10c Green (68). Dark shade, tied by incredibly bold strike of segmented circular cork cancel, sharp strike of "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai Feb. 24" (1868) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Bernard, Eccard & Raud in Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "pr Costa Rica"--carried on the PMSS branch-line steamer Costa Rica, departing Shanghai February 24, 1868, and arriving Yokohama March 4--receipt docketing on inside panel, minor toning along file fold

EXTREMELY FINE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL AGENCY IN SHANGHAI SINGLE-CIRCLE DATESTAMP, WHICH REPLACED THE DOUBLE-CIRCLE CONSULATE DATESTAMPING DEVICE. ONLY FIVE COVERS WITH 1861-68 ISSUE STAMPS PAYING THE 10-CENT RATE FROM THE U.S. POST OFFICE IN CHINA TO JAPAN ARE RECORDED.

Letters between U.S. post offices in China and Japan were carried under the blanket 10c rate until the 6c interconsular rate was introduced. Based on archival correspendence, the rate is thought to have been implemented in mid-April 1870 (see Laurence 10c 1869 book, p. 281).

There are five recorded interconsular covers from Shanghai to Japan with the 10c 1861 or 1868 Grilled Issue paying this rate. In addition, there are four 1869 Pictorial covers (at 10c or 6c rates) and a number of Bank Note Issue covers.

The earliest recorded date the new single-circle datestamp was used is February 24, 1868. Two covers are recorded with this date: this interconsular cover with a 10c stamp and a wrapper to Hartford, Connecticut, with a 2c Black Jack stamp. Both covers are illustrated in the Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 93).

Ex Perlman.

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