1919 $1 on 50c Light Violet, Shanghai Overprint

# K15 - 1919 $1 on 50c Light Violet, Shanghai Overprint

$525.00 - $1,050.00
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Image Condition Price Qty
278291
Mint Stamp(s) Usually ships within 30 days. Usually ships within 30 days.
$ 750.00
$ 750.00
0
278292
Used Single Stamp(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 1,050.00
$ 1,050.00
1
278288
Unused Stamp(s) small flaws Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 525.00
$ 525.00
2
278290
Used Stamp(s) small flaws Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 725.00
$ 725.00
3
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Never Sold in U.S. Post Offices

In 1919, 14,000 U.S. #517 stamps were overprinted for sale at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai, China.  When the agency closed three years later, the remaining stamps were sent to the U.S. and sold briefly at a Philatelic Agency in Washington, D.C.  Although they were intended for use on mail to the U.S., they were never sold at American Post Offices.

 

U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai

U.S. merchants began trading directly with China after the Revolutionary War, with much of the business conducted in the port city of Shanghai.  After the First Opium War and the signing of the Treaty of Nanking, many American merchants began conducting their business directly from the region.

 

During this “Treaty Port” era, foreign postal services were organized through each country’s respective consulate.  Mail to and from the U.S. was sent through our nation’s consulate in Shanghai.  At first regular consular employees regularly stopped their duties to process mail, but a paid clerk was eventually hired.

 

At first, the U.S. Postal Agency accepted payment in U.S. currency only.  Non-Americans had trouble sending letters via U.S. mail, which also hurt revenue.  To complicate matters, the China-U.S. currency exchange rate was 2-1.  To simplify the situation, a surcharge of two times the stamp denomination was added to U.S. #498-518.  These overprinted stamps were then applied when postage was paid in anything other than U.S. currency.

 

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Never Sold in U.S. Post Offices

In 1919, 14,000 U.S. #517 stamps were overprinted for sale at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai, China.  When the agency closed three years later, the remaining stamps were sent to the U.S. and sold briefly at a Philatelic Agency in Washington, D.C.  Although they were intended for use on mail to the U.S., they were never sold at American Post Offices.

 

U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai

U.S. merchants began trading directly with China after the Revolutionary War, with much of the business conducted in the port city of Shanghai.  After the First Opium War and the signing of the Treaty of Nanking, many American merchants began conducting their business directly from the region.

 

During this “Treaty Port” era, foreign postal services were organized through each country’s respective consulate.  Mail to and from the U.S. was sent through our nation’s consulate in Shanghai.  At first regular consular employees regularly stopped their duties to process mail, but a paid clerk was eventually hired.

 

At first, the U.S. Postal Agency accepted payment in U.S. currency only.  Non-Americans had trouble sending letters via U.S. mail, which also hurt revenue.  To complicate matters, the China-U.S. currency exchange rate was 2-1.  To simplify the situation, a surcharge of two times the stamp denomination was added to U.S. #498-518.  These overprinted stamps were then applied when postage was paid in anything other than U.S. currency.