Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Boxer Rebellon
China, Boxer Rebellion, Photographs of Execution. 35 photographs in a small album, sepia and cyanotype prints, sizes range from about 3 x 1.5 in. to 4 x 3 in., includes six sepia prints showing images of prisoners being marched and their beheading, the others are images of China and various people (some European soldiers in uniform and women in western garb), a fascinating snapshot of life in China around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, the execution photos are quite graphic and disturbing
China, 1898, 10c Dark Blue Green (103). Straight edge at top, tied by "Peking Jul. 1 1901" oval bilingual datestamp on "Legation of the United States of Americ, Pekin, China" imprint cover to Frank S. Williams, Columbus O., used with Japan, 1899, 10s Deep Blue (103), tied by Shanghai I.J.P.O. Jul. 10, 1901 circular datestamp, various backstamps, slightly soiled and minor edgewear, Fine and scarce
Japan, 1899, 10s Deep Blue (103). Tied by "Nagasaki Japan 1 Aug. 00" circular datestamp on hand-illustrated cover from medical officer on board the U.S. Hospital Ship Relief, soldier's endorsement at left, to Washington D.C. and forwarded to Goldsboro N.C., Sep. 5 forwarding datestamp, various backstamps, Very Fine, the Relief was sent from the Philippines to support U.S. forces in the Boxer Rebellion
Post Office Department, Military Station No. 1, Tientsin, China, 1901. Printed penalty envelope addressed to Herr Luder, German Field Post, Tientsin, clear strike of "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin, China, Feb. 4, 1901" duplex datestamp and oval grid, Very Fine
2c Red, Ty. IV (279B). Tied by "Mil. PSta. No. 1, Tientsin, China, Nov. 24, 1900" duplex datestamp on cover to Washington D.C., typed "Office of Chief Quartermaster, U.S. China Relief Expedition" at top left and printed penalty notice, red Chefoo local post handstamp partly struck at center, receiving backstamp (Jan. 5, 1901), fresh and Very Fine, late usage of the military postmark, ex Drucker
China, 1898, 2c Scarlet, 4c Orange Brown (100, 101). Strip of six 2c and pair of 4c tied by Tientsin Oct. 23, 1900 bilingual datestamp on legal-size cover with United States "War Department, Office Chief Quartermaster" imprint and typed "Tientsin, China" return address, to Washington D.C., used with pair of Japan, 1899, 10s Deep Blue (103), tied by Shanghai I.J.P.O. Nov. 1, 1900 circular datestamp, various transit backstamps, minor wear and fold at left, two of the China 2c stamps are faulty and stained, otherwise Fine, very rare U.S. War Department official cover with China and Japan mixed franking posted during the Boxer Rebellion
2c Red, Ty. IV (279B). Two pairs and two singles from a booklet pane, tied by segmented cork cancels, clear strike of purple "Military Postal Sta. No. 1 China Dec. 31, 1900" double-circle datestamp on large-size registered cover with War Department imprint and manuscript officer's endorsement from Camp Reilly, Peking, China, directive "By Military Mail", addressed to Hon. George B. Cortleyou, secretary to the President, Washington D.C., marked "Purely Personal", red wax seal and large red manuscript "Personal" on back, purple "Received Military Postal Sta. No. 1 China Jan. 2, 1901" double-circle datestamp on back, various registry number handstamps, San Francisco registry backstamp (Feb. 7), docketing notations in red ink and pencil, backflap removed, a few negligible stamp flaws and edge wrinkles
FINE. AN OUTSTANDING REGISTERED MAIL COVER FROM CAMP REILLY IN PEKING, CHINA, TO PRESIDENT MCkinleY's PERSONAL SECRETARY.
George B. Cortelyou was a Post Office Department official and served as personal secretary to President William McKinley. After McKinley's assassination, Cortelyou was placed in charge of the White House during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. He later served as Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Chair of the Republican National Committee, Postmaster General and Secretary of the Treasury.
2c Red, Ty. IV (279B). Five, tied by "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Taku China Dec. 27, 1900" duplex datestamp and oval grid with bold red "NW FORT/TAKU" two-line handstamp (North West Taku Fort) on cover to Sgt. Maj McLachlan, Royal Marines Light Infantry, Gosport, England, sender's directive "Via Canadian Pacific Railway" but this entered U.S. mails at San Francisco and traveled by train to New York, "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China Dec. 27, 1900 7 PM" backstamp, also backstamped San Francisco, New York and Gosport, stamps have faults and top edge of cover slightly rough
FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BOXER REBELLION COVER WITH THE "NW FORT/TAKU" HANDSTAMP INDICATING IT ORIGINATED FROM THE NORTH WEST TAKU FORT.
The North West Taku Fort was captured by allied forces on June 14, 1900, and held by the British. The address, a member of the Royal Marines, and the route directive via Canadian Pacific Railway, indicate this was sent by a British soldier at the North West Fort.
"From Military Postal Sta. No. 1, China" Straightline. Clearly struck as part of return address with "Postal Employee" name on 2c Red entire (U358) to Washington D.C., "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin China Dec. (?) 1900" duplex datestamp and oval grid, receiving backstamps, light soiling and minor edgewear, Fine, description accompanying cover states "Kugel type A-4 (only recorded usage)" — as almost always, there are probably others, but no doubt rare
5c Dark Blue (281). Tied by Pittsburgh Pa. Jul. 23, 1900 duplex datestamp and oval grid on cover to Lieut. M. McClosky, Light Battery "F", 5th Artillery, Taku, China, Vancouver (Jul. 29) and Shanghai (Aug. 18) backstamps, "Tangku 23 Aug. 00" bilingual datestamp clearly struck on front, pencil "Pekin Sept 1st", opened on three sides, tear at right and minor stamp faults, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare Boxer Rebellion cover with Tangku datestamp—on Aug. 15, 1900, Capt. Henry J. Reilly's Light Battery F, 5th Artillery, blasted open the gates on the American front in the assault on the Inner City of Peking
5c Dark Blue (281). Tied by Honolulu Apr. 2, 1901 duplex datestamp and oval grid on cover with blue and red "Toyo Kisen Kaisha" (Oriental Steamship Company) flag corner card, addressed to Lieut. F. E. Buchan, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Peking, China, forwarded to Tongku (Chinese characters and English), backstamped with Yokohama (May 7) and two different Military Postal Station No. 1 Tientsin datestamps (May 18-19), creased and worn at bottom, small edge tears, still Fine, very scarce and unusual Boxer Rebellion cover
2c Blue on Buff, International Postal Card (UX6). Clear strike of "Mil. Sta. No. 1 Manila, Phil. Isl'ds 4PM Feb. 13" 1899 duplex datestamp and oval grid, addressed to Tsingtau, China "via Shanghai", written in German, "Hong Kong C FE 17 99" datestamp on front and Shanghai backstamps, bold strike of "Tsintau China 25 2 99" German P.O. receiving datestamp, Very Fine, scarce
Mil. P. Sta. No. 1, Tientsin, China, 25 Sep. 1900. Neat strike of duplex datestamp and oval grid on cover to Treasury Dept., Washington D.C., soldier's mail endorsement from member of 2nd Louisiana, 14th Rifles in Peking, purple "Due 2 Cents" handstamp and with 2c Deep Claret, Postage Due (J39) applied and tied by purple Washington D.C. double-oval handstamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine Boxer Rebellion usage, ex Drucker
5c Dark Blue (281). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai Sep. 21 6PM" 1900 duplex datestamp and oval grid on Japan 2s Chrysanthemum postal entire to Pittsburgh Pa., sender's return address "H. G. C. Hallock, Hangchow, China", forwarding address to a different street, transit backstamps, slightly wrinkled and small stain spots, Fine, very scarce Hangchow origin on a Japanese postal entire sent through the U.S. Postal Agency during the Boxer Rebellion
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Straight edge, tied by "Alexandria Bay N.Y. Aug. 21 2PM 1900" duplex datestamp and quartered cork cancel on multicolored Lincoln and Grant Grand Army of the Republic National Encampment Buffalo N.Y. souvenir card to member of 9th Infantry, Manila, Philippines, clear strike of "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China Oct. 4 9PM 1900" circular datestamp, truly insensitive message "Hello! Harry! Are you dead yet. F. Howard Scott Asst P.M."—the answer was no, Harry wasn't dead (he died 21 years later)—Very Fine, colorful and unusual, addressed to the Philippines where Harry fought Aguinaldo's forces, then forwarded to Tientsin where he served in the war against the Boxers (his obituary says he was one of the first to scale the wall surrounding Peking), the mate to this card is offered in lot 6201
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Straight edge, cancelled by "Alexandria Bay N.Y. Aug. 21 8PM 1900" duplex datestamp and quartered cork cancel on multicolored Rule Britannia "Never Shall Be Slaves" Spanish-American War Patriotic souvenir card to member of 9th Infantry, Manila, Philippines, clear strike of "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China Oct. 4 9PM 1900" circular datestamp, Very Fine, colorful and unusual, the mate to the card in lot 6200 mailed at the same time, addressed to the Philippines where Harry fought Aguinaldo''s forces, then forwarded to Tientsin where he served in the war against the Boxers (his obituary says he was one of the first to scale the wall surrounding Peking)
China, Boxer Rebellion, United States and German Military Expedition Combinations. Three unusual items: 1c Deep Green (279) tied by "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China Jan. 17, 1901, 10 AM" circular datestamp on 2c Red entire to Furth, Germany with partly readable strike of framed German East Asia Expedition handstamp, clearly struck "K.D. Feldpostexped. Des Ostaasiatische Expeditionscorp 11 4" (Apr. 11) circular datestamp, receiving backstamp (May 22), vertical fold, otherwise Very Fine, ex Bilden; 2c Red, Ty. IV (279B) tied by "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin China May (?) 1901" duplex datestamp and oval grid on German multicolored souvenir card depicting battle of Taku forts, clearly struck "S.B./OSTAS. EXPED./1. KOMP.PION-BAILS" framed handstamp, to Danzig, Very Fine; last is 1c Black on Buff Postal Card with German 5pf and 20pf Germania franking tied by Feldpost Station datestamp and "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Taku China Oct. 23, 1900" duplex datestamp and oval grid, a philatelic creation but still a very rare Taku office marking and unusual combination, Very Fine; very desirable group, especially the U.S. Military Postal Station at Taku marking
China, Boxer Rebellion, U.S. Military Postal Station. Three items with 10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283), includes single tied by "Mil. Postal Sta. N. 1 China Feb. 13, 1901" duplex datestamp and oval grid on 2c Red entire to St. Paul Minn.; single with 1c Deep Green (279) tied by "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin China Dec. 6, 1900" duplex datestamp and oval grid on 2c Black U.P.U. Postal Card to Germany; and large part of package wrapper front with 10c block of four, purple "Registered Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China May 11, 1901" double-circle datestamp with matching "4th Class" and registry straightline handstamps, manuscript "From G.C. Sholes, Postal Clerk in Charge" and handstamped "Military Postal Sta. No. 1, China/Tientsin, China" and "(Souvenir)" handstamps, folds and piece missing but a remarkable usage—highly exhibitable group of Boxer Rebellion covers from the U.S. military post office
5c Dark Blue, 8c Violet Brown (272, 281). Tied by two bold strikes of "CHINA" straightline cancel, perfect strike of purple "Registered, Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China. Jan. 29, 1901" double-circle datestamp applied at Tientsin on small cover to T. E. Sansom, Manila, Philippines, sender's name "Baron G. de Gunzburg" on back, purple registry straightline and blue "191" handstamp, lightly struck U.S. Military Station Manila datestamp on back, small tear at top left corner
VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY POSTAL STATION "CHINA" CANCEL ON AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE REGISTERED COVER FROM THE RUSSIAN SPY AND PHILATELIST, BARON DE GUNZBURG, TO T. E. SANSOM IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The "CHINA" straightline cancel was used only at the U.S. Military Postal Station No. 1 at Tientsin.
The Mobray Collectibles website has a fascinating biography of Baron Gabriel de Gunzburg (1855-1926), from which we quote: "Baron de Bunzburg lived in Chungkiang, China, in 1895... A most popular figure in Parisian high-life clubs and drawing rooms. He was the son of Naftali Herz, Baron Horace de Gunzberg a Russian businessman, philanthropist and vigilant fighter for the rights of his Jewish co-religionists in the teeth of persecution by the Russian government. His father was the philanthropist Joseph Gunzburg. His son David became a prominent Orientalist and bibliophile. The title of Baron was handed down from father to son and eventually reached Gabriel. He then became known as Baron Gabriel de Gunzburg. Gabriel settled in Shanghai in the early 1890s. He had been a bad boy of the family and was shipped East on a remittance. He supplemented his income by becoming head of the Russian Secret Service (Okhraneniju) until the war with Japan broke out in 1904, and by dealing in postage stamps. Gabriel was made head of the Otdeleniye Po Okhraneniju Obshchestvenney Bezopasnosti I Poryadka (Department for the Defence of Public Security and Order 1881-1917. By 1917 he had moved to Paris, and where many renowned philatelists visited him to discuss stamps."
1c Deep Green, 2c Red, Ty. IV, 10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (279, 279B, 283). 2c and 10c with straight edges, tied by three bold strikes of "CHINA" straightline cancel, clear strike of purple "Registered, Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China. Dec. 26, 1900" double-circle datestamp applied at Tientsin on legal-size cover with purple "Paymaster's Office, U.S.S. Monocacy, Official Business" handstamp, to Seligman Brothers, London, England, red manuscript "Register", "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin China Dec. 26, 1900" circular datestamp, blue registry numbers 1382 and 6320, San Francisco (Feb. 7) and New York (Feb. 13) backstamps, London oval registry receiving datestamp (Feb. 24), blue crayon cross, a few vertical folds and edgewear not affecting stamps
FINE. A RARE AND EARLY USE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY POSTAL STATION "CHINA" CANCEL ON A REGISTERED COVER FROM U.S.S. MONOCACY TO ENGLAND.
The "CHINA" straightline cancel was used only at the U.S. Military Postal Station No. 1 at Tientsin. This is an early use of the cancel.
1c Deep Green, 5c Dark Blue, 8c Violet Brown, Ty. II (272, 279, 281). Tied by three bold strikes of "CHINA" straightline cancel, clear strike of purple "Registered, Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China. Nov. 24, 1900" double-circle datestamp applied at Tientsin on large-size cover with War Department imprint from W. C. Horton to E. P. King, Atlanta Ga., blue registry numbers 1186 and 3262, San Francisco (Jan. 4, 1901) and Atlanta (Jan. 12) backstamps, few vertical folds and edgewear not affecting stamps
FINE. A RARE AND EARLY USE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY POSTAL STATION "CHINA" CANCEL ON A REGISTERED COVER TO THE UNITED STATES.
The "CHINA" straightline cancel was used only at the U.S. Military Postal Station No. 1 at Tientsin. This is an early use of the cancel. The original letter from W. C. Horton to E. P. King describes stamps enclosed for the recipient, including "English, Japanese, Russian, German, French and Chinese stamps, all surcharged with the exception of the Chinese...[and] a collection of old Japanese stamps... the characters at the bottom of the Japanese and across the Russian mean China." Also mentions soldiers returning home, dust storms and "I have enough China..."
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Strip of three and single (scuffed), tied by cork cancels on large part of package wrapper front with soldier's mail endorsement and part of address to Chattanooga Tenn., purple "Military Postal Sta. No. 1 China Mar. 9, 1901" double-circle datestamp and matching registry straightline handstamp with manuscript number 2309, bold purple "Received Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China Mar. 11, 1901" double-circle datestamp with matching "4th Class" handstamp, folds and some faults as is to be expected in an opened package wrapper, still Fine and exhibitable, a rare Boxer Rebellion usage
2c Red, Ty. IV, 10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (279B, 283). Tied by segmented cork cancels on large part of package wrapper made from printed Chinese character document, with surgeon's endorsement, from S. W. Jones to Mrs. W. W. Jones, Greencastle Ind., purple "Military Postal Sta. No. 1 China Feb. 23, 1901" double-circle datestamp and matching registry straightline handstamp with manuscript number 1842, purple "Received Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1, China Feb. 23, 1901" double-circle datestamp with matching "4th Class" handstamp, folds and creases through stamps, some faults as is to be expected in a package wrapper, still Fine and exhibitable, one of the coolest Boxer Rebellion covers we have ever encountered
2c Red, Type IV (279B). Block of six used with Guam, 1899, 2c Red and 5c Blue, Overprints (2, 5) and Puerto Rico, 1900, 1c Yellow Green, Overprint (215) on Philippines, 1899, 4c Brown entire (U13), all tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China Jan. 15 9AM" 1902 duplex datestamp and oval grid, registered to West Chester Pa. with rare "U.S. of America/Shanghai, China" Red Registry Label, Narrow Roman "R" (FX-SH1b) at upper left (no. 501), blue registry number "7283" handstamp, San Francisco and West Chester backstamps (Feb. 7 and 13), slightly reduced at left, central vertical file fold and other small cover faults, tear in top right 2c stamp in block, still Fine appearance, a most unusual and rare franking from Shanghai, the Scott U.S. Specialized lists this registry label with 14 recorded, ex Ainsworth
8c Violet Brown (272). Horizontal pair used with pairs of 1c Deep Green (279), 2c Red, Ty. IV (279B) and 5c Dark Blue (281) with corner sheet selvage, tied by eight strikes of "CHINA" straightline cancel, bold strike of "Mil. P. Sta. No. 1 Tientsin, China, Nov. 4, 1900" circular datestamp on European-size greenish cover to Berlin, Germany, with Astor House Tientsin return address card on backflap, vertical fold and tape stain clear of stamps, otherwise Very Fine, extremely rare Boxer Rebellion cover, signed Bloch
2c Red, Ty. IV, 8c Violet Brown (272, 279B). Two 2c (one 2c and 8c straight edge) tied by "Mil. Postal Sta. No. 1 China" duplex datestamp and oval grid (date unreadable), 8c affixed slightly over the datestamp and cancelled by segmented cork—the sender evidently brought the cover to the post office and registered it for 8c after the 2c stamps were postmarked—clear strike of purple "Military Postal Sta. No. 1, China. Jan. 22, 1901" double-circle datestamp on cover with return address of M. F. Conroy, Sgt. Troop M, 6th Cavalry, Peking, to Wilfred Carter, Boston Mass., different style of military datestamp on back (Jan. 23), purple registry straightline and manuscript number "640", three different registry numbers applied in U.S., Boston receiving backstamp (Mar. 9), 2c stamps have perf faults, Fine, rare
Important Balance of The Magnolia Collection of Boxer Rebellion Postal History. 67 covers and cards, a diverse range of markings and usage, most with U.S. stamps, includes U.S. Military Station markings (three from Taku, others from Tientsin, including registered), penalty envelopes, German East Asia Expedition markings, French China Expedition (2), Tientsin I.J.P.O., Chinese frankings on War Department official business legal-size envelopes, some with original letters, condition varies with opening tears and stains throughout, overall Fine, a valuable group of Boxer Rebellion covers that would be extremely difficult to assemble, the prices paid range from hundreds to $1,000+ per cover