5c Chocolate (223). Rich color, used with China, Foochow, 1895, 1c Green (2), latter tied by "Postal Service Foochow China, Oct. 5 95" circular datestamp, both tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Oct. 1 2PM 95" duplex datestamp on light pink cover with blue illustration of tree branches at left, to Wauwatosa Wis., sender's instructions "Via San Francisco or Vancouver", blue "Shanghai Local Post Oct. 8 95", San Francisco and receiving (Nov. 7) backstamps, light vertical file fold well away from stamps

VERY FINE. A SCARCE COMBINATION USE OF THE FOOCHOW TREATY PORT STAMP AND THE UNITED STATES 1890 ISSUE.

Foochow was one of the five original treaty ports and was opened to trade in 1842. A large foreign presence meant a high volume of mail. According to the Pratt book (p. 345), the Foochow office of the Shanghai Local Post was opened sometime in 1890, with all revenues going to Shanghai. In 1894 the local foreign residents and consuls voted unanimously to establish a local post office, to open January 1, 1895. The new stamps were not ready until the first of August, approximately two months before this was sent. The Foochow office was absorbed by the Imperial Chinese Post on Feb. 2, 1897.

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