An 1895 Tientsin to New York cover led a sale at Zurich Asia in Hong Kong on August 31-September 1 with a final bid of $191,667 - up 24.4% on a $154,000 estimate.
 The cover is among the first examples of dowager franking in China |
It is believed to be the first example of Dowager franking sent via the US post office in China.
The front is adorned with a US 5c brown and 10c green stamped with a "U.S.POSTAL ANENCY/SHANGHAI/5.1.95" cancellation, while the reverse features three Chinese candarins stamps of varying values.
In March last year, a US post office in China cover from 1886 sold for $28,500 at Harmers Auctions in Switzerland.
Other highlights of the sale included two sheets of the hugely popular 1980 Golden Monkey issue, which made $179,623.
The lot was expected to make $141,000, equating to an increase of 27.3%.
Introduced to commemorate the new year, the issue was produced in a run of 5m but has become hugely collectible due to strong demand from the public.
This is partly to do with the design of the stamp, which features a number 8 on a red background - both symbols of luck in China.
We have a fascinating array of rare stamps available, including this unique Hong Kong 1862 96c block of four error.
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