6c Dull Brown, 8c Violet Brown (271, 272). Tied by New York registry oval cancels on registered cover to Kewkiang, China, and returned to United States, addressed to William Callahan, sender's name "Baronn" and Lexington Avenue address at upper left partly eradicated, a wonderful array of markings described here in chronological order, starting with purple "NEW YORK, N.Y./AUG. 25 1896/REG. NO. 3289" and matching "NEW YORK/REG" in large framed grid handstamp over flaps, purple "REGISTERED/AUG. 30 1896/Tacoma, Wash." three-line datestamp on back, Tacoma exchange office registry label (FX-TA1) with purple "6367" handstamp, "Registered-Shanghai S OC3 96" square-framed datestamp ties "R/Shanghai/Local Post/No. 595" red and black registry label, red "Shanghai Local Post H OC 3 96" circular datestamp ties China (Shanghai Municipality) 1893 5c Blue & Black (156), addressee in Kewkiang could not be located and cover was returned to Shanghai, pencil "Not known" and "Oct 6" notations, magenta "Kewkiang Local Post 6 Oct. 96" double-oval datestamp on back, matching "R/KEWKIANG. CHINA/ NO. 495" registry handstamp, red pen "Unknown at Kewkiang" and line through "Kiew Kiang" in address applied somewhere in China, "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai Nov. 9 11AM 96" duplex datestamp and oval grid ties all three stamps, sent back to the U.S. through San Francisco with purple "San Francisco, Cal. Reg. Div. Nov. 30 1896" double-circle datestamp on back, "4906" dark purple handstamp applied either at U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai or at San Francisco, purple "REGISTERED/DEC. 7 1896/BRANCH P.O./STATION Y,/NEW YORK P.O." framed datestamp on back and matching "68852" registration handstamp on front, purple "B 12/6/96" in circle registration office datestamp on back

VERY FINE. AN ASTONISHING ARRAY OF STAMPS AND MARKINGS REPRESENTING THE REGISTRY SYSTEMS OF THE SHANGHAI AND KEWKIANG LOCAL POSTS, AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES HOMELAND AND ITS POSTAL AGENCY IN SHANGHAI.

This cover was mailed during a transitional period in the history of the Chinese posts. According to Webb, an Imperial Decree announced in March 1896 formally established an Imperial Chinese Postal Administration under the direction of Sir Robert Hart. The Local Posts were absorbed into this new administration over a period of time, ending in November 1897. The cover offered here was sent approximately one month after the Imperial Decree, yet before it could fully be implemented. Although philatelic in nature, this cover is a legitimate use of the 5c Shanghai Municipality stamp to pay postage from Shanghai to Kewkiang.

Ex Drucker and Fortune Wang.

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