Lot# 9019

franked with four Tsingtao “Silver Yuan” overprinted stamps, totaling 40 fen, tied by Tsingtao cds “49.5.12”. This cover correctly pays the 40 fen foreign airmail rate in effect from Apr 29 to Jun 2, 1949. At the time, Tsingtao was temporarily cut off from the central postal system and stamp supply; in the absence of regular issues, the local post office overprinted stamps with “Tsingtao” and “Silver Yuan” to meet postal needs, representing a provisional regional expedient under exceptional circumstances. This cover is a commercial usage of Tsingtao Silver Yuan overprints on airmail to the United States, illustrating how local postal services maintained overseas mail operations despite limited resources during the early Silver Yuan period. A representative postal history item of significant exhibition and research value.