5c Chocolate (223). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Jun. 23 1PM 94" duplex datestamp on cover to New York City, blue "Local Post Agency-Foochow JU 14 94" circular datestamp, second strike on back which also bears blue Shanghai Local Post, San Francisco and receiving backstamps

VERY FINE AND RARE LATE USE FROM THE FOOCHOW BRANCH OF THE SHANGHAI LOCAL POST OFFICE. THIS FOOCHOW MARKING IS EXTREMELY RARE IN BLUE.

According to the Pratt book (p. 345), the Foochow office of the Shanghai Local Post was opened sometime in 1890. Two types of datestamps are known. The marking struck on this cover was primarily used between 1890 and 1893; Reinhardt records it only in black. The second type of marking, with Chinese characters in place of the date, is known only in blue, used during the same time period. The example offered here is a relatively late usage (1894) for the marking and is a rare blue strike. The office closed on Dec. 31, 1894, with the opening of the independent Foochow Local Post Office on Jan. 1, 1895.

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