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 2c Brown (113). Rich color, used with block of ten of 3c Ultramarine (114) and 10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96), tied by target cancels, "Collington Md. Jul. 13" circular datestamp on
cover to Hong Kong, China 3c block also tied by red "New York Paid All Jul. 15" circular datestamp and "Hong-Kong Marine Sorter Singapore to Hong Kong, SP 2/9 69" Marine sorter backstamp (Webb Type B, sub-type b), red "32" credit
handstamp and "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp, Chinese characters on back, opened for display, pos. 4 of block with surface scrape, bottom left stamp of block missing corner, some expert cover repairs mostly on back and not affecting
stampsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A UNIQUE FRANKING PAYING THE 42-CENT RATE TO CHINA BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLOCK OF 3-CENT 1869 STAMPS AND WITH THE HONG KONG-SINGAPORE MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP. The stamps
pay the 42c rate to China by British Mail via Marseilles. It was carried aboard the Cunarder Malta, which departed New York on July 15 and arrived in Queenstown on July 26. It arrived in Hong Kong on Sep. 8, less than two weeks prior to the
30c cover from the same correspondence offered in this sale (lot 181). According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor
of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the
Hong Kong post office would meet the P & O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new
service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of the Marine Sorter
marking showing the date of trip. The example offered here is easily identifiable because it is the only one with a dot instead of a dash between the words "Marine" and "Sorter". With 2001 P.F. certificate
(Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
E. 15,000-20,000
SOLD for $32,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
