GEMS IN MY COLLECTION
Earliest cover from Nagasaki to Holland
By Lee Scamp (U.S.A.)
March 1862 cover to Holland, it is docketed:”Via Shanghae, Singapore, and Southampton” The “Via Shanghae” indicates that it originated elsewhere than Shanghai. This cover is part of a known correspondence from Nagasaki, although this item is not so annotated. The P&O initiated service between Shanghai, Nagasaki, and Yokohama in 1859, but several P&O vessels were requisitioned by the British government for use during the Third China War, and the Japan service ceased in 1860. The P&O subsequently began a non-contract service to Japan in 1863, but in the interim irregular private ships were the only means of transmitting such mail. The 10.3.62 Hong Kong backstamp is the date of arrival of the P&O Cadiz from Shanghai on 7.3. The mail for Europe departed from Hong Kong on 15.3 onboard the P&O China.
