Lot
4001 
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to Woodstown, N.J., double rate cover franked with Hong Kong, 1863, 4¢ slate + 6¢ lilac, two singles (13) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamps, manuscript "Per "Colorado"" ship and "via San Francisco, California" endorsements at left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds's and Thos. Hunt & Co. oval company cachet handstamp, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., Mar 21" cds and pencil "Due 20c" reiterated in blue crayon for the double 10¢ blanket steamship rate, bold red straight line "Steam China" handstamp tying left two stamps; creasing in right stamp and some cover wear slightly repaired at lower right, still Very Fine. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A RARE DOUBLE RATE USAGE CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG - ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of seven examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in red for this trip.
Realized: $12,000
Lot
4002
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to Boston, Mass., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado" via San Francisco" endorsement at upper left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 21" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold red straight line "Steam China" handstamp; trivial pulled perf and cover edge stain at upper right, Very Fine and choice, illustrated and reviewed in Frajola et al The United States Offices in China and Japan 1867-1874 (page 57), ex-Kramer & Walske; with 2003 P.F. certificate. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
In 1867 the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. founded the first regular steamship service across the Pacific Ocean. The first ship of the company was the stream side-paddler "Colorado", built in 1864 for the New York-San Francisco route. She was refitted for the company's inaugural voyage across the Pacific in 1867. At the same time orders were placed for four new ships specifically for the new route to China. These four ships were the China, Japan, America and the Great Republic and were the largest and the last of the great side-wheeler. In 1873 the first iron screw propelled steamer entered the service and the era of Trans-Pacific side-paddlers came to a close.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of seven examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in red for this trip.
Realized: $13,000
Lot
4003
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to San Francisco, Cal., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado"" and "Navy Letter U.S. Asiatic Squadron" endorsements at left, reverse with two strikes of "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 20" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold straight line "Steam China" handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Canmen & Wm. Bilden. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of three examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in black for this trip.
Sent by naval personal in the U.S. Asiatic Squadron, warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. Vessels of the squadron were primarily involved in matters relating to American commerce with China and Japan.
Realized: $13,500
Lot
4004
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to Boston, Mass., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado" Ship Letter" endorsement at left, reverse with two strikes of "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 21" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold red straight line "Steam China" handstamp; sealed cover opening tear at top center and partial backflap, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of seven examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in red for this trip.
Realized: $10,500
Lot
4005
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to San Francisco, Cal., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado"" endorsement at left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds and red oval company cachet handstamp, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 20" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold straight line "Steam China" handstamp, enclosure from Hong Kong mentioning…"On the regular establishment of Steamer communication with you we expect to be able to do better business with you."; cover file folds and internal hole in address panel apparently caused during addressing, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of three examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in black for this trip.
Realized: $12,000
Lot
4006
Hong Kong, 1867 (Oct. 14) Hong Kong to Long Island, N.Y., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "per San Francisco, pr "Great Republic"" endorsement at upper left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Oc 15, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., Nov 20" cds and matching "10" due rate handstamp for steamship rate, strong strike of red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp; cover with some edge toning and stamp with pre-use corner nick, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FOURTH RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship's "Great Republic" maiden return voyage departing Hong Kong on October 15th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on November 19th. This was the first Pacific Mail Steamship Co. trip to receive the new "China and Japan, Steam Service" ornamented oval handstamp. .
Realized: $4,250
Lot
4007
Hong Kong, 1867 (Oct. 15) Hong Kong to Medford, N.J., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Via San Francisco" endorsement at upper left, reverse with "Hong Kong, Oc 15, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., Nov 20" cds tying stamp and matching "10" due rate handstamp for steamship rate, bold strike of red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp; cover reduced at right and stamp with small defects, F.-V.F., ex-Walske; with 1983 P.F. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FOURTH RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship's "Great Republic" maiden return voyage departing Hong Kong on October 15th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on November 19th. This was the first Pacific Mail Steamship Co. trip to receive the new "China and Japan, Steam Service" ornamented oval handstamp. .
Realized: $1,600
Lot
4008
Hong Kong, 1867 (Nov. 26) Hong, Kong to Hamilton, N.Y., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1863, 8¢ bright orange (13a) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamp and tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Jan 1 transit" cds, in combination with 1861, 10¢ green (68) canceled by light cork handstamp, full clear strike of red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp and manuscript "per "China"" and "Pacific Mail Steamship Co." endorsements at left, the latter denoting the contact between the U.S. Post Office and P.M.S.S. Co. for monthly mail service, reverse with "Hong Kong, No 26, 67" cds and portion of Thomas Hunt & Co. oval cachet handstamp, Very Fine, illustrated and reviewed in Frajola et al The United States Offices in China and Japan 1867-1874 (page 63), ex-Ishikawa & Kramer; with 1981 & 2003 P.F. certificates. Estimate $50,000 - 75,000.
A REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE DUAL MIXED FRANKING USAGE CORRECTLY PREPAYING THE PRE-TREATY RATE FROM HONG KONG TO THE UNITED STATES - ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PACIFIC MAIL COVERS KNOWN.
This cover was sent on 5th Pacific Mail Steamship Co. contact sailing and was the maiden voyage of the steamship "China" which departed Hong Kong on November 26 transiting Yokohama (December 6th) and Honolulu arriving in San Francisco on December 31st. Cover entering the U.S. mails (beyond San Francisco) with the next day San Francisco date stamp and red "China and Japan" handstamp applied.
Prior to the 1867 treaty, the only way to prepay mail from Hong Kong to the U.S. was to prepay both the 8¢ Hong Kong postage and the U.S. 10¢ steamship rate. The 1867 treaty between Hong Kong and the United States was to take effect on November 1, 1867 but was not fully executed by the U.S. until November 12th. The news of this new treaty agreement could not have reached Hong Kong prior to the sending of this cover.
Realized: $45,000
Lot
4009
Hong Kong, 1868 (July 15) Hong Kong to Boston, Mass., fresh folded letter from the Heard correspondence franked with Hong Kong, 1863, 4¢ slate + 12¢ light blue (10+15) canceled by barred "B62" oval handstamps, manuscript "Via California" & "pr "Colorado"" endorsements at left, red "Hong Kong, Paid All, Jy 15, 68" cds and magenta manuscript "8" pence rating (16¢), entered the U.S. mails with two strikes of red "San Francisco, Paid All, Aug 17" cds one tying left stamp, with matching red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp; 12¢ stamp with clipped perfs at top from scissor separation, Very Fine and choice, ex-Maj. Hopkins, Ishikawa & Walske. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A CHOICE DOUBLE RATE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP USAGE ABOARD THE STEAMSHIP "COLORADO".
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on July 15th and arriving in San Francisco on August 16th.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
4010
Hong Kong, 1868 (Nov. 5) Hong Kong to Stovington, Ct., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff, two singles (13) canceled by bold barred "B62" oval handstamps, manuscript "Via San Francisco - P.M.S.S." endorsement at left, red "Hong Kong, Paid All, No 6, 68" transit cds and reverse with "Hong Kong, No 5, 68" origin cds, entered the U.S. mails with red "San Francisco, Paid All, Dec 22" backstamp with matching exceptional strike of red "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp on front; minor cover edge toning at top, Very Fine, illustrated and reviewed in Frajola et al The United States Offices in China and Japan 1867-1874 (pages 67-68). Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN ATTRACTIVE DOUBLE RATE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP USAGE FROM HONG KONG WITH CHOICE "CHINA AND JAPAN, STEAM SERVICE" OVAL HANDSTAMP.
Carried aboard the steamship "Great Republic" departing Hong Kong on November 16th and arriving in San Francisco on December 22nd.
Realized: $3,750