2016-07-01 Fri

InterAsia Auctions in Hong Kong was held from 26th June to 29th June. T.S. Yang collection of Chinese Customs and Imperial Post; the Nostalgia collection of mail to and from China, Indochina and Japan; the People’s Republic of China and Liberated Areas; Hong Kong and treaty ports; and Asian stamps and postal history, were offered at the auction.

The star item at the auction was the cover for William Hancock of Imperial Maritime Customs in Shanghai, with a 27th November datestamp in red from Tamsuy, Taiwan. On the reverse an extra red coloured Nov. 29 Amoy transit datestamp is visible.

The cover bears a 1878 3-candareen brown-red Large Dragon Chinese stamp with a 2nd December black Shanghai datestamp. The same strike appears on the back as well.

As per officials, it is the only existing cover from Taiwan with a Large Dragons stamp.

Considering the rarity, its estimate value was US$322,000 to US$386,500.