ICP - Coiling Dragon

(1897) ICP - Coiling Dragon
日本版蟠龍郵票封

The first regular issue - ICP Coiling Dragon - October 1 1897 Formerly called and best known as the Lithographed Coiling Dragon / 石印蟠龍
According to The History of Chinese Postage Stamps Volume II (published December 2004), archives of Imperial Post Office verified that this set of definitives was designed by R. A. de Villard and engraved and printed in Japan by retired Italian artist and master engraver Edoardo Chiossone as a private contractor, and the process employed was typographic not lithographic as its old name suggested. Due to some unsatisfactory experience in their cooperation such as printing quality and delayed delivery, IPO decided to order another set of definitives from Waterlow & Sons Limited, London.

Since the English inscription on this issue is Imperial Chinese Post, collectors called it as ICP Issue, and the Waterlow, London print as CIP Issue for the English inscription of that issue is Chinese Imperial Post.

Chinese style red band cover from Peking to Tientsin. On the back ICP 2c canceled by Peking Dollar Dater on Nov. 17, 1897. Arrival Tientsin Dollar Dater of Nov. 18, 1897. "Postage Paid, Don't Demand" / 信資已付別無索取 mark.

From Amoy to Hong Kong. ICP 1c x 2, 2c canceled by Amoy Dollar Dater on Dec. 11, 1897.

On the back arrival Hong Kong CDS of Dec. 13, 1897.

Shanghai local cover. ICP 1c canceled by Shanghai Pa Kua Type II. Shanghai Local Post CDS of Dec. 3, 1897.

From Peking to England. ICP 10c canceled by Peking Dollar Dater on Oct. 19, 1897. French 25c canceled by Shanghai French Post Office CDS on Oct. 27, 1897.

On the back transit Shanghai Dollar Dater of Oct. 25, 1897. Arrival Kensington? CDS of Dec. 6, 1897.

Printed matter from Tientsin to England. ICP 2c canceled by Tientsin Pa Kua, Tientsin Dollar Dater of Nov. 30, 1897. Frech 5c canceled by Shanghai French P.O. CDS on Dec. 8, 1897.

On the back transit Shanghai Dollar Dater of Dec. 5, 1897 and arrival Bradford CDS.

Shanghai local cover. ICP 1c canceled by Shanghai Pa Kua Type II.

On the back Shanghai Local Post CDS of Dec. 31, 1897.

Registered cover from Shanghai to Amoy. ICP 2c x 7 canceled by Shanghai Dollar Dater on Oct. 7, 1897. Large "R" mark.

On the back arrival Amoy Dollar Dater of Oct. 12, 1897.