6c Ultramarine (115). Tied by bold strike of circle of wedges cancel, partly clear strike of "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai May 31" (1870) circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined Shanghai, May 31, 1870, from Vrard & Co. to Pignatel & Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, sender's directive "per Str. 'Oregonian'"--carried on the PMSS branch-line steamer Oregonian, departing Shanghai May 31, 1870, and arriving Nagasaki about two days later--docketed with June 2 receipt date

VERY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE STAMPS PAYING THE RATE FROM THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IN SHANGHAI TO JAPAN, OF WHICH ONLY ONE HAS THE 6-CENT STAMP.

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). The earliest use of this rate in either direction is a cover from Nagasaki to Shanghai dated May 12, 1870, with three 2c 1869 stamps (ex Gross, Sale 1211, lot 523). The cover offered here is the second earliest.

There are four recorded interconsular covers from Shanghai to Japan with 1869 Pictorial stamps: one with a 10c (April 1, 1870, at 10c rate), this cover with a 6c, one with a 3c pair, and one with a 2c strip of three (offered in lot 2060). In addition, there are two 1869 Pictorial covers from Japan to Shanghai (one offered in lot 2094), as well as 1869 covers between U.S. post offices in Japan.

The PMSS Oregonian was used to carry mail between Shanghai and Japan if the mail was not connecting with a PMSS steamer at Yokohama for outbound eastbound trips. For all connecting mail, the PMSS Great Republic was used (Frajola-Perlman-Scamp, p. 106).

Illustrated in Rose 1869 book (p. 68).

Ex Ishikawa and Coulter.

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