Lot# 9088

bearing four 4 fen revenue surcharged stamps overprinted in red with the local post office name “Tzelutsing,” totaling 16 fen, tied by Tzelutsing cds. The cover was routed via Chungking (Aug 16, 1949 transit) and arrived at Lanchow on Sep 11, 1949. The franking correctly pays the domestic airmail rate of 15 fen for the period Aug 1 to Dec 5, 1949, with a slight overpayment of 1 fen. Of particular significance is the use of locally overprinted revenue surcharges inscribed “Tzelutsing,” representing a provisional and highly localized postal issue of great rarity. This is believed to be the only recorded commercial cover carried across both Nationalist (KMT) and Communist (CCP) postal territories. Posted in a KMT-controlled area, the cover transited Chungking before entering CCP-controlled Lanchow, clearly illustrating the continuity and transition of postal operations during the change of regimes. As Tzelutsing had no airport facilities, the cover was first dispatched to Chungking to access airmail service; however, prior to the fall of Lanchow in late August 1949, all aviation facilities had been withdrawn. Consequently, although sent at the airmail rate, the cover was ultimately conveyed by surface mail, creating a notable discrepancy between paid service and actual transmission. With its complete routing and exceptional postal features, this cover holds considerable importance for the study of post-war postal operations in Southwest China, local provisional overprints, and cross-regime mail routes, and possesses outstanding exhibition value.