Lot# 9071

Franked with a Swatow (1) postage meter label of Silver Yuan $5, additionally bearing two surcharged revenue stamps revalued at Silver Yuan $1 each and three 4 fen adhesives, making up a total postage of Silver Yuan $7.12, tied by Swatow cds. The postage correctly pays the Hong Kong rate of 4 fen per item (applicable from Apr 29 to Jul 31, 1949), with 178 items totaling 712 fen (i.e. Silver Yuan $7.12). This is a typical Chiapi Chu cover, reflecting the post-war operation of remittance agencies in South China handling large volumes of overseas correspondence and funds. The postage was calculated and paid in bulk based on the number of enclosed items, demonstrating commercial postal handling practices, and the combined use of postage meter and adhesives. The cover, clearly written and showing complete postal elements including the meter impression and date stamp, represents an important artifact for the study of Overseas Chinese remittance postal systems, post-war South China rate calculation methods, and the practical application of postage meter usage, with significant postal history and exhibition value.