Lot no. 8088

1895: Cover from Halifax to Peking, China franked by 1887 Jubilee 2 1/2d. purple on blue tied by 'Halifax / 330' duplex in black (Jan 10). Reverse with SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Feb 6) in black, faint CUSTOMS / SHANGHAI cds in blue and 'I G OF CUSTOMS / PEKING' arrival datestamp (March 5) in blue; obverse struck with framed 'To Pay.' handstamp in red for inland transit. A superb and rare cover. The addressee, Dr. Eliot Curden, was appointed by the London Missionary Society as medical missionary to Bejing in 1894. The London Missionary Society was formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and sent missionaries all over the world, notably to India, China, Australia, madagascar and Africa.