Lot# 9038

franked with six stamps totalling 21 fen, tied by Tingshuiki cds. Five of Dr. SYS unit stamps bear “Tingshuiki” overprint, representing a local post office name overprint applied to basic stamps. Such overprints were introduced in the early Silver Yuan postal period to restrict inter-district usage of stamps, reflecting distinctive local postal practices. The cover correctly pays the 21 fen foreign airmail printed matter rate in effect at Tingshuiki from Jul 5 to Dec 15, 1949. This is the only recorded example of “Tingshuiki” overprint used on an outward foreign airmail printed matter cover, of great rarity. It combines the study of local overprint practices with foreign airmail usage, providing important evidence of regional postal operations during the transitional Silver Yuan period, and is of significant postal history and exhibition value.