Lot# 9090

bearing seven stamps, tied by Tuhshan cds and arriving Chungking on Jul 7, 1949. On reverse are five Express Registered Unit stamps (16 fen each) and two Registered Unit stamps (12 fen each), making a total franking of Silver Yuan 104 fen. The postage is correctly composed of the domestic letter rate 4 fen, express fee 4 fen, double registration fee 24 fen, and insurance fee 72 fen (calculated at 2% of the declared value of $36), fully conforming to the inland insured registered express rate in force at the time. A value declaration post mark is present, indicating formal handling under the insured mail system. Of particular significance is the complete and precise representation of a complex high-value postal rate structure in the immediate post-war period, combining express, double registration, and insurance services, all accurately paid by unit stamps. Such insured covers are rare, with only four examples recorded, and this item is of considerable importance for the study of inland postal rates, insured mail procedures, and high-value postal operations of the period.