30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Used with 12c Black, F. Grill (97), cancelled by segmented cork and tied between stamps, "New Haven Ct. May 10" (1869) double-circle datestamp on yellow cover to Dr. V. D. Collins, Hong Kong, China, sender's directive "Via Marseilles, France", red "New York Paid All Br. Transit May 11" backstamp, red "32" credit handstamp--there were Cunard and HAPAG sailings that reached Great Britain on May 21, 1869--red "London Paid 21 MY 69" circular datestamp, "Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter Singapore-to Hong-Kong, JU 24/1 69" backstamp (Webb Ty. B-2e, "rare"), pencil receipt docketing "Recd in Hong Kong June 30, 1869"

VERY FINE. A COLORFUL 1868 GRILLED ISSUE COVER TO HONG KONG, SENT BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES AND BEARING A RARE HONG KONG MARINE SORTER BACKSTAMP.

According to the Webb book, the sorting of mail on board ship was first tried in 1857 and was found to speed the delivery of the mails on arrival in Hong Kong. The Governor of Hong Kong petitioned to make this a permanent position, but the scheme was not implemented. Seven years later, after the GPO decided that Hong Kong should assume greater responsibilities, the sorting plan was green-lighted. An official from the Hong Kong post office would meet the P&O steamer in Singapore and sort the mails during the trip to Hong Kong. The mails could then be delivered immediately on arrival or forwarded faster to their final destination outside of Hong Kong. The new service started with the arrival of mails at the end of July 1868. Mails were sorted between Singapore and Hong Kong, and another line was also established to sort mails between Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are five sub-types of Webb's Type B-2 Marine Sorter marking showing the date of trip. The Webb book describes them, and considers this sub-type "e" to be rare.

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