Lot# 9030

franked with four “Foochow” overprinted Basic stamps of the Fukien Postal District, totaling 29 fen, tied by Foochow cds, and arriving Keelung on the following day (Jul 29, 1949). This cover correctly pays the special 29 fen domestic airmail rate in effect at Foochow from Jul 4 to Aug 17, 1949 (4 fen domestic postage plus 25 fen airmail fee). Owing to wartime conditions and limited air transport capacity, Foochow post offices accepted only airmail items franked with “Foochow” overprinted stamps and imposed this provisional higher rate. From Aug 1, 1949, the KMT government introduced a nationwide domestic airmail rate of 10 fen; this cover therefore represents a local provisional usage prior to the unified rate, clearly transitional in nature. Only five such 29 fen airmail covers are recorded, making this a rare item. It vividly illustrates the operation of airmail services in the Fukien Postal District under exceptional circumstances during the early Silver Yuan period, and is of significant postal history and exhibition value.