Lot 8113
1865: 1861/66, 24¢ grayish lilac, horizontal pair used with 5¢ brown on cover addressed to Russell & Co., Hong Kong; the 53¢ postage fully pre-pays the ½ oz rate by British Mail via Marseilles however there is a two line “INSUFFt. STAMPED/VIA MARSEILLES” handstamp and manuscript “over ½ oz” at upper left plus a red crayon “2” Colonial credit marking which would indicate that the letter was overweight; red numeral “48” and London transit markings on front, proper Hong Kong back stamp; the right 24¢ stamp with a couple of small tears at right; otherwise Very Fine. 2016 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott 78a,76).
Russell & Company was founded by William H. Russell and cousin Samuel Russell in Canton as early as 1824. It became the largest and most important American trading house in Quing dynasty China from 1842 to its closing in 1891. Russell & Company was dealing mostly in silks, teas and opium.
