364 / März 2017

1826: Anglo-Burmese War, entire letter written from Wells, Somerset (Jan 1) to a Lieutenant in the 1st European Madras Regiment care of Forwarding Agent's Arbuthnot & Co., struck with FROME / 115 mileage marking in black and front with London tombstone 'Paid' datestamp (Jan 26) alongside POST PAID SHIP LR. / LONDON in red (Jan 28). Reverse with oval MADRAS / GPO / SHIP LETTER datestamp (Hammond Giles fig. SD12) in black (June 27), oval MADRAS datestamp (June 29) in black (Hammond Giles fig. MX4) and forwarded on to Rangoon, Burma. Letter returned back to Madras with further strike of MADRAS / GPO / SHIP LETTER datestamp in black (Oct 21) and re-directed again to Masulipatam. A fine and rare entire, mail to Burma at this period is uncommon.

1845 (Aug 18): Entire letter from Brighton addressed to R.W.H Leycester, care of Barings in Madras to Moulmein, Burma; endorsed at top 'Per Overland Mail via Southampton' and further endorsed 'pr. Justina', struck on reverse with framed FORWARDED BY / GRINDLAY & Co. / 16 CORNHILL in black. On arrival in Madras forwarded on with framed MADRAS / SHIP LETTER / POST PAID in red (Oct 6) on reverse (Hammond Giles fig. SD16). R.W.H. Leycester was appointed to be deputy paymaster Tenasserim provinces on May 12, 1840.  

1853: Cover to an Ensign in the 10th Bengal Infantry in Rangoon, Burma via Calcutta endorsed 'via Southampton' franked by rare usage of the 1848/54 Embossed 1 s. green, clear to large margins all round, paying the under 1/2 ounce rate, tied by ´511´ obliterator with corresponding MARKET HARBOROUGH cds (March 1) on reverse. London transit cds in red and circular 'Calcutta / Ship Letter' datestamp in red alongside. A fine cover to a scarce destination at this date. 

1864: Cover from Bedford addressed to a Mr. John Johnson Pugh on board the Ship 'King of the Seas' at Rangoon, Burma; additionally annotated 'if not there to be forwarded to Akyab without delay', franked by 1856 6 d. lilac tied by 'Bedford / 61' duplex (April 19). The addressee not found at either destination, with two manuscript notations 'Not arrived' on front. The cover struck on reverse with framed DEAD LETTER OFFICE / BENGAL in blue (Feb 8, 1865). An unusual cover.

1853/71: Covers (5) all to Burma, with 1853 stampless cover a Surgeon with the Madras Artillery, 'Field Force, Prome' prepaid 1 s. from Aberdeen and readdressed to Madras, 1854 cover with cut round 1847/54 Embossed 1 s. green to Akyab, 1857 cover at 9d. rate from London with 1855/57 1 d. red and 2 d. blue and 1856 6 d. lilac sent via Calcutta to Rangoon with arrival in red; 1869 cover with 1858 1 d. red and 4 d. vermilion (2) from Liverpool to Rangoon; and an 1871 cover at 9d. rate with 3 d. rose pl. 6 and 6 d. mauve pl. 9 used from Magherafelt (Northern Ireland), readdressed from Madras to Rangoon with India 1 a. brown. Faults but a scarce group.

1858: Prepaid cover struck on despatch with 'Philadelphia / Paid' cds in red (May 25), addressed to a member of the 15th Madras Native Infantry at Thayetmyo, Burma; endorsed 'via London, Marseilles & Calcutta', with red PAID / 30' and struck with circular 'Etats Unis Serv. Br. A. C, / J' datestamp on front (June 7) and framed 'P.D.' in black. Reverse with Paris transit cds (June 8) and Calcutta 'CAL / G.P.O.' datestamp (July 13) in black. Sympathetically restored at top, a very rare destination for US mail of this period.

1862: Empire 10 c. bistre, 20 c. blue and 40 c. orange used on 1864 cover endorsed 'via Suez' to a hydrographic engineer in Saigon, Indo China, each tied by ´282´gros chiffres with ´Bagnèrés-de-Luchon´ despatch cds alongside (June 24) and framed ´PD´ in red. Carried by British ships at 70 centimes rate with 'Cochin Chine / Saigon' arrival cds (Aug 16) on reverse. A charming and scarce cover.

1862: Cover at double rate to Saigon, Indo-China endorsed 'voie de Suez' franked by 1853 80 c. carmine in a horizontal pair cancelled by 2878 petit chiffres with corresponding 'Sens-S-Yonne' despatch cds (May 12) at left and framed 'P.P.' in red. Reverse with Marseille transit cds. The front panel with two removed stains but an attractive cover to a scarce destination.

1863: Covers (2), both from Marseille to Saigon, Indo China, with January 1863 cover at 50 c. rate with mixed issue franking of 1853 5 c. green (2) and 1862 40 c. orange tied by 2240 gros chiffres endorsed 'Par Labourdonnais'; and June 1863 cover endorsed 'via Suez' franked by single 1853 80 c. carmine similarly tied. Faults and one restored along folds but an attractive pair.

1867: Second page of prepaid double rate entire letter endorsed 'Affranchie' and 'via Marseille' at top, struck on despatch with "HAMBURG F." cds in red (Sept 16) with 'PD' below in red. Erquelines French entry marking (Sept 18) also in red on front and reverse with Marseille cds (Sept 19) and COCHINCHINE / SAIGON arrival datestamp (Oct 25) in black. A scarce destination at this date.

1896: 1889, postcard 10 c. with additional franking 25 c., used as registered postcard from Barcelona (October 24) to Bangkok with arrival mark on front; a scarce item.

1857, 10¢ Green type II, four singles, each with criss-cross grid cancel, on 1859 cover addressed to Mrs. Dr. Samuel House, Bangkok, Siam (wife of the physician of King Mongkut) ; manuscript “Overland Via Southampton & Singapore” at upper left; red “New Haven Con. Mar 8 1859” origin marking; red crayon “28” credit and red London transit marking; the stamps have been removed, cleaned and replaced on this cover of origin and a small piece out of the backflap,  otherwise Very Fine appearing; an extremely scarce usage to Siam in this time period being one of only a few covers sent this early; stamps overpay the 33¢ rate for a ½ oz letter via Southampton; 2016 Philatelic Foundation certificate which notes “… a genuine usage, the stamps, lifted, cleaned and placed back.” (Scott 32). Dr. Samuel R. House was an early Missionary of the Presbyterian Church who became the first in Siam’s medical practise to use an anesthetic on a patient.    

1883: 2 kr. brown postal stationery card used to the "Handelshaus Dallmann & Co.", Singapore up-rated with 1876 2 kr. yellow (three examples) tied by 'Graz' datestamps (April 29) in black and by scarce PENANG AND SINGAPORE / PAID datestamp (May 31). On arrival the card returned to sender in Graz franked by Straits Settlements 1882 2 c. brown tied by company cachet and circular SINGAPORE P.O. handstamp in black. A delightful and rare usage from the Mayerle correspondence. The Austrian merchant Dallmann & Co. in Singapore was managed by two Swiss. In 1914 the company was merged with Diethelm & Co. Later, Wilhelm Heinrich Diethelm, who emigrated already in 1871 from the Canton of Thurgau at the age of 23 to act as a general agent for a Dutch Trading House in Singapore, was one of the pioneers who founded the Swiss Trading company giant D.K.S.H!

1860 & 1862: Covers (2) from Brest or Paris to Singapore, earlier cover franked by 1853 20 c. blue (2) mailed from Brest to Captain Kerjegu commander of the 'Laplace' steamer and endorsed 'Station francaise de L'indo Chine' at lower left; the 1862 cover franked by 1853 20 c. blue (four examples) all tied by lozenge of petit points from Paris (Feb 11) with large 'P.D.' in red, addressed to the Paymaster of the French Army in Singapore. The latter with addressee's erased name re-written otherwise a fresh and fine pair to a scarce destination at this date.

1860: Stampless cover to Singapore endorsed 'per Overland Mail via Triest' at top, struck on despatch with framed GRABOW-STETTIN datestamp (June 10) in black, prepaid '16 1/2' sgr. in manuscript and weiter franco 'f 13 1/2' in blue manuscript adjacent. British P.O. ALEXANDRIA cds on front (July 2) in red (with manuscript '1/-' in red crayon) and reverse with 'Triest' transit cds (June 20) in black. An unusual destination.  

1839: Printed Prices Current and letter (Jan 25) from London to Guthrie & Co. in Singapore, prepaid 5/8d. in manuscript with London / F.B.O. cds of despatch in black, docketing at top right '293 /G.W.W' (Wheatley) and struck with fine CARE OF MR. WAGHORN / ALEXANDRIA in black (Sidebottom type 4b). Obverse with oval 'P-D' in red and Augustin Heard, Bombay address erased and the entire, with minor acid ink faults, forwarded on to Calcutta. Reverse with circular 'Forwarded by / Boyd & Co. / Calcutta / No. 817' Agent´s cachet in black. Docketing of receipt in Singapore (May 31) inside. A splendid and very rare entire, especially so to this destination with just 2 covers recorded by Sidebottom with Singapore as the destination. Guthrie & Co. was founded in Singapore in 1821 by Alexander Guthrie, as the first British trading company in South East Asia. Guthrie introduced rubber and oil palm in Malaysia in 1896 and 1924 respectively. Alexander Guthrie was born in Angus, Scotland, in 1796. He went to Singapore in 1821 to set up a trading branch of Thomas Talbot Harrington & Co.. Guthrie parted company with Harrington in 1823, and his company was renamed Guthrie & Company in 1833. He retired in 1847, handing the firm over to his nephew James Guthrie.​ The business was trading in British produced goods (woollens and cotton products for the Asian market and supplying Spices, tin, sugar and Opium for the British market). In 1830 Guthrie became the agent for Coutts Bank in Singapore.  

1839: Printed Prices Current and letter (April 25) from London to Guthrie & Co. in Singapore, endorsed 'Overland via Marseilles' with London cds of despatch in black, and struck three times with 'CARE OF MESSRS. WAGHORN & Co. / LONDON. ALEXANDRIA.' handstamp in black (Sidebottom type 7). Obverse with oval 'P-D' in red and manuscript 2/8 1/2d. prepaid. Restored under minor acid ink faults at lower left, clearly docketed internally as received on August 5 in Singapore. An extremely rare entire with very few recorded covers (Sidebotoom recorded 8 examples) bearing this rare handstamp with just 2 covers recorded by us with this destination. Provenance: 'Glassco' (Robson Lowe 1969)  

1846 (March 2): Entire letter from London to a Captain in the 27th Regimnent of the Madras Native Infantry in Madras endorsed 'via Southampton', re-addressed to Singapore; with London despatch in red, front with 'BOMBAY / AP 9 1846 / STR: POSTAGE / INLD. DO' handstamp in black. Re-addressed from Madras with fine OUT STATION / SHIP LETTER oval in black (Hammond Giles fig. SD11) on reverse (April 17) and framed 'SINGAPORE / SHIP LETTER / Bearing' of arrival. A fine and scarce entire.

1858: Cover to Belidah, Sarawak, Borneo endorsed 'via Southampton' franked by 1856 6 d. lilac tied by '60' obliterator with corresponding 'Bridge of Earn' datestamp on reverse (Aug 27) and red  London transit cds. The thin paper cover sensibly repaired but a remarkable survivor to one of the rarest of all Surface Printed destinations. Signed Goebel.

1702: Entire letter from Amsterdam, clearly dated internally September 20, 1702, addressed to ´Heeren Weesmesteren' of the Colonial administration in Malacca. Fresh and very fine with large part red wax seal on reverse.  An exceptional early entire in very fine quality.

1870: Entire letter at single rate from Zurich to Singapore endorsed 'Par Mail Steamer via Marseille' franked by single 1862 1 fr. gold tied by Zurich cds (Oct 6) in black. Framed 'PD' in black above and reverse with Geneva transit, Marseille cds (Oct 8) and SINGAPORE arrival datestamp (Nov 9) in black. A fine single franking and a very scarce entire. Signed Liniger, Kimmel BPP. Cert. Hermann (2016).

1871: Cover from Trogen to Singapore, endorsed 'Via Brindisi per Overland Mail' franked by 1863 20 c. orange, 1867 25 c. green and 50 c. lilac all neatly tied by Trogen datestamps (Dec 11) with unframed 'PD' in black above (overpaid for the Brindisi route by 10 rappen). Reverse with St. Gallen, Chur, Milano Staz. and Brindisi cds's with SINGAPORE arrival cds (Jan 18, 1872). A fine cover with an attractive three colour franking. Signed Moser. Cert. Hermann (2016).

1753 (Sept 1): Entire letter written in French from CANTON addressed to a Mr. Bonnaine on the ship 'La Ville d'Aix' in WAMPOW (Whampoa), without postal markings but with Chinese characters at left on reverse, the letter offering help with negotiating the river up to Canton and signed and clearly dated "à Canton ce 1. 7bre, 1753" at base. Exceptionally and very rare early internal Chinese entire; at tha time foreignors were only allowed to stay in Canton. Signed Pothion. 

1753 (Nov 17): Entire letter written in French from CANTON to Port Louise, Brittany, France with content mentioning the opportunity of sending a letter "de 'occasion d'un vaisseau anglais", and further stating that the letter should arrive in France in the following July, struck on front with fine D'ANGLETERRE straight line handstamp in black and rated '17' sols in manuscript to pay. One of the earliest letters known from China - a great rarity !

1872: Extraordinary mixed issue cover from Tebessa, Algeria to the French Ambassador's attaché in Hong Kong, franked by 1863/70 laureated 80 c. carmine, 1871 5 c. green on blued (2), 1871/73 Cérès 15 c. bistre brown (2) and 25 c. blue (3) for 1 franc 95 c. of the 2 franc required rate. Struck with deleted 'P.P.' in red and framed 'Affranchisement / Insuffisant' and thereafter all stamps cancelled by gros chiffres '5071' with TEBESSA / ALGÉRIE cds below (June 21), the further 'P.P.' acting in lieu of the 5 centime adhesive. Reverse with Constantine (June 23) cds, Ain-Beida cds (June 29) further strike of Tebessa cds (June 30) in blue, Marseille cds (July 7) and HONG KONG arrival cds (Aug 11) in black. cover front and back rejoined, otherwise fine;  a scarce four colour franking cover. Opinion Scheller. 

1875: Cover from Rosario to Hong Kong endorsed 'via Inglaterra', franked by 1868 Rivadavia 5 c. red pair, cross-hatched background, tied by circular'Rosario de Sta. Fe' datestamp in black. Buenos Aires transit cds (Jan 9) below and reverse with London transit in red (Feb 6) and fine strike of HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG cds in blue (March 29). Rated ´1/10d.' to pay on receipt (Argentina did not join the UPU until 1878). A fine cover to a most unusual destination.

1863/64, Coat of arms 2 kr., 5 kr. and 4 copies 15 kr., tied by oval date stamp "TRIEST 27/9" (1866) to lettersheet via "ALEXANDRIA OC...66" and franked with GB 1 sh. green, cancelled "BO1" to Canton, showing on reverse large tax mark "15/52". 2 filing creases affecting 2 Austrian and the British stamps have been pressed, the 2 Austrian stamps slightly improved; a very rare and attractive entire from the wellknown Carlowitz correspondance; certificate BPA (2016). Richard von Carlowitz founded a Merchant company in Canton 1846 and acted as Consul for Prussia & Saxony from 1847-1869 and from 1869 for the North german Federation.

1867: 2 kr. orange-yellow and 5 kr. rose, used on 1872 Printed Matter entire letter (concerning Marine Insurance), to Augustine Heard in Hong Kong; neatly tied by 'Seilerstätte Wien' datestamp (Oct 19) in black. Reverse with oval 'Triest' transit datestamp (Oct 21) in black. A fine and remarkable entire demonstrating a rare 7 kreuzer rate to Hong Kong. Cert. Goller (2016). In 1830, Augustine Heard  (1785-1868) settled in Canton, China, where he became partner in the trading firm of Samuel Russell & Co. by then the leading American Opium dealer in China. Heard set up his own company, Augustine Heard & Co., in 1840, with Joseph Coolidge and John Murray Forbes. The firm became successful and grew rapidly to become the third largest American firm in China. By 1850 had branch offices, beside the headquarter in Canton, in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Foochow with agencies in Amoy and Ningpo. As with many others American firms involved in trade with China at the time, Augustine Heard & Co. encountered financial difficulties in the 1870s and finally went bankrupt in 1875.

1867: 15 kr. brown and 25 kr. violet-brown, fine examples used on 1871 single rate cover to Hong Kong (Peil correspondence) endorsed 'via Triest', tied by neat 'Landskrongasse / Wien' datestamps (June 12) in black. Reverse with Vienna sender's cachet in blue, Triest oval datestamp (June 14) and HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (July 18) in black. A very attractive cover to a scarce destination. Cert. Holcombe (1988), cert. Goller (2016). F.Peil was a German merchant in Hong Kong, employed by the German Krupp Steel company in 1866 after Krupp having failed to sell 1.000 cannonsto China. F.Peil originally specialized in the import & export of wines and spirits. At the end of 1870 the Chinese Government finally purchased 191 Krupp cannons.

1883: 2 kr. brown on buff postal stationery card (Mi. P25) used to the German Consul in Amoy, China up-rated with 1867/74 3 kr. green (2, fine printing), tied by GRAZ datestamp (April 5) in black. Reverse with SINGAPORE / TO HONG KONG datestamp (May 6) and British P.O. AMOY arrival cds (May 14) in black. Scarce and attractive usage. Signed Ferchenbauer. Cert. Goller (2016).

1895: 5 kr. rose on buff postal stationery card cancelled by bold 'Gross-Klein' datestamp on despatch (Dec 22), mailed to Tientsin, China with reverse showing SINGPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp in black (Jan 19), fine CUSTOMS / SHANGHAI cds (Jan 30, 1896) in black and fair CUSTOMS / TIENTSIN datestamp (Feb 12) in blue. Underpaid and struck on front at Shanghai with superb strike of framed 'To Pay.' handstamp in red. Extremely scarce.

1884: Much readdressed cover originally mailed to a passenger on board the ship 'Monocaci' at Shanghai, China with 1869 10 c. dull green and 25 c. olive bistre tied by 'Liege' cds's (Feb 7). Reverse with variety of transits (9) including French P.O. SHANG-HAI / CHINE cds (March 19), British P.O. SHANGHAE in black (March 21), HONG KONG (March 27) in black, British P.O. CANTON (March 28) in black, eventually returning via Sydney (July 1, 1885) with Swiss Ambulant cds (July 15, 1886). Obverse struck ADVERTISED / UNCLAIMED in Sydney and framed RIFIUTO (Refused). Full of character, a most unusual cover. Cert. Kaiser (2016).

1866 (April 16): Small Ladies envelope to Amoy, China franked by 1859 10 c. reddish-purple and 12 1/2 c. green in a horizontal pair, cancelled in black at 'Wardsville' (Ontario). Carried on the Allan Line steamer 'Moravian' to Liverpool and, in transit, further struck on front by '1d.' credit to Hong Kong handstamp in red. Reverse with 'Hamilton / UC' cds (April 17) and HONG KONG arrival cds (July 4), both in black and docketing of receipt (July 6) in manuscript. An extremely scarce destination. Cert. Vincent Graves Greene (1988). The addressee, Reverend Leonard William Kip (1826-1901), was christian missionary in China with his wife Helen, arriving in June 1861 in Amoy, until 1898.​ Mrs Helen Kip was the wife of the Christian Missionary Leonard Kip. They were based in Amoy for 37 years, Mrs. Kip taught geography and English primarily to women students at Amoy's second Church from 1866.     

1845 (July 24): Entire letter from Colombo to Hong Kong endorsed at top 'per Lady Mary Wood, from Galle', struck on departure with superb oval 'Crown / COLOMBO / POST PAID' in black and rated 1/2d. in manuscript. Reverse with double arc HONG KONG arrival cds (Aug 13) in black. Scarce and very fine;  the 'Lady Mary Wood' was the first P&O steamer to arrive in Hong Kong. Opinion Holcombe (1987). The addressee, William Leslie, was partner of the Hong Kong merchant Dent & Co. Dent & Co., or ‚Dent’s‘ was one of the wealthiest British merchant firms active in China during the 19th century. George Baring (1781-1854) of the eponymous banking family founded the firm later to become Dent & Co. in 1809. William Davidson joined the firm, becoming sole partner between 1813-1820, the year Thomas Dent came on board. In 1824 the company changed its name to „Dent & Co.“. Lin Zexu’s warrant for the arrest of Lancelot Dent, brother of Thomas Dent, in 1839 to force him to hand over his store of opium was the opening shot of the First Opium War. Later Dent was one of the very first traders to open offices  when Shanghai opened to foreign trade in 1843 following the First Opium War. Dent’s was one of the founding members of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. in March 1865.   Provenance: ​John Sussex (Christie's 1987)

1858 (Oct 14): Entire letter from Valparaiso, Chile to Hong Kong, carried as a consignee´s letter to London where forwarded with 'Forwarded By Frederick Huth & Co. / London' with black cachet on front. Prepaid in cash (9d.) by the Agents from London with ´London / Paid´ cds in red (Dec 9) and endorsed 'via Marseille'. Carried on the P&O Steamer 'Simla' to Galle, Ceylon and trans-shipped there to the French Packet 'Pekin' to Hong Kong with single ring HONG KONG arrival on reverse (Jan 27, 1859). A fine and unusual entire.

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).