The February Sale

United States Naval Depot, Hong Kong, well-struck red oval handstamp with intricate design depicting an eagle with a shield as a chest and holding an olive branch in one talon and four arrows in the other with 32-Star design above, on circa 1862-64 cover from the Hurlbert correspondence to Newtonville Mass.; light cover aging, opened along left edge, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $5,000 - 7,500.

THIS NEWLY-DISCOVERED COVER IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE U.S. NAVAL DEPOT HONG KONG HANDSTAMP. OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

As the United States naval presence in Asia increased, a depot was established in Hong Kong in order to provide a ready means of replenishing ships. Mail to and from Hong Kong was usually carried by the British post, either overland, via Marseilles or via Southampton. This marking was probably used by a forwarded agent facilitating the mail.