The 2025 December Auction - Sale 346 (December 13 - December 16, 2025)
Sale 346
- (-) Remove Historical Postcards and Real Photos filter Historical Postcards and Real Photos
depicting the leading officials of the late Qing court seated in formal attire. An early 20th-century commemorative portrait postcard, finely produced and representative of the late Qing political elite.
including a chromolithographic card “The Flag of the Chinese Republic” depicting Yuan Shih-kai, First President of the Chinese Republic, published by Kingshill, Shanghai; together with a German postcard of Li Hung-chang (Li Hongzhang). Both finely printed portrait issues relating to major late Qing and early Republic statesmen.
depicting Li Hongzhang (李鴻章) seated with his family in an indoor setting, printed in monochrome. A Hong Kong-issued early portrait postcard of the eminent late Qing statesman, finely produced and of notable historical and collectible value.
early printed portrait postcard depicting Li Hongzhang (李鴻章), eminent Qing dynasty statesman and diplomat, shown in official attire with mandarin insignia on chest. Printed captions below portrait read “Li Hong Chan (China)” and “李鴻章（清國）”. With ornate embossed border design, typical of early Japanese-made portrait postcards. Scarce.
depicting the Qing Grand Councillor seated in official court attire, printed in monochrome with English caption “H.E. Chang Chih Tung Chinese Grand Councillor.” A finely printed early 20th-century portrait postcard of the influential late Qing reformist official.
German-language postcard titled “Vicekönig von Santschi-Üh” (Viceroy of Szechwan), published by Verlag Gebr. Trendel, Tientsin, No.143, depicting a Qing dynasty viceroy seated formally in full official attire with rank badge and court beads. A fine early 20th-century issue showing the image of a high-ranking Chinese official produced for the European market.
blue monochrome printed portrait captioned “山西臬台丁衡甫廉訪”, depicting the official in fur robe and hat, seated before an embroidered screen. Unused. Light toning, very fine.
3 sepia postcards depicting Qing and early Republican officials, comprising H. E. Tsao T'ing-chieh, H. E. Fan Tsêng-hsiang, and Chang Ping-hsiang Esq.. Fine impressions. Rare.
c.1900s pair of Qing-official portrait postcards:
(1) Published by Meishu She, titled “Commander-in-Chief Zhang (chairman) and Commissioner Chen (seated)” (正會長張制軍與坐辨陳觀察), in traditional attire.
(2) German Kiautschou postcard depicting Duke K’ung Ling-yi (孔令貽)—a direct descendant of Confucius—franked with a Kiautschou 1 Cent stamp tied by Tsingtau postmark and addressed to Haiphong, Tonkin, dated 1909. Scarce examples of late-Qing portraiture and foreign postal usage from China.
a group of seven studio portrait postcards depicting Chinese men in various Western and traditional attires, including early Republican-era gentlemen in suits, one captioned “A Chinese General” (Chas. F. Gammon Photo Series No.154), and one Danish missionary issue titled “Kinesisk Mandarin.” Mostly unused photo postcards printed on AZO paper, showing fine period details of attire, posture, and studio background.
a group of three portrait postcards: (1) F.-H. Schneider issue titled “Maréchal Sou”, depicting Admiral Su Yuanchun (提督蘇元春) seated outdoors; (2) A. Faugeron, titled “S. E. Sonenn Pao-Ki” (Sun Baoqi), Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of China, published for the Salon 1904, Paris; (3) Chas. F. Gammon Photo Series, titled “General Ma, commanding 7,500 troops,” showing a Qing general in full court attire holding a fan. A fine trio illustrating Qing-era Chinese military and diplomatic figures captured in Western photographic style.
depicting Chinese officials, soldiers, and group portraits of court and diplomatic figures, including a titled view Chinese Soldiers on the March. Together they reflect the visual representation and international circulation of late Qing to early Republican social and political imagery.