Lot# 9040

franked with five 4 fen revenue stamps surcharged for use as basic postage and overprinted in blue with “Hanyuan,” tied by Hanyuan cds, with Chungking arrival marking of 38-8-17. The total franking of 20 fen correctly pays the registered rate in effect from Aug 1 to Sep 30, 1949, for 5 fen ordinary letter rate plus 15 fen registration fee. The “Hanyuan” overprinted stamps represent a typical example of local post offices applying their office names to basic stamps during the early Silver Yuan period, a provisional measure adopted to restrict inter-area usage amid currency instability and exchange disparities, reflecting strong regional postal characteristics. One of only three recorded covers bearing Sikang “Hanyuan” overprinted stamps, and the very example illustrated in Patrick Choy, China Silver Yuan Stamps (3rd Edition), page 195, Figure 5-24. A highly important and well-documented item illustrating the transitional postal operations of 1949, with significant postal history and exhibition value.