Lot 2317
2317
cover 1873 (c.) Great Britian ½d. stationery card in lilac on buff and bears the embossed seal "SHANGHAI/LOCAL POST OFFICE" with central Chinese characters (as used on the 1893 1c. envelope). The reverse bears the legend "Englische Postkarten, die wahrend 2 er Monate sind verbraucht worden, mit dem Stempel de Local Post office" (English postcards which were used for two months with the stamps of the local post office). With the first issued post card and the embossed envelope (commercially used). A rare and intriguing item of Shanghai postal stationery and a forerunner to the issued covers. Photo
cover 1873 (c.) Great Britian ½d. stationery card in lilac on buff and bears the embossed seal "SHANGHAI/LOCAL POST OFFICE" with central Chinese characters (as used on the 1893 1c. envelope). The reverse bears the legend "Englische Postkarten, die wahrend 2 er Monate sind verbraucht worden, mit dem Stempel de Local Post office" (English postcards which were used for two months with the stamps of the local post office). With the first issued post card and the embossed envelope (commercially used). A rare and intriguing item of Shanghai postal stationery and a forerunner to the issued covers. Photo

Details
cover 1873 (c.) Great Britian ½d. stationery card in lilac on buff and bears the embossed seal "SHANGHAI/LOCAL POST OFFICE" with central Chinese characters (as used on the 1893 1c. envelope). The reverse bears the legend "Englische Postkarten, die wahrend 2 er Monate sind verbraucht worden, mit dem Stempel de Local Post office" (English postcards which were used for two months with the stamps of the local post office). With the first issued post card and the embossed envelope (commercially used). A rare and intriguing item of Shanghai postal stationery and a forerunner to the issued covers. Photo
Provenance
E.N. Lane, October 1997
Further details
According to Livingston, Shanghai cards for sale to the public were issued in 1874. This closely resembled the British cards as to the wording and identical in size. Although the writer indicates that these cards were for general use for a period of two months, it is apparent that this this card was also used as a specimen, or model, for the subscribers card of 1873 and the stamped card of 1874