Lot 2005 China French PO

3 July 1855, France sent to Canton, China affixed with a stripe of 4 imperforate 40 centimes orange "Empire Franc" stamp (Napoleon III), cancelled by box type Lozenges, with desptach c.d.s. "3 JUIL 55". On the back side, cancelled by double arc 'CANTON 27 AU 1855", and also double arc "HONG KONG 26 AG 1855". It is rare to have a stripe of 4 imperforate 40c Napoleon III stamps on cover sent to China. Secondly, most of covers sent to Canton will not carry any arrival c.d.s. but this one has a fine use of CANTON double arc c.d.s., and hence, very rare in nature.

法國寄往中國廣州 1855年7月3日,自法國寄往中國廣州之信函,貼附罕見的拿破崙三世肖像《帝國法蘭西》橙色40生丁無齒郵票一條四連張,全以方格型點線格“菱形”戰銷。信封正面附有清晰的發信日戳 “3 JUIL 55"。信封背面蓋有「HONG KONG 26 AG 1855」雙圈日戳以及極為罕見之「CANTON 27 AU 1855」雙圈到達日戳。此封信最為珍罕之處,在於兩點:其一,貼用四枚連張無齒40生丁拿破崙三世郵票實寄至中國;其二,多數寄往廣州之信件並無當地到達戳,而本件則保留清晰完整之 「CANTON」雙圈到達日戳,尤為難得。