The Alfred F. Kugel Collection
June 18-19, 2024
We are pleased to present our June 18-19, 2024 auction, featuring Part One of the Alfred F. Kugel collection of Postal History of the world, being sold on behalf of the American Philatelic Society. The first of many to follow, this sale is only a sample of the vast amount of material yet to be presented. We begin with United States Dollar values on cover, U.S. States Postal Agencies in the Far East, U.S. International Registration Exchange Labels, U.S. Intervention in Mexico and Registered Mail from U.S. Possessions. There is a splendid selection of the International Intervention in China during the Boxer Rebellion, extensive showing of German Colonies in China and the Pacific, with dozens of rare and unusual items, including unique Tientsin handstamps on 2m and 3m Reichspost. In addition, there are selections of World War I British Occupation of Baghdad, Jordan, Salonika, Mafia Island, Saudi Arabia, plus elusive covers from the Austrian, British, Ottoman, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese Empires.
This is a Public Auction, with Floor Bidding and live internet bidding via CherrystoneLIVE
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #3085 United States Postal Agencies in Japan 1873 cover franked with 6c carmine (straight edge at left), bold "H" cancel, used with horizonal pair of 2c red brown, each stamp with identical bold "H"' cancels, one of which ties the pair at left, used on 1873 Blake correspondence cover from Hiogo, Japan to Boston, "U.S. Mail" manuscript endorsement at top left, red "San Francisco Paid All May 15" transit backstamp, with original contents headed "Hiogo 16th April 1873" (the letter deals with the estate of Frank Blake mentioning a plot of land in the "foreign concession" and the annual "police and municipality tax" and that "there are a good many lots in the concession held on speculation"), minor cover wrinkles, fine and most attractive rarity from Hiogo, Japan, paying 10c American Packet rate via San Francisco to Boston, carried on the Pacific Mail steamer "SS Japan" which departed from Yokohama and was in transit 21 days arriving in San Francisco on May 14th (The third postal agency to open in Japan was at the Consulate in Hiogo (now part of Kobe) on the island of Honshu, in March or April 1868. Prior to the introduction of a postmark with the Town Name, stamps on letters were canceled with a large "H". The "Blake correspondence" details the business travels and day to day activities in the Far East of Frank Blake, a U.S. businessman from Massachusetts. Starting in 1859, he did business in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Shanghai and Hiogo. In 1860 Mr. Blake was employed by the Augustine, Heard & Co. (a name, familiar to philatelists) and in 1863 was appointed head of their new operation in Bangkok. In 1869 he relocated to Hiogo, Japan which had been opened to foreign trade since January 1,1868. Mail service was started almost immediately by the United States Consulate with most mail sent via the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company which began service to the Far East from San Francisco in 1867. Most significantly the covers from this correspondence and their contents confirm that the "H" cancelation was unquestionably used by the U.S. Post Office in Hiogo. There are a total of three of these covers in the Blake correspondence and only one other recorded on a printed circular)  Catalog #146,148 | Unsold |
