PostalService

Stamps Museum Want to know more about the history of your Qing Dynasty stamps!!!

Stamps Issued During Qing Dynasty Postal Service Trial-run.

The Qing government was asked to operate diplomatic postal service on behalf of foreign embassies in China.
In 1865, Robert Hart, a British national was commissioned by the foreign office of the Qing government to handle the courier service under the Imperial Customs.
From December 1866, offices were set up for this purpose under Customs in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Zhenjiang.
During this period, diplomatic courier service handled by Imperial Customs did not issue any stamps.
Robert Hart attempted to coerce the Qing government to open national postal service but failed in 1876.
Instead he was asked to trial-run the postal service under the Imperial Customs.
Consequently, on 9th. March, 1878, Robert Hart authorised G. Detring, a German national, Tianjin's Customs Commissioner to operate postal service under the Customs in Beijing, Tianjin, Yantai, Niuzhuang, and Shanghai.
Stamps were issued for the five Customs houses to trial-ran the postal service.
On 11th. January, 1880, G. Detring announced the establishment of the Customs Post Office.
The national post service was only inaugurated in 1896 after recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Post offices were set-up where there were Customs houses in 24 cities.
During the Customs trial-run, the postal serve issued three sets of stamps.

Large Dragons               click here to view Large Dragon stamps
Small Dragons                click here to view Small Dragon stamps
Dowager Jubilee            click here to view the Empress Dowager Jubilee surcharged stamps

Previous | Main menu | Next