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Auction: CSS31 - Fine Stamps and Covers of China and Hong Kong
Lot: 2572

China
Large Dragons
Covers
1883 (29 Nov.) the spectacular, heavy-weight cover to Rome bearing, on the reverse, thicker paper 5ca. block of nine [5-6-16/23-14-17/4-20-3], 5ca. block of fifteen [5-6-16-1-18/23-14-17-25-21/4-20-3-13-15] from Setting IV together with 3ca. block of five [10-17-3/24-9] from an unknown setting, cancelled by Peking seals in blue and Roma arrival c.d.s. (17.1). With red paper seal of the German Embassy in Peking, Peking Customs c.d.s. in blue and Shanghai Customs c.d.s. in blue (4.12). The address side (part of the address has been excised) bears France 75c. and 1f. (3) tied by "shang-hai/chine" c.d.s. (5.12) and there are three disinfection slits.This cover has been folded for display; this fold does not affect the stamps and allows this cover to fit an album page.


The postage of 135 candareens represents a twenty five times rate, so this large envelope would have contained many documents.


This remarkable cover is franked with the greatest number of Large Dragon stamps recorded on any cover and the block of fifteen is the largest recorded block from setting IV. There are only two Large Dragon covers addressed to Italy and only three with disinfection slips. This is one of the greatest Large Dragon covers and would make a valuable addition to any exhibit, even of the highest calibre. Photo

provenance:

Major James Starr, September 1991

Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, May 1997


Whang cover number 234

Sold for
HK$3,000,000

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