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Asia Hong Kong

British Packet Rates were established for Hong Kong via Southampton or Marseilles. Established 1 January, 1857, the
rate via Marseilles was 9d, 3d higher than via Southampton. Onward routing through Asia was by P&O, carried via
India or Ceylon.

To Ningpo, Hong Kong
Treaty Port

9dpaid
25 FE 1857
L D
The Infamous
"Madeline Smith"
Duplex obliterator

To Ningpo, Hong Kong, 25 February, 1857-60 days

Paid letter to the Ningpo Treaty Port via Marseilles. Adhesives bearing three strikes of Glasgow
experimental duplex date stamp. 29 April, Hong Kong received.

Glasgow Experimental Postmark: tenned the "Madeline Smith" obliterator after a letter sent by
defendant Madeline Smith was used as evidence in the trial of Madeline Smith, who was accused of
poisoning her lover in 1856. The judge was highly critical the Glasgow duplex as a difficult to read
postmark, and Madeline Smith was set free.

One of Four Known Letters to Ningpo Treaty Portfrom Scot/and

Treaty Ports supported trade with China, predominately from Hong Kong. Goods from China included porcelain, silk and tea.