Welcome to SOR!
Ningpo wrote:
"My Hong Kong collection encompasses just about everything up to the handover to China in 1997 and has been assembled over about 25 years.
I collect mint and used of all reigns, Treaty Port cancels, China overprints and fiscals, Japanese occupation and the strange and curious."
Welcome Ningpo,
Always good to have knowledgeable folk to chat with. Jump on in to our discussion board-the topics are many and varied.
Nice to have you with us.
Dan C.
Thank you for your welcome Peter and Dan.
I have come onto this board in the hope I might find at least one person who has a real interest in my field. I have been a member on another very large board for over two years. If I had a pound (£) for every sensible response to my posts, I'd probably owe money.
Welcome aboard Ningpo, we're glad to see and hear from you.
Mike
Thank you Mike.
I'm just in the process of choosing something for my 'avatar' if that is the term used here!
Then I shall no doubt clag the whole thing up trying to load it. But as the saying goes,"practice makes perfect....makes perfect practice!"
I posted some HK stuff in the forum when I joined; I encourage you to do likewise.
BTW, if have an extra mint 96c bistre ...
Peter
Thanks for the advice Peter. I'm not used to flaunting my stuff unless it is under a dedicated topic. Could you possibly give me a hint as to what I should do?
By the way I have just uploaded a 'test' avatar. Seems I got it to work.
Great cancel on the stamp, for your avatar!
It is easy to post here; go to the Topics section and I would post British Hong Kong under Asia/Other (since for the British Colony, it is not technically China ... yet!) and the Treaty Ports under Asia/China.
I also noticed we don't have a British Commonwealth/Empire category; too bad or it could fit there too.
Here are the posts I've made so far:
Hong Kong perfin society:
SOR link to HK Perfin post
Basic Treaty Port info:
SOR link to British Treaty Port Profile post
Just a couple of examples of what one might do. Other members do similar posts for their specialized areas.
Cheers,
Peter
Thank you for your help Peter.
"I also noticed we don't have a British Commonwealth/Empire category; too bad or it could fit there too."
Welcome to Stamporama!
I came across this article in THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILATELY - June 1st, 1868 and I thought it might be of interest to you.
THE USE OF HONG-KONG STAMPS IN JAPAN
We have received the following from an obliging correspondent, and we think it will be of interest to our readers.
I observe you state, at page 165 of your third volume, that the use of the stamps for our colony at Hong Kong was extended to Jeddo (Yedo) and Nagasaki, in the Japan islands.
I now hand you a copy of the circular regulating the sale of stamps in Yedo and also a notification respecting a supply for Kanagawa, or, as it is termed by the foreign residents, Yokohama
These notices appeared in the Japan Commercial News for the 7th September 1864, and published in Kanagawa.
NOTIFICATION.
"The following extract of a circular dispatch received from F.W. Mtchell, Esq., H.B.M.'s Postmaster-General for the colony of Hong Kong, is published for the information of the foreign community as this port: A supply of postage stamps has been sent for. Upon receipt of the stamps due notice will be given to the community.
PHILIP B. WALSH
"Packet Agency,
"Kanagawa, 1st, Sept., 1864."
"CIRCULAR.
"General Post-Office, Hong Kong,
"18th August, 1864.
"Sir, - As very considerable inconvenience is felt in this department through one portion of the correspondence contained in the mails received here from the Packet Agencies being prepaid in money, and the other by means of postage stamps; and as difficulties arise in adjusting the accounts with the Imperial Post-Office in consequence; I have to request that, on and after the 15th October next, you will discontinue to receive money in payment of the correspondence posted at your office, and you, will demand that such payment be made in the postage stamps of the colony of Hong Kong. This system has been in operation here for the last few months; and although it met with many objections from the community at the outset, it was soon found to bean advantage, and also a convenience to the post-office. Similar objections may possibly be raised at your port; I am satisfied, however, that they can soon be surmounted, and consequently no modification will be made in this arrangement.
I enclose you sets of the table of rates of postage in force here, and the same, as you are aware, apply to Yedo, with the addition of the local rate of 8 cents per 1/2 ounce letter, and 2 cents for each paper, or price current, forwarded from your office to this dispatch to all places, except the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and other places through England and France.
"(Signed),
"F.W. Mitchell,
"Postmaster-General.
"To H.B.M.'s Packet Agent, Yedo."
It would seem by the above, that letters to this country would come direct without the bags being opened at Hong Kong. I have seen many packets from Kangawa, and the stamps have always been post-marked with the B. 62 which is found on all the labels of that colony.
Correspondence sent by the Messageries Imperial is, of course, franked with French stamps, which are generally obliterated by a diamond of small dots, with an anchor in the centre. - Stamp-Collectors Magazine.
*************
I don't know if this short post is of assistance to Hong Kong collectors but I just read it at the same time I read your introduction and thought to post it here.
All the best.
Kelly
This a very interesting piece Kelly, thank you. I shall have to look at how this fits in with F W Webb's articles on Japanese treaty port mail. Even though the 'current' issue (printed in 1991) was a revision of Colonel Webb's first edition, it too may need updating. We shall see.
Welcome, Ningpo, to Stamporama!
Hong Kong is also one of my collecting areas, although I am not nearly as knowledgeable in HK philately as you or Peter. I enjoyed a trip to Hong Kong back almost 20 years ago and that definitely spurred my interest in HK issues.
It also helps that a noted China/Asia dealer is in my backyard.
Michael Rogers is located in Winter Park and offers Hong Kong material in his Mail Sales and Public Auctions. I have picked up a number of HK stamps from him over the years.
His webiste, in case you were interested, is www.michaelrogersinc.com .
I look forward to your contributions here on SOR! BOB STEWART Orlando, FL
Thank you Bob for your kind welcome. It is encouraging to know there is another HK collector on this board. Do you collect everything, or something specific?
Thanks for the link to Michael Rogers. I am familiar with this dealer. I may have bought something from him in the past. I'm sure I used to get auction catalogues from him a while back too.
Unfortunately, much of the material I now need, I cannot afford (like the majority of collectors). I just seem to spend my money on superseding odd values and trying to get hold of some of the 1992/93 used definitives (very difficult to obtain); the ones with two printers and countless values.
Sorting through some of my collection during the World Cup game today, I came across these three that will join their siblings in the album.
Thought you might like these, given the cancel.
Peter
images removed by author
Nice strikes Peter. These are becoming more difficult to get at a sensible price.
Are you familiar with the two cancellation types on my avatar?
Macau? If it is WOW. Tell me more.
As for the 'pre-cancel'; its the rhomboid of dots, thought by some to be from a hill station nearby.
Well this is an oddball. It's not the Indian 'M'. Can't comment on the NZ 'M'.
If this is an 'N1', the slug must have been damaged/very loose; it's bending right and there's that mirrored thick vertical bar on the right. There's no obvious serif on the RH upright and you have a mirror pair of serifs on the bottom. Can't see this is an 'N1'.
I do have a question about the Macao killer though. Why, if one was ordered, did it not seemingly come into use? Of course there is only an assumption it was designated 'M1'.
You are correct, it was never officially known as M1 if one was indeed issued. I recall reading a brief bit in Webb about it, that it was ordered but not issued, but no explanation. I believe Proud has something similar about it.
My take is that Macao was not a treaty port per se; there was a British post office in Macao but as a Portuguese colony it did not have a formal treaty port agreement as the China ports did. All killer cancels were issued from actual treaty ports in China (A1 Amoy, C1 Canton, etc.) and Japan (e.g., Y1 Yokohama).
If you can recommend a good expertizing service for this stamp, I'll send it there. Very few of those in the US, so most likely somewhere in the UK.
Peter
You mentioned the HKSC. Are you a actually a member? Would it not be better to push this past them?
I think you are in strange territory here and may be wasting your effort having it expertised. After all, who would be prepared to put their signature to something that 'does not exist'. Just look at the recent debacle over the GB Penny Red plate 77.
I could imagine that you would be fobbed off with exactly what we have discussed; a distorted 'N1', or more likely a foreign postmark.
There's been a fair bit of bad press on other boards about bad certification. I mauled one certificate myself on a Hong Kong item that had been listed on eBay. The well known expert in question, it turned out, had made a number of bad judgements already. He may perversely give you a good cert. but who would trust it?
If I were a member of the HKSC (I used to be), I would try and get them to examine it.
I collect all HK, but I confess my interest has declined considerably since the Chinese takeover, as I cannot keep up with all the new issues--I don't even try.
I also collect British Offices in China.
I recently won a QV Gray 96 cents perfin (Scott 24) and the International Cooperation Year set MNH (Sc 223-224) from Mr. Rogers. I still have many holes to fill, although they are getting more expensive to do so.
My favorite Hong Kong issue is the 1970 Year of the Dog set. Those Chows are too cute.
bobstewart617 wrote:
"My favorite Hong Kong issue is the 1970 Year of the Dog set. Those Chows are too cute."
Wow, the three of us collect the same areas! I love it! I thought I was alone!
Ningpo, I used to belong but let that, and other association memberships, lapse a few years ago. I think I like the intrigue of not knowing one way or the other. I did ask a couple of folks who were members when I put the question to them, and they referred me to a past editorial (I think issue 289) where this Macao killer cancel issue was extensively discussed.
Who said stamp collecting couldn't be dramatic too?
Peter
Peter,
Are you able to get hold of that article? It love to see it.
Incidentally, I stupidly let my membership lapse back in'95. I did make enquiries about rejoining. It's easier now in that you no longer need references. They only accept cheque (check) payments though, which is a bit archaic.
I beat myself up about the lapse, particularly as I've missed stacks of bulletins and articles.
Okay let's try this as an image scan. The top is the original editorial in issue 279. The bottom is a follow up in issue 281. Note that this is NOT my stamp but one that more clearly shows M1 (at least at initial observation).
I am also a Hong Kong collector, and I find all of this very interesting. Thanks for posting this article. I collect and study everything to do with Hong Kong postal history, but I do not post on here very often. My job and family take up too much of my time. But I enjoy reading threads like this and I just wanted to let you all know that there is a fourth Hong Kong collector on Stamporama. Linus
Peter,
I've been a complete idiot. Some of my comments about the apparent 'M1' cancel are way off beam!
I stupidly commented on one of the comparison cancels. Hence me saying, "Can't comment on the NZ 'M'"; not realising I was actually looking at it.
You must have thought I had amazing eyesight to see all those serifs.
Does any of this make sense?
So with a bit more clarity of mind and vision, I am inclined to swerve away from the 'M1'. Perhaps a distorted 'N1' is possible.
I'm sorry if I pumped this up a bit. However, if this is an 'N1', (with a very loose '1'), it's still a very desirable cancel.
I'm no expert on these cancels, but it seems clear to me that it is a "W". "M"s have vertical and parallel sides. W's sides are not parallel. I think that the sides of this letter are not parallel, and therefore a "W".
Roy
Roy, have you by any chance made my mistake and looked at the right hand picture (second image down)? That's the New Zealand stamp. And yes I agree, that's a 'W'.
That's why I got in a bit of a tangle.
Here is a copy of my 1862 unwatermarked 2c QV with what appears to be a 'B' cancel. Any info on it appreciated.
Thanks
Mike in NC / meostamps
Mike,
The cancellation is a 'B62', which was the standard obliterator for all mail handled in Hong Kong. Strangely, this mark in black is more difficult to find.
In the early days, mail sent from the treaty ports of Shanghai, Canton, Foochow, etc. went through Hong Kong for onward transmission. Such mail also received the B62 cancellation. It was some years later that the treaty ports used their own obliterators; S1, C1, F1 etc.
This was a sensible move, as some mail was interfered with on transit to Hong Kong; stamps were removed (stolen) from envelopes and were redeemed for cash at the post office.
Thanks for the info, Clive
Cheers
Mike in NC / meostamps
"Roy, have you by any chance made my mistake and looked at the right hand picture (second image down)? That's the New Zealand stamp. And yes I agree, that's a 'W'."
Clive and Roy, thanks for your thoughts on this; I never think anyone is foolish in their opinions or observations. This is quite the conundrum, isn't it? I think the intrigue that it could be an unique example of the alluded to M1 killer cancel has influenced the perception of anyone looking at this to see the M, versus for example, a W. Still, M or W, that is not associated with Hong Kong or Treaty Port killer cancels. I am increasingly inclined to think this is an optical illusion of some sort, as the HKSC article describes. If it were a NZ cancel, that would be as rare on a HK stamp as the mythical M1 too!
Who said stamp collecting for boring, eh? (well, no one here for sure!)
Linus, a belated welcome! I missed your post among the others, but wanted to welcome you. I look forward to seeing your collection too.
Cheers,
Peter
Sorry I missed your post Linus. Nice to hear from you. Hope you will be able to post some of your collection.
Well hopefully, the subject line tells it all.
Hong Kong is my main collecting interest, along with Aden and states.
My Hong Kong collection encompasses just about everything up to the handover to China in 1997 and has been assembled over about 25 years.
I collect mint and used of all reigns, Treaty Port cancels, China overprints and fiscals, Japanese occupation and the strange and curious.
I also collect postal history, fakes and forgeries, postcards and slogan postmarks.
The trouble is, even with a mainly one country collection, my material is spread too thinly for my liking.
I do take a particular interest in provisional overprints and have a good eye for material that is often mis-described on the likes of eBay.
Hopefully, I'll be able to offer my opinions as well as learning from those on this board.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Welcome to SOR!
Ningpo wrote:
"My Hong Kong collection encompasses just about everything up to the handover to China in 1997 and has been assembled over about 25 years.
I collect mint and used of all reigns, Treaty Port cancels, China overprints and fiscals, Japanese occupation and the strange and curious."
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Welcome Ningpo,
Always good to have knowledgeable folk to chat with. Jump on in to our discussion board-the topics are many and varied.
Nice to have you with us.
Dan C.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thank you for your welcome Peter and Dan.
I have come onto this board in the hope I might find at least one person who has a real interest in my field. I have been a member on another very large board for over two years. If I had a pound (£) for every sensible response to my posts, I'd probably owe money.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Welcome aboard Ningpo, we're glad to see and hear from you.
Mike
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thank you Mike.
I'm just in the process of choosing something for my 'avatar' if that is the term used here!
Then I shall no doubt clag the whole thing up trying to load it. But as the saying goes,"practice makes perfect....makes perfect practice!"
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
I posted some HK stuff in the forum when I joined; I encourage you to do likewise.
BTW, if have an extra mint 96c bistre ...
Peter
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thanks for the advice Peter. I'm not used to flaunting my stuff unless it is under a dedicated topic. Could you possibly give me a hint as to what I should do?
By the way I have just uploaded a 'test' avatar. Seems I got it to work.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Great cancel on the stamp, for your avatar!
It is easy to post here; go to the Topics section and I would post British Hong Kong under Asia/Other (since for the British Colony, it is not technically China ... yet!) and the Treaty Ports under Asia/China.
I also noticed we don't have a British Commonwealth/Empire category; too bad or it could fit there too.
Here are the posts I've made so far:
Hong Kong perfin society:
SOR link to HK Perfin post
Basic Treaty Port info:
SOR link to British Treaty Port Profile post
Just a couple of examples of what one might do. Other members do similar posts for their specialized areas.
Cheers,
Peter
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thank you for your help Peter.
"I also noticed we don't have a British Commonwealth/Empire category; too bad or it could fit there too."
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
I came across this article in THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILATELY - June 1st, 1868 and I thought it might be of interest to you.
THE USE OF HONG-KONG STAMPS IN JAPAN
We have received the following from an obliging correspondent, and we think it will be of interest to our readers.
I observe you state, at page 165 of your third volume, that the use of the stamps for our colony at Hong Kong was extended to Jeddo (Yedo) and Nagasaki, in the Japan islands.
I now hand you a copy of the circular regulating the sale of stamps in Yedo and also a notification respecting a supply for Kanagawa, or, as it is termed by the foreign residents, Yokohama
These notices appeared in the Japan Commercial News for the 7th September 1864, and published in Kanagawa.
NOTIFICATION.
"The following extract of a circular dispatch received from F.W. Mtchell, Esq., H.B.M.'s Postmaster-General for the colony of Hong Kong, is published for the information of the foreign community as this port: A supply of postage stamps has been sent for. Upon receipt of the stamps due notice will be given to the community.
PHILIP B. WALSH
"Packet Agency,
"Kanagawa, 1st, Sept., 1864."
"CIRCULAR.
"General Post-Office, Hong Kong,
"18th August, 1864.
"Sir, - As very considerable inconvenience is felt in this department through one portion of the correspondence contained in the mails received here from the Packet Agencies being prepaid in money, and the other by means of postage stamps; and as difficulties arise in adjusting the accounts with the Imperial Post-Office in consequence; I have to request that, on and after the 15th October next, you will discontinue to receive money in payment of the correspondence posted at your office, and you, will demand that such payment be made in the postage stamps of the colony of Hong Kong. This system has been in operation here for the last few months; and although it met with many objections from the community at the outset, it was soon found to bean advantage, and also a convenience to the post-office. Similar objections may possibly be raised at your port; I am satisfied, however, that they can soon be surmounted, and consequently no modification will be made in this arrangement.
I enclose you sets of the table of rates of postage in force here, and the same, as you are aware, apply to Yedo, with the addition of the local rate of 8 cents per 1/2 ounce letter, and 2 cents for each paper, or price current, forwarded from your office to this dispatch to all places, except the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and other places through England and France.
"(Signed),
"F.W. Mitchell,
"Postmaster-General.
"To H.B.M.'s Packet Agent, Yedo."
It would seem by the above, that letters to this country would come direct without the bags being opened at Hong Kong. I have seen many packets from Kangawa, and the stamps have always been post-marked with the B. 62 which is found on all the labels of that colony.
Correspondence sent by the Messageries Imperial is, of course, franked with French stamps, which are generally obliterated by a diamond of small dots, with an anchor in the centre. - Stamp-Collectors Magazine.
*************
I don't know if this short post is of assistance to Hong Kong collectors but I just read it at the same time I read your introduction and thought to post it here.
All the best.
Kelly
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
This a very interesting piece Kelly, thank you. I shall have to look at how this fits in with F W Webb's articles on Japanese treaty port mail. Even though the 'current' issue (printed in 1991) was a revision of Colonel Webb's first edition, it too may need updating. We shall see.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Welcome, Ningpo, to Stamporama!
Hong Kong is also one of my collecting areas, although I am not nearly as knowledgeable in HK philately as you or Peter. I enjoyed a trip to Hong Kong back almost 20 years ago and that definitely spurred my interest in HK issues.
It also helps that a noted China/Asia dealer is in my backyard.
Michael Rogers is located in Winter Park and offers Hong Kong material in his Mail Sales and Public Auctions. I have picked up a number of HK stamps from him over the years.
His webiste, in case you were interested, is www.michaelrogersinc.com .
I look forward to your contributions here on SOR! BOB STEWART Orlando, FL
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thank you Bob for your kind welcome. It is encouraging to know there is another HK collector on this board. Do you collect everything, or something specific?
Thanks for the link to Michael Rogers. I am familiar with this dealer. I may have bought something from him in the past. I'm sure I used to get auction catalogues from him a while back too.
Unfortunately, much of the material I now need, I cannot afford (like the majority of collectors). I just seem to spend my money on superseding odd values and trying to get hold of some of the 1992/93 used definitives (very difficult to obtain); the ones with two printers and countless values.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Sorting through some of my collection during the World Cup game today, I came across these three that will join their siblings in the album.
Thought you might like these, given the cancel.
Peter
images removed by author
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Nice strikes Peter. These are becoming more difficult to get at a sensible price.
Are you familiar with the two cancellation types on my avatar?
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Macau? If it is WOW. Tell me more.
As for the 'pre-cancel'; its the rhomboid of dots, thought by some to be from a hill station nearby.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Well this is an oddball. It's not the Indian 'M'. Can't comment on the NZ 'M'.
If this is an 'N1', the slug must have been damaged/very loose; it's bending right and there's that mirrored thick vertical bar on the right. There's no obvious serif on the RH upright and you have a mirror pair of serifs on the bottom. Can't see this is an 'N1'.
I do have a question about the Macao killer though. Why, if one was ordered, did it not seemingly come into use? Of course there is only an assumption it was designated 'M1'.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
You are correct, it was never officially known as M1 if one was indeed issued. I recall reading a brief bit in Webb about it, that it was ordered but not issued, but no explanation. I believe Proud has something similar about it.
My take is that Macao was not a treaty port per se; there was a British post office in Macao but as a Portuguese colony it did not have a formal treaty port agreement as the China ports did. All killer cancels were issued from actual treaty ports in China (A1 Amoy, C1 Canton, etc.) and Japan (e.g., Y1 Yokohama).
If you can recommend a good expertizing service for this stamp, I'll send it there. Very few of those in the US, so most likely somewhere in the UK.
Peter
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
You mentioned the HKSC. Are you a actually a member? Would it not be better to push this past them?
I think you are in strange territory here and may be wasting your effort having it expertised. After all, who would be prepared to put their signature to something that 'does not exist'. Just look at the recent debacle over the GB Penny Red plate 77.
I could imagine that you would be fobbed off with exactly what we have discussed; a distorted 'N1', or more likely a foreign postmark.
There's been a fair bit of bad press on other boards about bad certification. I mauled one certificate myself on a Hong Kong item that had been listed on eBay. The well known expert in question, it turned out, had made a number of bad judgements already. He may perversely give you a good cert. but who would trust it?
If I were a member of the HKSC (I used to be), I would try and get them to examine it.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
I collect all HK, but I confess my interest has declined considerably since the Chinese takeover, as I cannot keep up with all the new issues--I don't even try.
I also collect British Offices in China.
I recently won a QV Gray 96 cents perfin (Scott 24) and the International Cooperation Year set MNH (Sc 223-224) from Mr. Rogers. I still have many holes to fill, although they are getting more expensive to do so.
My favorite Hong Kong issue is the 1970 Year of the Dog set. Those Chows are too cute.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
bobstewart617 wrote:
"My favorite Hong Kong issue is the 1970 Year of the Dog set. Those Chows are too cute."
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Wow, the three of us collect the same areas! I love it! I thought I was alone!
Ningpo, I used to belong but let that, and other association memberships, lapse a few years ago. I think I like the intrigue of not knowing one way or the other. I did ask a couple of folks who were members when I put the question to them, and they referred me to a past editorial (I think issue 289) where this Macao killer cancel issue was extensively discussed.
Who said stamp collecting couldn't be dramatic too?
Peter
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Peter,
Are you able to get hold of that article? It love to see it.
Incidentally, I stupidly let my membership lapse back in'95. I did make enquiries about rejoining. It's easier now in that you no longer need references. They only accept cheque (check) payments though, which is a bit archaic.
I beat myself up about the lapse, particularly as I've missed stacks of bulletins and articles.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Okay let's try this as an image scan. The top is the original editorial in issue 279. The bottom is a follow up in issue 281. Note that this is NOT my stamp but one that more clearly shows M1 (at least at initial observation).
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
I am also a Hong Kong collector, and I find all of this very interesting. Thanks for posting this article. I collect and study everything to do with Hong Kong postal history, but I do not post on here very often. My job and family take up too much of my time. But I enjoy reading threads like this and I just wanted to let you all know that there is a fourth Hong Kong collector on Stamporama. Linus
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Peter,
I've been a complete idiot. Some of my comments about the apparent 'M1' cancel are way off beam!
I stupidly commented on one of the comparison cancels. Hence me saying, "Can't comment on the NZ 'M'"; not realising I was actually looking at it.
You must have thought I had amazing eyesight to see all those serifs.
Does any of this make sense?
So with a bit more clarity of mind and vision, I am inclined to swerve away from the 'M1'. Perhaps a distorted 'N1' is possible.
I'm sorry if I pumped this up a bit. However, if this is an 'N1', (with a very loose '1'), it's still a very desirable cancel.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
I'm no expert on these cancels, but it seems clear to me that it is a "W". "M"s have vertical and parallel sides. W's sides are not parallel. I think that the sides of this letter are not parallel, and therefore a "W".
Roy
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Roy, have you by any chance made my mistake and looked at the right hand picture (second image down)? That's the New Zealand stamp. And yes I agree, that's a 'W'.
That's why I got in a bit of a tangle.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Here is a copy of my 1862 unwatermarked 2c QV with what appears to be a 'B' cancel. Any info on it appreciated.
Thanks
Mike in NC / meostamps
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Mike,
The cancellation is a 'B62', which was the standard obliterator for all mail handled in Hong Kong. Strangely, this mark in black is more difficult to find.
In the early days, mail sent from the treaty ports of Shanghai, Canton, Foochow, etc. went through Hong Kong for onward transmission. Such mail also received the B62 cancellation. It was some years later that the treaty ports used their own obliterators; S1, C1, F1 etc.
This was a sensible move, as some mail was interfered with on transit to Hong Kong; stamps were removed (stolen) from envelopes and were redeemed for cash at the post office.
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Thanks for the info, Clive
Cheers
Mike in NC / meostamps
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
"Roy, have you by any chance made my mistake and looked at the right hand picture (second image down)? That's the New Zealand stamp. And yes I agree, that's a 'W'."
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Clive and Roy, thanks for your thoughts on this; I never think anyone is foolish in their opinions or observations. This is quite the conundrum, isn't it? I think the intrigue that it could be an unique example of the alluded to M1 killer cancel has influenced the perception of anyone looking at this to see the M, versus for example, a W. Still, M or W, that is not associated with Hong Kong or Treaty Port killer cancels. I am increasingly inclined to think this is an optical illusion of some sort, as the HKSC article describes. If it were a NZ cancel, that would be as rare on a HK stamp as the mythical M1 too!
Who said stamp collecting for boring, eh? (well, no one here for sure!)
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Linus, a belated welcome! I missed your post among the others, but wanted to welcome you. I look forward to seeing your collection too.
Cheers,
Peter
re: Hello from 'Ningpo', here in the UK. I'm mainly a Hong Kong collector.
Sorry I missed your post Linus. Nice to hear from you. Hope you will be able to post some of your collection.