866 and Hudson Taylor’s headquarters.​ Provenance: John Sussex (Christie's 1987)