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Auction: 16012 - Meiso Mizuhara, The Exhibition Collections, The Chinese Customs Post
Lot: 1502

China
Forerunner Period
"Lord Napier Post"
1835 (13 Jan.) an entire letter bearing "China 13. Jan 1835" to London from Canton and carried on the "Marquis Camden"; bears a neat strike of the boxed "india letter/ramsgate" and a superb strike of the straight-line "CHINA" in red with London arrival struck over the flaps (11.5), with "2/2" rate mark in ink; light vertical filing crease.


An exceptionally fine example of this rare handstamp struck in London on mail from China. This mark is only recorded used between 12 September 1834 and 24 March 1835. Only about nine examples have been recorded.

provenance: Robson Lowe auction, March 1974

Philip Ireland, May 1989



Lord Napier arrived in Canton in July 1834, sent by the British Government with the brief to extend trade with China and to arrange direct diplomatic relations. However, this caused a direct challenge to the one-sided arrangement when Napier, as instructed by his superiors, sought to communicate directly, by letter, with the imperial representative at Canton, Governor Lu. This resulted in his mission being a failure as direct contact with the Chinese authorities was forbidden to foreigners.



Lord Napier did organise a British post office in Canton, working without fee or postage in Canton



The list of recorded covers


1834 (13 Nov.) Canton to London with Lymington Ship Ltr handstamp in red

Dr Chang Min Sheng


1834 (9 Dec.) Canton to London with India Letter Portsmouth

Recorded by Webb.


1834 (21 Dec.) Recorded by Webb


1834 (25 Dec.) Recorded by Webb


1835 (12 Jan.) Canton to London with Weymouth Ship Letter in black

Ryohei Ishikawa


1835 (13 Jan.) — Lot 1502


1835 (24 Frb.) Canton to Scotland with India Letter Portsmouth

George E Burghard, Ryohei Ishikawa


1835 (26 Feb.) Canton to London with India Letter Portsmouth
Ryohei Ishikawa


1835 (1 Mar.) Recorded by Webb

Sold for
HK$140,000