CUSTOMS FORERUNNERS
IMPERIAL JAPANESE POSTAL AGENCY
cover 1877 XU5 TO U.S.A. SHOWING ON REVERSE "CUSTOMS/KIUKIANG" despatch c.d.s. (1.9) in red and bearing on obverse Japan Koban 5s. brown cancelled by cork type, showing "I.J. POSTAL AGENCY/SHANGHAI" c.d.s. (12.9), "YOKOHAMA/PAID ALL" c.d.s. (20.9) and "SAN FRANCISCO/PAID ALL" c.d.s. (9.10) adjacent, the last two in red. Very fine and early rare use through Customs service before the issue of the Large Dragons stamps. Photo
Details
cover 1877 XU5 TO U.S.A. SHOWING ON REVERSE "CUSTOMS/KIUKIANG" despatch c.d.s. (1.9) in red and bearing on obverse Japan Koban 5s. brown cancelled by cork type, showing "I.J. POSTAL AGENCY/SHANGHAI" c.d.s. (12.9), "YOKOHAMA/PAID ALL" c.d.s. (20.9) and "SAN FRANCISCO/PAID ALL" c.d.s. (9.10) adjacent, the last two in red. Very fine and early rare use through Customs service before the issue of the Large Dragons stamps. Photo