Lot# 9008

airmail cover sent from Shanghai to Tokyo on 9 February 1950 (the last day of the First Postal Tariff Period), franked with four East China Liberated Area and surcharge-overprinted stamps, totaling 7,700 yuan (RMB), tied by “Shanghai 50.2.9” cds and “Canton 50.2.14” transit on reverse. Endorsed “Via Hong Kong”, the mail was routed through Canton and Hong Kong for onward transmission to Japan. This cover was posted during the First Postal Tariff Period (1-9 February 1950) under the newly unified RMB postal system. The correct postage for an airmail letter to Asia at the time was 7,200 yuan (comprising 1,800 yuan for the first 20 grams international surface letter rate plus 5,400 yuan airmail surcharge per 10 grams). The sender, however, affixed 7,700 yuan, an overpayment of 500 yuan, likely in anticipation of the rate adjustment that came into effect the following day (10 February 1950), when the surface letter rate was raised to 2,300 yuan. This is the only known airmail cover sent to an Asian destination during the First Postal Tariff Period, making it an exceptionally rare and significant postal history item. It vividly illustrates the transitional phase of postal rate standardization in the early People’s Republic of China and the important intermediary role of Hong Kong in reestablishing international airmail connections in the post-war period. An outstanding and highly important example of early RMB postal system usage on airmail to Asia, of great philatelic and exhibition value.