U.S. Consulate General./Shanghai, China. Clearly struck blue two-line handstamp on small blue cover to William T. Emory, Fisherville, New Hampshire, with sailor's endorsement "From U.S.S. Wachusett"--carried on the first eastbound (return) trip of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Colorado, departing Yokohama February 28, 1867, arriving San Francisco March 20--entered U.S. mails with bold "San Francisco Cal. 10 Mar. 21" 10c integral due rate datestamp, perfect bold strike of red "STEAM CHINA" handstamp, with original letter enclosure datelined "Shanghai, China, Feb. 15th 1867" from a sailor in the U.S. Navy to his parents and sister (see excerpt below)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE RARE "U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL. SHANGHAI, CHINA." TWO-LINE HANDSTAMP, USED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD BY THE UNITED STATES CONSUL IN SHANGHAI ON MAIL CARRIED UNDER THE NEW PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY CONTRACT--IN THIS CASE, ON THE FIRST EASTBOUND TRIP BY THE COLORADO.

Prior to the official establishment of the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai, effective October 14, 1867, the U.S. Consul, George Frederick Seward (nephew of the Secretary of State), was responsible for handling mail to and from American residents in China. When the Pacific Mail Steamship Company inaugurated contract mail service between China, Japan and the United States, Seward arranged to put mail onto a steamer that connected with the PMSS Colorado at Yokohama for its first eastbound (return) trip on February 28, 1867. This cover was among the letters Seward bagged for that trip. Based on the letter date and the Colorado departure, it was probably placed on board the Peninsular & Oriental Nepaul, departing Shanghai February 17 and arriving Yokohama February 21. The Colorado, after leaving Yokohama February 28, arrived in San Francisco March 20. Mail from this trip addressed to San Francisco was postmarked March 20, and overland mail was postmarked March 21, the date of the next departure. There are ten reported covers from the Colorado's maiden eastbound trip, all of which bear the "STEAM CHINA" handstamp, seven struck in red and three in black (source: Frajola-Perlman-Scamp, pages 57, 86-88). Even fewer examples of the consulate marking are known. Other covers with the "STEAM CHINA" handstamp are offered in lots 2071 and 2075.

The enclosure is four pages without a signature line, so it is possible a second sheet is missing. Nonetheless, the letter contains a rather detailed report on the new postal arrrangements between the United States and China: "the new American mail line is quite an advantage to those who have the misfortune to be so far from home. This will go in the Colorado By the way of California & fifty days from to day you will have the pleasure of reading this. The Colorado came from Sanfrisco in twenty two days to Hong Kong & without doubt she will make a quicker time home. The line is not fuly established yet there is only one steamer runing as yet but the Great Republic is launched & her mashinery is being put into her she will be running before long." [sic]

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 86). Ex Bilden.

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