Extremely rare Hong Kong Marine Sorter cover could deliver $20,000

As we've reported, Siegel is holding a series of major sales this week, starting with the Gordon Eubanks collection of United States 1869 pictorial issue, which is led by an extraordinary 90c Carmine & Black six-block - worth up to $300,000.

However, it is not the only investment-grade piece on offer. There is a unique cover including a 2c Brown (113). Boasting rich colour, the used example appears with a block of ten of 3c Ultramarine (114) and 10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96), tied by target cancels.

These are a "Collington Md. Jul. 13" circular datestamp on the cover to Hong Kong, China, with the 3c block also tied by red "New York Paid All Jul. 15" circular datestamp and "Hong-Kong Marine Sorter Singapore to Hong Kong, SP 2/9 69" Marine sorter backstamp (Webb Type B, sub-type b), red "32" credit handstamp and "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp.

Eubanks 2c stamp cover (Click to enlarge)

Chinese characters appear on the back. The bottom left stamp of the block is missing its corner whilst some expert cover repairs have taken place, mostly on the back and not affecting the stamps.

Of very fine appearance, this is a unique franking paying the 42-cent rate to china by British mail via Marseilles. It is especially desirable with the block of 3-cent 1869 stamps and with the Hong Kong-Singapore marine sorter backstamp.

The stamps pay the 42c rate to China by British Mail via Marseilles. It was carried aboard the Cunarder Malta, which departed New York on July 15 and arrived in Queenstown on July 26. It arrived in Hong Kong on Sep. 8, less than two weeks prior to the 30c cover from the same correspondence offered in this sale (lot 181).

The sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented.

The cover is offered with the estimate of $15,000-20,000 in the sale which takes place tomorrow in New York, with online bidding available.