Lot no. 8114

1866 : 1861/63, 30¢ orange and 5¢ brown, both used on 1861 10¢ yellow green on buff entire, cancelled with light grid cancels; addressed to Shanghai China; Searsmont ME town marking at upper left; red “Boston Br. Pkt. 40” exchange and London transit marks at right; blue Shanghai receiving back stamp; entire with light staining from moisture and reduced at left; Very Fine and attractive three color franking and an uncommon usage with the 10¢ entire; franking pays the 45¢ rate for ½ oz sent by British Mail via Southampton. 2016 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott 71,76,U40). The addressee, Olyphant & Co., was a merchant trading house in 19th-century China. From its initial involvement in the ‚Old China Trade‘ , the firm expanded into other countries including Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. In the beginnings the company continued to grow  in competition with other traders including Augustine Heard & Co., Russell & Co. and Wetmore & Co. Nevertheless Olyphant & Co. was a vociferous opponent of the opium trade, and the firm was one of the only large foreign trading firms not to engage in opium smuggling. The firm’s anti-opium stance led to its offices becoming known as „Zion’s corner“. Olyphant & Co. business dealings in Peru caused the company to collapse in 1878.