364 / März 2017

1846 (July 1): Postal Notice issued in Malta by Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Co., with lists of Rates for Freight to  Alexandria and Constantinople (Horses to be carried at 10 guineas and 12 guineas respectively), List of Transmissions of Goods and Parcels to India and China by the Over-Land Route with list of the Company's ships ('Oriental' and 'Ripon' to Alexandria) and from Suez ('Bentinck', 'Hindostan' or 'Precursor' to India) and the 'Lady Mary Wood' or 'Braganza' to China), Rates of Freight from Malta to Southampton including Opium carried at 12 pounds per ton, and a list of the Agents responsible at various Ports. Horizontally creased due to display but a most interesting document.

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. 

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)

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).  

1853: 80 c. carmine on yellowish, a superb large margined example used on 1857 cover to 'Hong Kong ou Macau' endorsed 'voie de Suez', tied by '441' petit chiffres with corresponding Bordeaux cds alongside (June 20). Framed 'P.P.' in red on front and reverse with three French transits including Marseilles (June 22) and HONG KONG double arc arrival cds (Aug 6) in black. Signed Goebel.

1856: Second sheet of entire letter from Paris to Canton, China endorsed 'Overland Mail via Marseilles', franked by 1853 20 c. blue, slight marginal divot and 80 c. carmine on yellowish, tied by mute Paris Star with despatch cds (Sept 5) in black below and framed 'P.P.' in red at left. Struck on arrival with superb strike of the extremely rare Hong Kong "1/-" charge marking in black for amount due for the journey from Alexandria to Canton (for a similar example see John Sussex sale lot 3221) and reverse with HONG KONG cds (Nov 2) in black. A rare and most appealing cover. Signed Goebel.

1859: 2nd Opium War, Covers (2) from the same correspondence, each addressed to Hong Kong to a Captain Kerjegu commanding a French Corvette during the 2nd Opium War, one with 1853 20 c. blue (two fine examples) mailed from St. Brisuc with framed 'P.P.' in red; the second cover with a large margined pair of 1853 40 c. orange tied by '786' petit chiffres mailed from Chateauneuf-Du-Faou struck with framed 'PD' in red and endorsed 'Station Francaise en L'indochine' at base with HONG KONG arrival cds (Oct 23) in blue on reverse. An attractive and scarce pair.

1867: Cover from Flensburg to Shanghai, China endorsed 'via Triest' with 1866 10 sgr. rose in two strips of three, tied by FLENSBURG cds's (Sept 4) in black. Reverse with oval Triest (Sept 8) transit, thence via British P.O. in Alexandria with cds (Sept 17) in black on front. Reverse with HONG KONG transit cds (Oct 23) in black. The strips  with repairs, letter sheet with strengthening along folds, one flap added and some sympathetic paper replacement, nevertheless a remarkable and rare franking in the Prussian period to an exotic destination. Signed Kastaun BPP. Cert. Brettl (2016). A. Bourjau and C.A. Huebner opened a merchant business under Bourjau, Huebner & Co. in the 1860's in Hong Kong with a branch office in Shanghai    

1867: Cover from Dresden to Canton, China (Carlowitz correspondence) endorsed 'per Overland  Mail via Trieste' franked by 1863/67 1/2 ngr. orange, 1 ngr. red and three 5 ngr. grey-lilac (2 with faint creases), cancelled by boxed & dated 'Dresden' datestamps (Oct 3) with the pair of 5 ngr. cancelled in manuscript; with 'weiter franco' manuscript '13 4/10' in blue crayon at left over small cover split. The 1 ngr. and single 5 gr. overlapped by Great Britain 1867 1 s. green pl. 4 (SG 117) tied in transit by British P.O. 'BO1' obliterator in black with 'Alexandria' cds above (Oct 17). Placed aboard the P&O Steamer 'Candia' and mis-sorted with rare oval MISSENT / TO / CALCUTTA also tying the 5 ngr. pair in red. Reverse with opening tear but with oval Triest transit and HONG KONG cds in black (Dec 24) and internal docketing of receipt (Dec 26). A magnificent and extremely rare combination cover. Signed Todd AIEP. Cert. Vaatz (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.  

1866: Cover from Sonderburg to H.P. Hansen, care of Mess. Dent & Co., Shanghai, China endorsed 'via Marseilles' franked by 1865 4 sch. brown-ochre, two overlapped singles and a horizontal strip of three, all tied by 'Sonderburg' datestamps (July 10) in black. 'PD' in red alongside with 'Tour-T / Forbach' French entry marking in red (July 13) and reverse with faint Hamburg cds (July 10) and small part of SHANG-HAI / BAU. FRANCAIS cds of receipt. Flap restored and one adhesive slightly rubbed in transit but a most appealing and extremely rare cover. Signed Krüger. Cert. Moller (2016). In 1862, Henry W. Dent had been appointed as Portuguese Consul at Shanghai, then raised to Portuguese Consul-General for China and Japan in 1866. The British merchant H.P.Hansen was Vice-Consul and was finally appointed in 1868 as Acting Consul General for Portugal at Shanghai

1868: Rouletted 1 gr. rose, 2 gr. blue and 5 gr. olive-brown, all used on 1868 cover from Berlin to Hong Kong endorsed 'via Triest per Überland Post', tied by Berlin datestamps (July 2) in blue. Manuscript '7 Wfr.' (weiter franco 7 groschen) at base and reverse with oval 'Triest' transit cds (July 4) and extremely rare circular 'HONG KONG & SINGAPORE / MARINE SORTER / B' handstamp in black (acc. to Webb 7 covers recorded). The envelope with some scuffing and slight repairs with manuscript docketing of receipt on reverse (Aug 20). Cert. Mehlmann (2016).

1870: Cover from Elberfeld Station to Shanghai, China endorsed 'via Marseilles & Suez' franked by 1868 1 gr. rose, 2 gr. blue and 5 gr. ochre-brown (partly slightly oxidized), tied by neat 'ELBERFELD Bhf.' datestamps in black (Aug 18) and by framed 'P.D.' in red. Erquelines French entry marking alongside (Aug 20) and reverse with fine 'SHANG-HAI / BAU. FRANCAIS' cds (Oct 4) in black; a most attractive and scarce franking. Cert. Mehlmann (2016).

1872: Cover from Cologne to Shanghai, China (Peil correspondence) endorsed 'Pr. Engl. Post via Brindisi' at top, franked by 1872 Small Shield 1/3 gr. green, lifted pressed and replaced, 2 gr. violet and 5 gr. ochre-brown all tied by COELN / STADTPOST-EXP No. 1 datestamps (Feb 9) in black. Framed 'P.D.' in red at left and reverse with Verona cds, Brindisi cds (Feb 12) and HONG-KONG transit cds (April 1) in black. Despite imperfections a fine and scarce three colour first issue franking to China. Cert. Holcombe (1988). 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 cannons to 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.

1872: Wrapper carried from Bremen at Printed Matter rate, addressed to Peil in Shanghai, franked by 1872 Small Shield 1/2 gr. orange and 1 gr. carmine rose, cancelled by BREMEN cds's (June 26) in black with framed 'P.D.' in violet alongside. The stamps have been lifted and re-placed, the cover cleaned and with small repairs; very scarce. Cert. Holcombe (1988). 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 cannons to 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.  

1873: Cover from Nordhausen to Hong Kong (Peil correspondence), endorsed 'via Brindisi mit Britischer Schiffen', franked by 1872 Small Shield 1/4 gr. violet, 1/2 gr. orange-yellow, 5 gr. ochre-brown and Large Shield 1 gr. rose carmine, cancelled by boxed NORDHAUSEN datestamps (Nov 26) in black. Framed 'P.D.' in black and manuscript '64' centesemi credit in red. Reverse with 'Ala-Verona' cds and HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Dec 31) in black. The 1/2 gr and 5 gr. affected by ironed file folds but a remarkable four colour franking to a scarce destination. Signed Sommer. 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 cannons to 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.

1873: Cover from Goettingen to Hong Kong endorsed 'via Brindisi', franked by 1872 Large Shield 1/4 gr. violet, 1 gr. rose (2) and vertical pair of 2 1/2 gr. orange-brown all tied by GOETTINGEN datestamps (Oct 14) in black. Framed 'P.D.' in black at left and manuscript '70' centesemi credit in red. Reverse with 'Ala-Verona' cds, Brindisi cds (Oct 18) and fine HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG datestamp (Nov 18) in black. Manuscript docketing of receipt on front (Nov 27). Cover cleaned and stamps partly with repairs but a very scarce three colour franking to an unusual destination. Cert. Krug (2016).

1873: Cover from Cologne to Hong Kong (Peil correspondence), endorsed 'via Triest', franked by 1872 Large Shield 1 gr. rose carmine, 2 gr. blue and 5 gr. ochre-brown cancelled by CÖLN BAHNHOF datestamps (Dec 23) in black. Manuscript 'Wf 7' weiter franco credit in red crayon. Reverse with HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG datestamp (Feb 10, 1874) in black. Light vertical file fold just affects the 2 gr. adhesive but a scarce and most attractive three colour franking to a scarce destination. Cert. Holcombe (1988). The sender was the famous Cologne  „Eau de Cologne Melissengeist“ producer „Klosterfrau Melissengeist“ , founded in 1826 by the nun (Klosterfrau) Maria Clementine Martin.

1874: Cover from Mulhouse (Alsace) to Shanghai, China (Peil correspondence) endorsed 'China via Brindisi' at top, franked by 1872 Small Large Shield 1/4 gr. violet, 1/2 gr. orange each crossed by ironed file fold and a fine 2 gr. blue horizontal strip of three tied by MULHAUSEN I. ELS datestamps (May 15) in black. Framed 'P.D.' in red at left and reverse with Brindisi cds (May 18) and HONG-KONG transit cds (June 21) in black. Despite imperfections a fine and scarce three colour first issue franking to China. Cert. Holcombe (1988). 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 cannons to 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.

1875/79: 20 pfe. blue, single example tied to 1880 cover, repaired opening tear away from adhesive, addressed to Captain of the British brig 'Pelham' at 'Canton Bund, Shanghai', tied by boxed BRAKE / ZOLL VEREIN datestamp (May 7) in black. Reverse with 'Napoli' (May 11) and 'Hong Kong' (June 20) transit datestamps. 

1878: 'Round the World' card mailed with 1875/79 20 pfe. blue from Hamburg (June 6) to Amoy, China; with Hong Kong 1863/71 4 c. grey and 8 c. dull orange tied by 'A1' obliterator with AMOY cds alongside (July 17), forwarded on again from Amoy via San Francisco with red 'Paid All' cds (Aug 25) to Philadelphia, where franked by 1875 Taylor 5 c. blue cancelled in black with Philadelphia cds in red (Sept 4) at left; and thence back to sender in Hamburg (Sept 18). Reverse with further transits of HONG KONG / MARINE SORTER / SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG cds (July 8), Amoy (July 16), Hong Kong (July 19). The card with corners improved and negligible imperfections due to journey but a remarkable and most attractive usage, the card completing the journey in 105 days.

1891: Cover from Hannover addressed to the Imperial German Legation in Peking, China franked by 1889 20 pf. blue tied by 'Hannover' cds (Dec 23) in black. Reverse with KAISERLICH / DEUTSCHE / POSTAGENTUR / SHANGHAI cds in black (Feb 2, 1892), CUSTOMS / SHANGHAI cds in black (Feb 2) and fine strike of 'I G OF CUSTOMS / PEKING' in blue (Feb 19). Obverse with fine strike of framed 'To Pay.' marking in red for inland transmission. A rare cover.

1840 (Nov 24): Entire letter from ´The Rookery´ endorsed 'per Sylph' addressed to a crew member on 'H.M.S. Melville on the China Expedition' with further docketing at lower left 'if too late to go on first ship from Kedgeree', struck on reverse with framed CALCUTTA / G.P.O. / SHIP LETTER in red (Jan 20, 1841). Manuscript on front "Rec'd at Macao, March 24, 1841". Opinion Holcombe (1987). Note: HMS Melville served as the Flagship of Rear-Admiral George Elliot during the First Opium War. HMS Melville was a 74 gun Wooden Sail of 1817. On 25 February 1841 her main topmast was shot through and rigging damaged during the exchange of fire with the battery of Wantong. HMS Melville was in Macao in early March and sailed from Macao on 25 march 1841 for return to England. According to a notation on front, the cover reached the addressee in Macao on March 24,1841, the day before leaving home for England. Provenance: John Sussex (Christie's 1987)

1842 (Nov 30): Entire letter from Westminster to 'David King, Surgeon of H.M.Ship Cornwallis, Chinese Expedition' struck on despatch with London 'T.P. / Charles St. West.r' in blue and tombstone 'Paid' datestamp in red (Nov 30), endorsed 'Overland Mail' at left and 'Via Falmouth, Paid 1/-' at top right with further red manuscript '1/-' alongside. Rare and most attractive entire. HMS Cornwallis was a 74 gun „Third rate ship“ of the line of the Royal navy, launched 1813 in Bombay. After China’s defeat in the First Opium war, representatives from the British and Qing Empires negotiated a peace treaty aboard Cornwallis in Nanjing. On 29 August 1842, British representative Sir Henry Pottinger and Qing representatives, Qiying, Ilibu and Niujian, signed the ‚Treaty of Nanking‘ aboard  HMS Cornwallis!

1847, Folded letter with large part of contents from Bristol "Via Southampton" to Hong Kong, franked with 1847/57, 1 s. pale green, tied by numeral "134", Hongkong arrival mark of January 26, 1848, fine and rare very early franked letter to the Far East. Cert. BPA (2016).

1849 (June 6): Printed O.H.M.S. entire from the GPO in London to Canton, requesting payment of 2/11d. due for a Ship Letter held at the London General Post Office addressed Heard & Co. in Canton. Crown London cds in red on front and reverse with double arc HONG KONG arrival cds (Aug 18). Fresh and fine; a most unusual item with scarce destination . Signed Holcombe. 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.

1856: 1 s. green, a fine example in a rich shade, ironed bend of no importance, used on 1861 cover endorsed 'via Marseilles' to Hong Kong, cancelled by Edinburgh / 131 duplex (June 25) in black. Handstruck '1d.' credit marking in red at left and reverse with Peebles despatch cds, London cds (June 26) and HONG KONG arrival (Aug 3) in black.  Provenance: John Sussex (Christie's 1987)

1857: 1 d. red star, used to pay the ´Late Fee´on 1863 entire letter which mentions an enclosure, mailed from London to Hong Kong, endorsed 'via Marseilles', neatly tied by London '7' obliterator with manuscript pre-payment of 2/8d. for double rate at left and further mansucript '2' for Hong Kong credit. A scarce and very attractive usage. Opinion Holcombe (1989). 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.