364 / März 2017

1862: 1856, 6 d. lilac used with extraordinary overlapped franking of 1862 9 d. bistre, no less than 8 examples, all tied to cover front and part back endorsed 'via Marseilles' and addressed from London to Nagasaki, Japan care of Messrs. Siemssen & Co. in Hong Kong; all tied by London '47' obliterators in black. The 6 d. and two the 9 d. adhesives with cut wing margins and with manuscript '4' in red crayon for the Hong Kong share of postage. Reverse with London datestamp (Feb 26)  and HONG KONG transit (April 11). Despite imperfections (incl. filing crease through one adhesive), an astonishing 6 shilling rate cover (quadruple weight) being the earliest recorded stamped cover from Great Britain to Japan whilst also bearing the largest recorded franking of the 1862 9d. adhesive. Certs. Holcombe (1987), K. Louis (2016). Note: Kniffler & Co. of Nagasaki is believed to be the first German trading Company in Japan. It was founded by Louis Kniffler (1827-1888), who was also appointed as Vice Consul for Prussia between 1861 and 1865, and Martin Hermann Gildemeister a merchant from Bremen. The Hong Kong forwarder ‚Siemssen & Co.‘ was a German merchant company from Hamburg, founded by Georg Theodor Siemssen in 1846 in Canton and Fuzhou.  The firm soon became one of the most important merchants in the early China trade, still existing today.

1865: Cover with full original contents, from Portishead to Captain Mairis on 'H.M.S. Severn' at Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'via Southampton', franked by single 1864 6 d. lilac, hairlines, tied by 'Bristol / 134' duplex (Feb 3) in black. Reverse with Portishead cds and London transit cds. A fine and scarce cover to an unusual destination.  

1867: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'via Marseilles & Shanghai' franked for Late Fee only with 1858 1 d. red tied by London '11' obliterator with 1/4 d. prepaid in cash. 'Lombard Street / F.O./ Paid' cds in red below (Oct 10) and reverse with HONG-KONG cds of transit (Nov 23) in blue and British P.O. YOKOHAMA arrival cds (Dec 8) in black. A fine and unusual entire. The addressee, Thorel, Ziegler & Co., Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1869: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'p. French Mail via Marseilles' franked by 1867/80 6 d. bright violet pl. 6 and 1 s. green pl. 4 tied by 'London / 106' duplexes (Jan 21). Fine framed 'L2' Late Fee marking in red at left and reverse with British P.O. YOKOHAMA arrival cds (March 13) in black. A fine and attractive entire. Cert. Holcombe (1988). Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, Japan endorsed 'per French Packet', franked by 1858 1 d. red, 1867 6 d. mauve pl. 8 and 10 d. red-brown all tied by London '103' duplexes (May 12). Framed 'L1' at left denoting the Late Fee paid and reverse with fine British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds (June 27) struck in blue. A charming entire. Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: 1867/80, 1 s. green, pl. 4 a fine example used on entire letter to Yokohama, Japan tied by London '96' duplex (Oct 8) in black. The entire unusually endorsed ´via San Francisco' probably due to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, with red 'New York Paid All' transit cds on front (Oct 16) aand internal docketing of receipt (Nov 25). Fresh and very fine, a scarce entire. Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1870: Entire letter from London to Yokohama, endorsed 'via Brindisi', franked by 1865 4 d. vermilion pl. 12 and 1867 1 s. green pl. 5 tied by London '103' duplexes (June 2). Framed 'L1' at left denoting the Late Fee paid and reverse with HONG KONG transit cds in black (July 12) and fine British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds (July 19) struck in blue. A fresh and fine entire. Cert. Holcombe (1988). Thorel, Ziegler & Co. was a silk merchant in Yokohama from 1865-1868. After Karl Thorel left the company , the remaining swiss owner Karl Ziegler run the business under the name Ziegler & Co. from 1868 – 1889.

1873: Cover  from Oldham to the British Consulate in Hiogo, Japan franked by 1867 3 d. rose pl. 9 and 1 s. green pl. 7 tied by 'Oldham / 591' duplexes (April 10). Reverse of cover with HONG KONG cds (May 18) in black. The cover should have been prepaid 1/4d. via Marseilles and thus a double deficiency '2d.' marking was applied in black. Unusual and most attractive cover.

1874: Cover from Oban to Yedo, Japan, sensibly opened for Exhibit display, franked by 1858 1 d. red pl. 150 in two horizontal strips of six, all tied by 'Oban / 273' duplexes in black (June 2). Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (July 12) and British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds in blue (July 27). A most attractive and unusual franking for the 1 shilling rate.

1874: Entire letter from London to Yokohama endorsed 'via Brindisi', franked for double rate by 1867 2 s. blue and 1873 6 nd. grey pl. 13 tied by London '87' duplexes (Nov 3). Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Dec 15) and British P.O. YOKOHAMA cds in blue (Jan 3, 1875). A fine and unusual entire. Already in 1871 Joseph Raud (see also lots 8122 and 8123) founded his own merchant company, active in trade until 1877 when Raud left Japan.​ Provenance: Ryohei Ishikawa (Sotheby's 1981)

1874: 1873/80, 1 s. green pl. 9, a superb marginal example with part imprint at top, used on cover to Yedo, Japan tied by neat 'Oban / 273' duplex (Sept 7) in black. Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Oct 20) in black and British Post Office 'YOKOHAMA' datestamp (Nov 4) in blue. A delightful cover in outstanding quality.

1875: Entire letter from London to Nagasaki, Japan franked by 1873/80 3 d. rose pl. 17 and 1 s. green pl. 11 tied by 'London / 100' duplexes (Aug 17) with framed L2 'Late Fee' handstamp at left in red. Underpaid 1d. for Marseilles route and struck with '2d.' handstamp for double the deficiency in black. Reverse with fine HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Sept 19) in blue. A fresh and fine entire.