5c Yellow Brown (205). Horizontal pair, tied by cork cancels and used with China, 1885, 3ca Lilac, Rough Perf 12-1/2 (11; Chan 17), affixed to back and tied by blue Tientsin customs seal and "Customs Shanghai Feb. 26, 1887" transit circular datestamp on cover to Pawtucket R.I., blue "Customs Tientsin Feb. 12 87" double-circle datestamp, red "San Francisco Cal. Apr. 4" also ties China stamps as does arrival circular datestamp (April 12), light strike of "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai" oval handstamp on front, stamps affected by toning from gum or additional adhesive, cover torn and repaired affecting one China stamp

A RARE CHINA SMALL DRAGON AND UNITED STATES MIXED-FRANKING COVER FROM TIENTSIN TO THE UNITED STATES VIA SHANGHAI.

During the winter months the port at Tientsin was blocked by ice, so mails were carried overland, a journey of approximately twelve days through occasionally unsafe territory. This entered the U.S. postal system at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai.

Illustrated in Prize Selections from Rocpex Taipei 1981 on p. 88.

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