Lot 3050
3050
cover 1899 (20 May) card from Soochow to Shanghai cancelled on arrival by Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing Soochow despatch bilingual c.d.s. applied at left; also 1900 (28 Apr.) card from Wusueh to Shanghai again cancelled on arrival with Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing the despatch bilingual c.d.s. struck at left; 1899 (8 June) card with printed message, addressed to Wuchang and cancelled by a fine strike of the Hankow bilingual c.d.s. Possibly the earliest dates of the Soochow and Hankow bilingual datestamps. (3)
cover 1899 (20 May) card from Soochow to Shanghai cancelled on arrival by Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing Soochow despatch bilingual c.d.s. applied at left; also 1900 (28 Apr.) card from Wusueh to Shanghai again cancelled on arrival with Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing the despatch bilingual c.d.s. struck at left; 1899 (8 June) card with printed message, addressed to Wuchang and cancelled by a fine strike of the Hankow bilingual c.d.s. Possibly the earliest dates of the Soochow and Hankow bilingual datestamps. (3)

Details
cover 1899 (20 May) card from Soochow to Shanghai cancelled on arrival by Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing Soochow despatch bilingual c.d.s. applied at left; also 1900 (28 Apr.) card from Wusueh to Shanghai again cancelled on arrival with Shanghai local post c.d.s. and showing the despatch bilingual c.d.s. struck at left; 1899 (8 June) card with printed message, addressed to Wuchang and cancelled by a fine strike of the Hankow bilingual c.d.s. Possibly the earliest dates of the Soochow and Hankow bilingual datestamps. (3)
Further details
Little is known about the date of introduction of the bilingual dater. Paul Chang's earliest recorded date is of Shanghai dated 1899 (28 Apr.) and seven other cities with earliest dates in May 1899, these do not include either Soochow or Hankow