Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

United States Postal History continued...

**Transoceanic Covers by Country - China and Far East continued...**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1152		10c Brown (161). Used with two 1c Ultramarine (156) on 3c Green entire (U163), tied by cork cancels, "Ashburnham Mass. Jul. 30" (1878) circular datestamp on registered cover to the Emperor of China in Peking, addressed to "His Most Imperial Highness, The Emperor of China. Pekin China, The Royal Palace", endorsed "via Russia", marked to be returned to sender, numerous transit markings for the round trip, German postal labels overlap 10c, minor edgewear FINE. A SPECTACULAR UNITED STATES BANK NOTE ISSUE COVER INTENDED TO REACH GUANGXU, THE 9TH EMPEROR OF THE QING DYNASTY. During the last 25 years of the 19th Century, Americans would send registered mail to famous world leaders, usually in an effort to obtain their autographs. Some mail was refused and returned to the sender or Dead Letter Office. This is the only piece of mail we have seen from the United States addressed to the Emperor of China. This registered cover was sent a few years after Guangxu's ascension to the throne at the age of four. He was born in 1871 with the name Zaitian, the nephew of the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi. She adopted him and chose him to become Guangxu, the 9th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty after the death of her 19-year old son. Cixi had also made her son emperor as a child after her husband's death. Although the adoption of her nephew violated the dynastic laws of succession, Cixi was determined to maintain total control over the Chinese government, which she did for the rest of her life. When the adult Emperor Guangxu attempted to reform the government in 1898, Cixi crushed his efforts and kept him captive in the palace. Before her death in 1908, she had Guangxu poisoned and put his brother's three-year old child, Pu Yi, on the throne, who became China's "Last Emperor" until the Revolution of 1911 brought an end to the Qing Dynasty and created the Republic of China. (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000
1153		5c Chocolate (223). Rich color, cancelled by bold grid, perfect strike of purple *"U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai * 26 Jun. 1891" handstamp on cover to Grand Rapids Mich., San Francisco and receiving backstamps, trivial edgewear, Very Fine (Image)**	E. 300-400
1154		1c Deep Green (279). Five, tied by star cancel and by "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China" circular datestamp on cover to Jersey City N.J., Sep. 1901 Seattle and receiving backstamps, stamps creased at top and with few other faults, still appears Fine (Image)	E. 200-300
1155		1c Black on Buff, Postal Card (UX14). Addressed to Berlin with stamps of U.S., China, Japan, France, Germany and Russia, each tied by their respective post office's datestamp, 2c 1898 tied by "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1, Tientsin, China Dec. , 1900", Very Fine (Image)	E. 500-750
1156		5c Dark Blue (281). Rich color, tied by "U.S. Postal Ag'cy Shanghai 5 Jun. 1901" duplex on cover with "Imperial Chinese Railway Administration" imprint at top, to New York, San Francisco and receiving backstamps, minor edgewear, fresh and Very Fine (Image)	E. 300-400
1157		2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Tied by "U.S. Postal Sta., Shanghai, China, Jan. 8, 1906" duplex on cover to Norfolk Va., used with China 2c stamp tied by local cancel, large "T" due marking but apparently delivered without collecting any additional postage, San Francisco backstamp, some edgewear, Very Fine, scarce usage (Image)	E. 500-750
1158		2c Carmine (301). Tied by indistinct U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai circular datestamps on cover from China to Norfolk Va., used with two China 1c stamps tied by local circular datestamp and purple "Shanghai I.J.P.O. 21.5.06" datestamp, large "T" due marking, 1c, 2c and 5c U.S. Postage Due stamps tied by blue crayons, Shanghai, Seattle and receiving backstamps, some faults, otherwise Fine, colorful usage (Image)	E. 500-750
1159		2c Carmine (301). Three covers from China to Norfolk Va., each dated 1906 with similar franking incl. single 2c, China 2c postage and U.S. Postage Dues (two with 8c, one with 6c), defective but still colorful usages (Image)	E. 500-750
1160		2c Rose Red, Ty. I (425). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, Jan. 22, 1916" duplex on illustrated cover to Binghamton N.Y., minor age spotting, Very Fine (Image)	E. 200-300
1161		4c Brown (503). Vertical pair, used with horizontal pair of 2c Carmine (463), tied by two strikes of "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China R.D." oval handstamps on registered cover to Binghamton N.Y., magenta Oct. 23, 1917 origin with Chicago and receiving backstamps, minor edgewear, Very Fine (Image)	E. 300-400
1162		6c Red Orange (379). Horizontal pair, tied by well-struck "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China R.D." oval handstamp on registered cover to Binghamton N.Y., magenta Nov. 1914 origin and Chicago backstamps, overall soiling, otherwise Fine (Image)	E. 300-400

Transoceanic Covers by Country - China and Far East continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

1152

10c Brown (161). Used with two 1c Ultramarine (156) on 3c Green entire (U163), tied by cork cancels, "Ashburnham Mass. Jul. 30" (1878) circular datestamp on registered cover to the Emperor of China in Peking, addressed to "His Most Imperial Highness, The Emperor of China. Pekin China, The Royal Palace", endorsed "via Russia", marked to be returned to sender, numerous transit markings for the round trip, German postal labels overlap 10c, minor edgewear

FINE. A SPECTACULAR UNITED STATES BANK NOTE ISSUE COVER INTENDED TO REACH GUANGXU, THE 9TH EMPEROR OF THE QING DYNASTY.

During the last 25 years of the 19th Century, Americans would send registered mail to famous world leaders, usually in an effort to obtain their autographs. Some mail was refused and returned to the sender or Dead Letter Office. This is the only piece of mail we have seen from the United States addressed to the Emperor of China.

This registered cover was sent a few years after Guangxu's ascension to the throne at the age of four. He was born in 1871 with the name Zaitian, the nephew of the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi. She adopted him and chose him to become Guangxu, the 9th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty after the death of her 19-year old son. Cixi had also made her son emperor as a child after her husband's death. Although the adoption of her nephew violated the dynastic laws of succession, Cixi was determined to maintain total control over the Chinese government, which she did for the rest of her life. When the adult Emperor Guangxu attempted to reform the government in 1898, Cixi crushed his efforts and kept him captive in the palace. Before her death in 1908, she had Guangxu poisoned and put his brother's three-year old child, Pu Yi, on the throne, who became China's "Last Emperor" until the Revolution of 1911 brought an end to the Qing Dynasty and created the Republic of China. (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

1153

5c Chocolate (223). Rich color, cancelled by bold grid, perfect strike of purple "U.S. Postal Agency * Shanghai * 26 Jun. 1891" handstamp on cover to Grand Rapids Mich., San Francisco and receiving backstamps, trivial edgewear, Very Fine (Image)

E. 300-400

1154

1c Deep Green (279). Five, tied by star cancel and by "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China" circular datestamp on cover to Jersey City N.J., Sep. 1901 Seattle and receiving backstamps, stamps creased at top and with few other faults, still appears Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

1155

1c Black on Buff, Postal Card (UX14). Addressed to Berlin with stamps of U.S., China, Japan, France, Germany and Russia, each tied by their respective post office's datestamp, 2c 1898 tied by "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1, Tientsin, China Dec. , 1900", Very Fine (Image)

E. 500-750

1156

5c Dark Blue (281). Rich color, tied by "U.S. Postal Ag'cy Shanghai 5 Jun. 1901" duplex on cover with "Imperial Chinese Railway Administration" imprint at top, to New York, San Francisco and receiving backstamps, minor edgewear, fresh and Very Fine (Image)

E. 300-400

1157

2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Tied by "U.S. Postal Sta., Shanghai, China, Jan. 8, 1906" duplex on cover to Norfolk Va., used with China 2c stamp tied by local cancel, large "T" due marking but apparently delivered without collecting any additional postage, San Francisco backstamp, some edgewear, Very Fine, scarce usage (Image)

E. 500-750

1158

2c Carmine (301). Tied by indistinct U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai circular datestamps on cover from China to Norfolk Va., used with two China 1c stamps tied by local circular datestamp and purple "Shanghai I.J.P.O. 21.5.06" datestamp, large "T" due marking, 1c, 2c and 5c U.S. Postage Due stamps tied by blue crayons, Shanghai, Seattle and receiving backstamps, some faults, otherwise Fine, colorful usage (Image)

E. 500-750

1159

2c Carmine (301). Three covers from China to Norfolk Va., each dated 1906 with similar franking incl. single 2c, China 2c postage and U.S. Postage Dues (two with 8c, one with 6c), defective but still colorful usages (Image)

E. 500-750

1160

2c Rose Red, Ty. I (425). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, Jan. 22, 1916" duplex on illustrated cover to Binghamton N.Y., minor age spotting, Very Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

1161

4c Brown (503). Vertical pair, used with horizontal pair of 2c Carmine (463), tied by two strikes of "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China R.D." oval handstamps on registered cover to Binghamton N.Y., magenta Oct. 23, 1917 origin with Chicago and receiving backstamps, minor edgewear, Very Fine (Image)

E. 300-400

1162

6c Red Orange (379). Horizontal pair, tied by well-struck "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China R.D." oval handstamp on registered cover to Binghamton N.Y., magenta Nov. 1914 origin and Chicago backstamps, overall soiling, otherwise Fine (Image)

E. 300-400