Lot# 5779

1853 (Oct 25) Canton to Buckingham Palace, England cover, on front bearing "2/1" rate manuscript, "Via Marseilles" manuscript and "SHIPLETTER / VICTORIA HONGKONG" cachet. On reverse with Canton originainting datestamp, Hong Kong transit and London arrival cds. It is the only recorded Hong Kong ship letter handstamp which was applied to mails carried by private ships from Treaty Ports to Hong Kong for further transit. Only around 30 examples exist. Most of them sent from Shanghai while a few from Canton or Macao. Cover stained. F-VF.