Lot# 9098

This type of aerogramme was issued by the Directorate General of Posts on Aug 1, 1948, bearing at upper left an imprinted indicium showing only an “aircraft” motif without denomination, constituting a prepaid postal stationery item. The officially prescribed period of validity expired on Jul 31, 1949; however, this example was still accepted and used in August, representing a clear out-of-period usage. By this time, the domestic aerogramme rate had been revised to Silver Yuan 15 fen, yet this item was transmitted using the earlier stationery format, illustrating the transitional postal conditions during the initial implementation of the Silver Yuan rate system. These aerogrammes spanned three currency regimes - National Currency, Gold Yuan, and Silver Yuan - highlighting their transitional nature. Illustrated in Patrick Choy, China Silver Yuan Stamps (3rd Edition), page 32, Figure 1-13. Out-of-period usages are rare, and with authoritative literature reference, this item holds significant postal history and exhibition value for the study of post-war Chinese airmail services, postal stationery regulations, and currency transition."