Magnolia collection of Hong Kong and treaty ports postal history in Oct. 15 Siegel auction

By Charles Snee

Collectors attracted to Hong Kong will have numerous opportunities to add items to their collections during Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries’ Oct. 15 sale of the Magnolia collection of postal history Hong Kong and treaty ports.

In the introduction to the sale catalog, Siegel provides a brief summary of the history of Hong Kong as it relates to the collection.

“Hong Kong’s geographic position at the southern part of China made the island and peninsula a vital part of the British Empire’s burgeoning colonial interests in Asia,” Siegel said.

During a period of hostility in the 1850s (particularly the 1856-60 Second Opium War) and the opening of China’s treaty ports, “mail communications were greatly influenced by foreign trade and missionary work,” Siegel said. “The mail service to, from and within China and Hong Kong was expanded, and the stamps and covers are the artifacts of this period of profound change.”

The introduction concludes with a summation of the collection’s importance:

“The Magnolia collection is an in-depth postal history study of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports. Items were carefully acquired over the course of many years, both publicly and privately. Many well-known rarities will be found in this sale, and the opportunity to acquire key pieces will not be lost on specialists. For those who might wish to expand their collecting interests, this sale is a special event.”

Illustrated front and back nearby is a marvelous cover from the collection: an 1882 registered cover mailed from Hong Kong to Colchester, England, that is franked with 15 examples of the Hong Kong 1882 2¢ rose lake Queen Victoria stamp (Scott 36). The front of the letter bears a pair (upper left corner) and six singles; a block of six and a single are affixed to the back.

Notice of the stamps on the reverse is indicated by a manuscript “For stamps see Back” in the upper left corner on the front of the envelope.

All of the stamps are neatly canceled with eight strikes of the scarce barred “62B” handstamp that was applied in Hong Kong.

As a measure of the cover’s scarcity, Siegel cites Hong Kong specialist R.N. Gurevitch, who estimates that about 50 covers bearing the barred “62B” marking exist.

According to Siegel, the red “R” in circle handstamp on the front of the cover “is particularly rare and we doubt more than a handful exist.” Siegel also states that the letter is illustrated in Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan by F.W. Webb.

As shown on the front, the cover was postmarked Aug. 24, 1882, in Hong Kong. Also on the front is a red oval London transit handstamp. A black handstamp on the back shows the cover arrived in Colchester on Oct. 2.

Siegel is offering this attractive 1882 registered letter from Hong Kong with an estimate of $4,000 to $5,000.

For comparison, Hong Kong Scott 36 is valued on cover at $325 in the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers.

Full details of Siegel’s sale of the Magnolia collection of Hong Kong and treaty ports postal history, including a downloadable version of the 117-page catalog and online bidding options, are available on the Siegel website.

For additional information, contact Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 21 W. 38th St., Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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