Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

The Elliott H. Coulter Collection of The United States 1869 Pictorial Issue continued...

**U.S. Post Offices in Japan and China**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
330		2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, dark shade, each stamp cancelled by "X" Japanese chop cancel, used on folded prices current and shipping table (up to Aug. 24, 1869) printed at the Hiogo News office, addressed to St. Etienne, France, "Forwarded by Textor & Co. Kanagawa" blue oval handstamp on back, "Short Paid" handstamp applied at New York exchange office, blue crayon "2" and "3" crossed out, magenta ms. "70c" (7 decimes) due marking applied in France, partly readable St. Etienne receiving backstamp (Oct. 1869), piece torn from top has been repaired, refolded to hide most of the missing piece VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE, POSSIBLY UNIQUE, USE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ON PRINTED MATTER FROM KANAGAWA (YOKOHAMA) TO FRANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED DATE OF USE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 FROM CHINA OR JAPAN. The port of Yokohama lies in the Kanagawa Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu. This printed market and shipping report is one of several known pieces of mail sent to J. B. David in St. Etienne, France, through the U.S. or French post offices in Yokohama. This cover, listing an August 24, 1869, sailing in the shipping table, was carried on the P.M.S.S. Great Republic sailing of August 29 from Yokohama, arriving in San Francisco on September 18. The "X" cancel is one of a series of Japanese "chops" used on mail carried by P.M.S.S. Co. steamers between San Francisco and ports in the Far East. It appears that each cancel was used exclusively on one trip, then discarded. This chop is identical to the one used to cancel stamps on the cover offered in lot 331, which was definitely carried on the Great Republic August 29 sailing. None of these early covers has the "Yokohama Japan" circular datestamp, which came into use in July 1870 (reference: Riddell, U.S.A. Consular Post offices in Japan) The two 2c 1869's underpaid the required postage on this printed matter from Japan to France. A subsequent cover from the same correspondence (Ishikawa sale, Sotheby's 7/6/81, lot 36), which left Yokohama on Sep. 29, 1869, has a strip of four with 15 decimes due in France. The earliest recorded cover with 1869 stamps used in the Far East is the "Miro" cover with 10c and 30c 1869 pairs, which was carried on the P.M.S.S. Japan, arriving in San Francisco on July 20, 1869. The "Miro" cover has a strike of the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval, but there is no indication of the cover's origin. The next sequential 1869 usages from the Far East are: the 2c cover offered in this lot, the 10c cover with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval offered in lot 331, and, a 10c cover carried on the same trip to Bingham in Ridgefield Conn. with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000
331		10c Yellow (116). Two, brilliant color and choice centering, right stamp has tiny break between two perfs, cancelled by bold strikes of "X" Japanese chop cancel on cover to South Hadley Mass. with part strike of magenta "China and Japan Steam Service" double-line oval handstamp, sender's route instructions "Via California", "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 20" (1869) duplex datestamp and cork cancel applied at lower right on arrival, opened at both sides, lightly cleaned VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY EARLY USE OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM THE FAR EAST. This cover was carried on the P.M.S.S. Great Republic sailing of August 29 from Yokohama, arriving in San Francisco on September 18. The "X" cancel is one of a series of Japanese "chops" used on mail carried by P.M.S.S. Co. steamers between San Francisco and ports in the Far East. It appears that each cancel was used exclusively on one trip, then discarded. This chop is identical to the one used to cancel stamps on the 2c cover offered in lot 330. The earliest recorded cover with 1869 stamps used in the Far East is the "Miro" cover with 10c and 30c 1869 pairs, which was carried on the P.M.S.S. Japan, arriving in San Francisco on July 20, 1869. The "Miro" cover has a strike of the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval, but there is no indication of the cover's origin. The next sequential 1869 usages from the Far East are: the 2c cover offered in lot 330, the 10c cover with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval offered here, and, a 10c cover carried on the same trip to Bingham in Ridgefield Conn. with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval. Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 101. Ex Grunin. With 1979 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000
332		2c Brown, 10c Yellow (113, 116). 2c vertical pair and single, used with 10c, tied by four strikes of "HIOGO JAPAN" double-circle handstamp on mostly complete blue folded cover (one flap intact) to Quebec, Canada, "Kniffler & Co. Hiogo (Japan)" blue oval handstamp and ms. "via San Francisco" route instructions, "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 17" double-circle transit datestamp on back, Montreal transit and Quebec (Oct. 26, 1870) receiving datestamp on back, bottom 2c is reaffixed in position where it is believed to have originated (a bit of the "Hiogo Japan" rim ties stamp to cover), filing crease affects top two 2c stamps (the bottom stamp may have popped off when folded) VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS FAMOUS COVER IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS FRANKING FROM HIOGO, JAPAN, PAYING THE 10-CENT TRANSPACIFIC RATE AND 6-CENT TREATY RATE TO CANADA. When this cover was sold in the 1977 Juhring sale by Sotheby's (lot 795), the bottom 2c stamp was missing. It appeared as an off-cover stamp in the same Juhring sale (lot 369), and eventually the stamp and cover were reunited. The story of this reunion was told by Michael Laurence in an article entitled "Frog Turns Prince" (Chronicle 109). Ex Juhring. With 1981 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 20,000-30,000
333		10c Yellow (116). Bright color, sealed tear almost completely thru stamp, tied by circle of wedges cancel, partly clear strike of "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai Oct. 13" (1870?) circular datestamp on cover to Cheyenne Wyo. with "United States Consulate at Foochow" imprint (Foochow in manuscript), San Francisco transit backstamp (Nov. 18 double circle), the cover itself is Very Fine, an extremely rare use of the 10c 1869 Pictorial on official mail originating at the U.S. Consulate in Foochow and sent via the consulate post office at Shanghai (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000
334		10c Yellow (116). Vivid shade and choice centering, cancelled by bold circle of wedges, "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai Apr. 12" (1871) circular datestamp on cover to Jefferson Ia., from the Rev. Robinson correspondence, San Francisco transit backstamp (May 14), reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine and fresh (Image)	E. 750-1,000
335		2c Brown (113). Two, tied by quartered cork cancels, partly clear "Yokohama Japan Nov. 21" circular datestamp on 1870 folded letter to Pignatel & Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, 1c overpayment of 3c inter-consular rate, light staining around stamps VERY FINE. EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PAYING INTER-CONSULAR RATE BETWEEN POST OFFICES IN JAPAN. The letter mentions correspondence between the French and U.S. consuls. Ex Ishikawa. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000
336		3c Ultramarine (114). Cancelled by Cross in Circle cancellation applied by U.S. Consular Post Office in Japan on blue folded letter from F. Ogerau in Osaka to Pignatel in Nagasaki, dated Mar. 29, 1871, letter in French mentions $24 by inter-consular mail, Fine, this 3c inter-consular rate cover comes from the well-known Pignatel correspondence, it is the only recorded example of this U.S. Consulate cancellation, the 3c stamp is affixed slightly overlapping what appears to be an ink smear or thumb print, a peak beneath the bottom edge of the stamp shows some gum toning that effectively ties it, ex Ishikawa (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000
337		6c Ultramarine (115). Tied by circle of wedges cancel, partly clear "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai May 31" circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "Shanghai 31 Mai 1870" to Pignatel & Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, sender's ship-name endorsement "per Str. 'Oregonian'", minor bleached spots VERY FINE. EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM U.S. POST OFFICE IN SHANGHAI. ONLY A FEW COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH THE 1869 ISSUE PAYING 6-CENT INTER-CONSULAR RATE BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN. The Pacific Mail Steam Ship Co.'s branch line Oregonian arrived with this mail in Nagasaki on June 2, 1870. In the 1981 Ishikawa sale, this cover was reported as the only recorded 6c 1869 cover with the U.S. Post Office in Shanghai datestamp. Illustrated in Rose book (p. 68). Ex Ishikawa. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000

U.S. Post Offices in Japan and China

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

330

2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, dark shade, each stamp cancelled by "X" Japanese chop cancel, used on folded prices current and shipping table (up to Aug. 24, 1869) printed at the Hiogo News office, addressed to St. Etienne, France, "Forwarded by Textor & Co. Kanagawa" blue oval handstamp on back, "Short Paid" handstamp applied at New York exchange office, blue crayon "2" and "3" crossed out, magenta ms. "70c" (7 decimes) due marking applied in France, partly readable St. Etienne receiving backstamp (Oct. 1869), piece torn from top has been repaired, refolded to hide most of the missing piece

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE, POSSIBLY UNIQUE, USE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ON PRINTED MATTER FROM KANAGAWA (YOKOHAMA) TO FRANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED DATE OF USE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 FROM CHINA OR JAPAN.

The port of Yokohama lies in the Kanagawa Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu. This printed market and shipping report is one of several known pieces of mail sent to J. B. David in St. Etienne, France, through the U.S. or French post offices in Yokohama.

This cover, listing an August 24, 1869, sailing in the shipping table, was carried on the P.M.S.S. Great Republic sailing of August 29 from Yokohama, arriving in San Francisco on September 18. The "X" cancel is one of a series of Japanese "chops" used on mail carried by P.M.S.S. Co. steamers between San Francisco and ports in the Far East. It appears that each cancel was used exclusively on one trip, then discarded. This chop is identical to the one used to cancel stamps on the cover offered in lot 331, which was definitely carried on the Great Republic August 29 sailing. None of these early covers has the "Yokohama Japan" circular datestamp, which came into use in July 1870 (reference: Riddell, U.S.A. Consular Post offices in Japan)

The two 2c 1869's underpaid the required postage on this printed matter from Japan to France. A subsequent cover from the same correspondence (Ishikawa sale, Sotheby's 7/6/81, lot 36), which left Yokohama on Sep. 29, 1869, has a strip of four with 15 decimes due in France.

The earliest recorded cover with 1869 stamps used in the Far East is the "Miro" cover with 10c and 30c 1869 pairs, which was carried on the P.M.S.S. Japan, arriving in San Francisco on July 20, 1869. The "Miro" cover has a strike of the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval, but there is no indication of the cover's origin. The next sequential 1869 usages from the Far East are: the 2c cover offered in this lot, the 10c cover with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval offered in lot 331, and, a 10c cover carried on the same trip to Bingham in Ridgefield Conn. with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

331

10c Yellow (116). Two, brilliant color and choice centering, right stamp has tiny break between two perfs, cancelled by bold strikes of "X" Japanese chop cancel on cover to South Hadley Mass. with part strike of magenta "China and Japan Steam Service" double-line oval handstamp, sender's route instructions "Via California", "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 20" (1869) duplex datestamp and cork cancel applied at lower right on arrival, opened at both sides, lightly cleaned

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY EARLY USE OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM THE FAR EAST.

This cover was carried on the P.M.S.S. Great Republic sailing of August 29 from Yokohama, arriving in San Francisco on September 18. The "X" cancel is one of a series of Japanese "chops" used on mail carried by P.M.S.S. Co. steamers between San Francisco and ports in the Far East. It appears that each cancel was used exclusively on one trip, then discarded. This chop is identical to the one used to cancel stamps on the 2c cover offered in lot 330.

The earliest recorded cover with 1869 stamps used in the Far East is the "Miro" cover with 10c and 30c 1869 pairs, which was carried on the P.M.S.S. Japan, arriving in San Francisco on July 20, 1869. The "Miro" cover has a strike of the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval, but there is no indication of the cover's origin. The next sequential 1869 usages from the Far East are: the 2c cover offered in lot 330, the 10c cover with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval offered here, and, a 10c cover carried on the same trip to Bingham in Ridgefield Conn. with "China and Japan Steam Service" oval.

Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 101. Ex Grunin. With 1979 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

332

2c Brown, 10c Yellow (113, 116). 2c vertical pair and single, used with 10c, tied by four strikes of "HIOGO JAPAN" double-circle handstamp on mostly complete blue folded cover (one flap intact) to Quebec, Canada, "Kniffler & Co. Hiogo (Japan)" blue oval handstamp and ms. "via San Francisco" route instructions, "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 17" double-circle transit datestamp on back, Montreal transit and Quebec (Oct. 26, 1870) receiving datestamp on back, bottom 2c is reaffixed in position where it is believed to have originated (a bit of the "Hiogo Japan" rim ties stamp to cover), filing crease affects top two 2c stamps (the bottom stamp may have popped off when folded)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS FAMOUS COVER IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS FRANKING FROM HIOGO, JAPAN, PAYING THE 10-CENT TRANSPACIFIC RATE AND 6-CENT TREATY RATE TO CANADA.

When this cover was sold in the 1977 Juhring sale by Sotheby's (lot 795), the bottom 2c stamp was missing. It appeared as an off-cover stamp in the same Juhring sale (lot 369), and eventually the stamp and cover were reunited. The story of this reunion was told by Michael Laurence in an article entitled "Frog Turns Prince" (Chronicle 109).

Ex Juhring. With 1981 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 20,000-30,000

333

10c Yellow (116). Bright color, sealed tear almost completely thru stamp, tied by circle of wedges cancel, partly clear strike of "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai Oct. 13" (1870?) circular datestamp on cover to Cheyenne Wyo. with "United States Consulate at Foochow" imprint (Foochow in manuscript), San Francisco transit backstamp (Nov. 18 double circle), the cover itself is Very Fine, an extremely rare use of the 10c 1869 Pictorial on official mail originating at the U.S. Consulate in Foochow and sent via the consulate post office at Shanghai (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

334

10c Yellow (116). Vivid shade and choice centering, cancelled by bold circle of wedges, "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai Apr. 12" (1871) circular datestamp on cover to Jefferson Ia., from the Rev. Robinson correspondence, San Francisco transit backstamp (May 14), reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine and fresh (Image)

E. 750-1,000

335

2c Brown (113). Two, tied by quartered cork cancels, partly clear "Yokohama Japan Nov. 21" circular datestamp on 1870 folded letter to Pignatel & Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, 1c overpayment of 3c inter-consular rate, light staining around stamps

VERY FINE. EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PAYING INTER-CONSULAR RATE BETWEEN POST OFFICES IN JAPAN.

The letter mentions correspondence between the French and U.S. consuls.

Ex Ishikawa. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

336

3c Ultramarine (114). Cancelled by Cross in Circle cancellation applied by U.S. Consular Post Office in Japan on blue folded letter from F. Ogerau in Osaka to Pignatel in Nagasaki, dated Mar. 29, 1871, letter in French mentions $24 by inter-consular mail, Fine, this 3c inter-consular rate cover comes from the well-known Pignatel correspondence, it is the only recorded example of this U.S. Consulate cancellation, the 3c stamp is affixed slightly overlapping what appears to be an ink smear or thumb print, a peak beneath the bottom edge of the stamp shows some gum toning that effectively ties it, ex Ishikawa (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

337

6c Ultramarine (115). Tied by circle of wedges cancel, partly clear "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai May 31" circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "Shanghai 31 Mai 1870" to Pignatel & Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, sender's ship-name endorsement "per Str. 'Oregonian'", minor bleached spots

VERY FINE. EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM U.S. POST OFFICE IN SHANGHAI. ONLY A FEW COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH THE 1869 ISSUE PAYING 6-CENT INTER-CONSULAR RATE BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN.

The Pacific Mail Steam Ship Co.'s branch line Oregonian arrived with this mail in Nagasaki on June 2, 1870. In the 1981 Ishikawa sale, this cover was reported as the only recorded 6c 1869 cover with the U.S. Post Office in Shanghai datestamp.

Illustrated in Rose book (p. 68). Ex Ishikawa. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000