【Autumn 2022 Sales Special Features: Empress Dowager First Year Usage】
1894. Tientsin (13 Dec) to Switzerland. Envelope bearing Empress Dowager 9 candarins vertical pair, lower stamp with retouched Chinese character “nine”, cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, and Customs cds alongside. Took Winter route to Shanghai (18 Dec). In combination with French 25c. pair cancelled by Shanghai cds (18.12.94). Neuchatel arrival c.d.s. (27.1.95). Earliest double rate cover to Germany.
Illustrated in Tony Kwan, Vol. I, p.25. Provenance: Christie’s 9 Oct 1990.