The 2025 December Auction - Sale 346 (December 13 - December 16, 2025)
Sale 346
- (-) Remove The International Airmails of PRC (1949-1956) filter The International Airmails of PRC (1949-1956)
franked to the inclusive rate of 11,200 yuan (Old RMB), the cover was mailed from Harbin on 11 June 1953 and backstamped at Canton on 18 June, showing transit via South China before onward dispatch to San Francisco. The postage comprised 2,200 yuan for the first 20g of international surface postage and an airmail surcharge of 9,000 yuan per 10g to “Other Countries,” totaling 11,200 yuan. The cover demonstrates accurate franking and proper application of the revised international airmail rate, illustrating the continued normalization of China’s international postal system during the early 1950s. A scarce and well-preserved postal history example from Northeast China to the United States, with full and clear postal markings, representing an important transitional usage under the Old RMB system.
two airmail covers from Northeast China to USA, both correctly franked in Old RMB during the 7th Postal Tariff Period (1 May 1953 – 31 December 1954). The first, dated 2 November 1954 from Harbin to San Francisco, was franked to 11,200 yuan (2,200 yuan surface postage plus 9,000 yuan airmail surcharge per 10 grams), with “Harbin 54.11.2” and “Canton 54.11.8” markings. The second, dated 7 December 1954 from Dairen to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was double-weight and paid 20,200 yuan (2,200 + 18,000 yuan), showing “Dairen 54.12.7” and “Canton 54.12.12” cds. Both were routed via Canton and Hong Kong by Pan American Airways to the U.S. These covers reflect the maturity of the PRC’s postal system under the unified Old RMB rates, showing accurate franking, clear postal markings, and correct routing—fine examples of fully prepaid international airmail from the early PRC period.
airmail cover sent on 13 April 1955 from Shenyang to Copenhagen, Denmark, franked with a total of 7,000 yuan in Old RMB Currency stamps x 5, tied by “Shenyang 55.4.13” cds, with “Canton 55.4.19” transit and Danish arrival markings. The postage paid corresponded to the inclusive rate for the route via Prague (2,000 yuan international surface rate plus 5,000 yuan air surcharge), but the letter was instead dispatched by the more expensive Hong Kong route, for which the correct rate was 10,200 yuan (2,200 + 8,000 yuan). As a result, the cover was short-paid by 3,200 yuan and treated as underfranked upon arrival, bearing a circular “T” postage due marking and a Danish “15 øre” due handstamp. This cover was mailed during the 8th Postal Tariff Period (1 January 1955 - 31 August 1956), when the nationwide international airmail rate to Western Europe via Hong Kong was set at 8,000 yuan per 10g, in addition to the 2,200 yuan international surface rate. The postage discrepancy arose because the sender calculated based on the cheaper rate via the Soviet/Prague route, unaware that mail from Manchuria was then often routed through Canton and Hong Kong. Such covers showing underpayment due to routing changes are rare and of great postal historical significance, illustrating both the transitional complexities of PRC international airmail operations and the cost differentials between the two routes to Europe.
each franked with 100,000 yuan corresponding to the airmail rate to Asian destinations during the 1st Postal Rate Period (10 February - 19 August, 1950), however, expert examination shows that the postmarks on both covers are not genuine postal cancellations, but forged strikes applied after the fact, indicating that these covers were not genuinely mailed but rather fabricated or philatelically produced items. Although not authentic postal usages, their appearance follows the correct rate and format of the period, providing reference value for the study of the early postal system in the Northeast China Liberated Area and the phenomenon of postal fabrications in early PRC philately.
representing genuine usages during the nationwide 8th Postal Tariff Period (1 January 1955 - 31 August 1956): the group provides a comprehensive illustration of the operational framework of the early PRC international airmail system. The selection includes a variety of formats, airmail letters, postcards, and registered covers, addressed to destinations across Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, routed either via Hong Kong or via Moscow. Each item is accurately franked with combinations of contemporary definitives: 13,400 yuan for a registered airmail letter to London, 10,200 yuan for mail via Moscow and Czechoslovakia, 6,100 yuan for an airmail postcard to Eastern Europe, 3,800 yuan for an airmail postcard to Singapore, and 7,000 yuan for a regular airmail cover to Northern Europe. All covers bear clear postal cancellations, registry labels, and “Par Avion” markings, effectively demonstrating the standardized differentiation of international airmail rates and routes under the 8th Postal Tariff Period. This well-preserved and cohesive group forms valuable postal evidence for studying the mid-1950s development of China’s international airmail service and postal rate reform.
the cover is franked with nine Southwest China Liberated Area “Rong” overprinted stamps, including one each of the 800-yuan and 1,000-yuan surcharges, plus seven of the 2,000-yuan value, making up the correct total postage of 15,800 yuan. This comprised 3,100 yuan for the first 20g of international surface postage and 12,700 yuan for the airmail surcharge via Hong Kong to Europe. The cover bears “Chengtu 50.6.14” cds with “Canton 50.6.25” transit on reverse. Posted from Chengdu, Sichuan to Yorkshire, England, this letter traveled a long route, first southward through Canton, and then forwarded via Hong Kong on a Pan American Airways (PAA) flight to Europe, representing a typical postal routing for early PRC international airmail. Posted soon after the nationwide postal unification under the People’s Post, this cover illustrates the transitional phase in Southwest China, when Liberation Area stamps were still accepted at revalued RMB denominations for international use. A representative postal history example of the period, it provides valuable evidence of Southwest China’s postal reorganization, early RMB postal rates, and Sino-European airmail exchanges, holding notable academic and exhibition significance.
these are representative examples illustrating the institutional development and rate adjustments of the early PRC international airmail system. The covers were addressed to destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia, all correctly rated according to the postal structure of “international surface postage plus airmail surcharge.” The group includes: a 1950 Shanghai–Singapore cover franked 9,000 yuan; a 1951 Shanghai–Switzerland cover via Prague franked 9,000 yuan; a 1953 Peking–East Germany postcard franked 6,700 yuan; a 1953 Peking–London cover franked 7,600 yuan; and an August 1955 Canton–Singapore cover franked 5,800 yuan. Together, the covers reflect the standardized operation of postal rates and international route divisions in the PRC’s airmail service during the early to mid-1950s, offering valuable material for postal history research and exhibition.
these covers were addressed to destinations in Asia, Europe, and North America, illustrating the postal calculation system of the time, combining the international surface postage with the corresponding airmail surcharge. One notable example is a cover sent from Hangchow to Canada in November 1950, franked 13,000 yuan (2,500 yuan surface postage plus 10,500 yuan airmail surcharge), routed via Hong Kong. Another is an airmail postcard sent from Peking to Hungary in September 1952, franked 8,000 yuan (1,500 yuan postcard rate plus 6,500 yuan airmail surcharge). The remaining two covers were addressed to Southeast Asia, both paid according to the airmail surcharge applicable to the Asian zone. Collectively, the group provides a complete picture of airmail operation during the early 6th Postal Tariff Period, reflecting the restoration and development of China’s international postal routes in the early years of the People’s Post, with strong postal history and exhibition value.
when the newly established postal administration restored and standardized its international airmail system. These covers span the 3rd to 8th postal rate periods (15 March 1950 - 31 August 1956) and are all ordinary airmail letters, correctly franked according to the postal rates in effect at the time, with varied and period-consistent stamp combinations. Most were dispatched from major postal ports such as Shanghai, Tientsin and Canton, routed via Hong Kong and carried by Pan American Airways (PAA) and other international airlines to destinations in Europe, America, and Asia. The group as a whole features clear postal routes and legible markings, providing an authentic record of the gradual restoration of China’s international airmail service during the early and mid-1950s. These covers vividly illustrate the operational development of China’s trans-Pacific and Asian airmail network and constitute valuable postal history materials for the study of postal rate systems and the evolution of international communications under the early People’s Post, possessing significant academic and exhibition importance.
serving as representative examples of the early PRC international postal system. During the 8th Postal Tariff Period (1 January 1955 - 31 August 1956), the aerogramme rate was 38 fen, and in the 9th Postal Tariff Period (effective from 1 September 1956) it was adjusted to 35 fen. Six of the items are international aerogrammes and remittance letters, most uprated with R series issues and bearing “PAR AVION / 航空” markings, addressed to destinations in Southeast Asia and Europe, including two remittance letters with original contents relating to remittance correspondence, vividly reflecting the realities of overseas Chinese communication. Also included is one airmail cover sent to Malaya. Collectively, the group illustrates the structured operation of the PRC postal system during the 8th–9th tariff periods, when aerogrammes and airmail letters coexisted, providing valuable reference material for the study of mid-1950s postal rate reform, route transit, and overseas Chinese postal exchanges.
the first cover, from Canton to USA on August 2, 1950, belongs to the 4th postal rate period (15 July - 15 August, 1950), franked 14,500 yuan, it correctly paid 2,800 yuan surface postage and 11,700 yuan airmail surcharge per 10 g, carried via Hong Kong by Pan American Airways (PAA). The second, from Shanghai to UK on July 22, 1950, is a registered airmail cover franked 56,000 yuan for about 40 g. The rate includes 4,800 yuan surface postage, 46,800 yuan airmail surcharge, and 4,200 yuan registration, slightly overpaid by 200 yuan, routed via Hong Kong to Britain. The third, from Tientsin to USA on October 12, 1950, belongs to the 5th postal rate period (16 August - 31 October, 1950), correctly franked 13,000 yuan (2,500 yuan surface + 10,500 yuan airmail surcharge per 10 g), also carried via Hong Kong by PAA. These three well-franked and clearly postmarked covers document the normalization of China’s international postal network in the early PRC and are valuable references for postal history research and exhibition.
this large commercial cover, weighing approximately 250g, is franked with sixteen stamps, totaling 270,400 yuan (old currency), slightly underpaid by 20,000 yuan compared to the correct rate of 290,400 yuan. The proper postage consisted of 2,500 yuan for the first 20g of international surface letter postage, 18,000 yuan for twelve additional weight steps, 262,500 yuan for 25 airmail increments at 10,500 yuan per 10g, plus 4,200 yuan registration and 3,200 yuan return receipt fee. The underpayment was likely tolerated by the postal authorities due to minor rounding in accounting or because the actual weight was slightly under 250g, both acceptable conditions for real commercial postings of the period. The cover tied by Tientsin 15.11.50 cds and with Canton 18.11.50 transit & New York 24.11.1950 arrival, having been routed south via Canton and flown from Hong Kong on Pan American Airways (PAA) to the United States. A scarce and remarkable heavy double-registered airmail cover of the early People’s Post period, clearly showing the complex postage composition and operational handling of trans-Pacific mail during the early 1950s. It stands as an outstanding example for the study of early PRC international postal operations and an excellent piece for exhibition.