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Auction: 18008 - Sinkiang Postal History, The 'Manhattan' Collection
Lot: 2065

Sinkiang
Chinese Republic Post
Overprinted Stamps, Wen Pao Chu Mail
1913 (20 Aug.) large official cover, double registered to Turfan bearing Statistical Dept. 5c. and Waterlow 3c. tied by Tihwa lunar c.d.s. and showing very fine strikes of boxed registration handstamp, large "AR" and a fine strike of Tihwa 6 numbered tombstone. Fresh and fine. A very desirable and rare cover paying 5c. for registration and 3c. for acknowledgement of receipt. Only two Wen Pao Chu mail covers have been recorded used in Sinkiang. Photo

The Wen Pao Chu (Despatch Office) was formed in 1876 as a branch of the I-Chan. Its main function was to transmit official despatches, destined to go overseas, to Shanghai. Similarly despatches reaching Shanghai from envoys were delivered to their destination by the Wen Pao Chu.

In later years (probably from about 1898) the duties of the Wen Pao Chu dwindled away until all the work of the I-Chan and its branches was taken over by the Chinese Post Office in July 1912. In the North Eastern Provinces and Sinkiang the Wen Pao Chu continued to operate for a further two years.

Sold for
HK$210,000