Lot# 9058

posted at Shanghai on 7 January 1954, the cover was routed through Canton (11 Jan) and Hong Kong, and was originally intended to reach Hamburg via Rome and Frankfurt. It was, however, involved in the Philippine Airlines flight PR501 crash at Rome on 14 January 1954, and was subsequently recovered from the wreck. The cover shows clear evidence of water and smoke damage, and is franked with four stamps totaling 11,200 yuan, correctly paying the 10g airmail rate to Western Europe (via Hong Kong) during the 7th postal rate period (1 May 1953 - 31 Dec 1954). After recovery, the Rome Post Office applied a two-line cachet indicating the mail’s salvage from the crash, and upon arrival in Frankfurt (Main) Luftpostamt, a five-line typewritten explanation label was affixed, reading: “Die Sendung wurde beim Flugzeugunglück der PHILIPPINE AIR LINES PR 501 / Manila–Rom–London am / 14.1.54 in Rom geborgen” (“This mail was recovered in Rome from the Philippine Air Lines flight PR501 Manila - Rome - London air crash of 14 January 1954”). Below it is a three-line violet handstamp “Luftpostamt Frankfurt (Main) / Flughafen Rhein-Main”, accompanied by two manuscript signatures confirming official verification. A scarce and significant crash-salvaged airmail cover, fully prepaid and bearing a clear postal route, this item provides a complete record of one of the most notable postal incidents in the early history of PRC international airmails. It represents a rare and valuable piece for postal history study and exhibition. Note: Philippine Air Lines Flight PR294 (aircraft reg. PI-C-294) is also recorded as PR501 in European postal documents; both designations refer to the same DC-6 aircraft involved in the Rome crash of 14 January 1954.