Tombstone cancellations are wooden
obliterators made locally and that is why the sizes and shapes of these cancellations are
not uniform.
The following are examples of various TOMBSTONE cancellations used on CIP covers.
WANHSIEN P.O. TOMBSTONE
COVER FROM WANHSIEN TO FRANKFURT
Combination
covers send from Wanhsein to Germany dispatched through the French office in Shanghai. The
10 cents CIP stamp was canceled by two stroke of the Wanhsien Tombstone. A Shanghai 25 DEC
01 French office date stamp tied the French stamp. Ichang and Shanghai transit cancels
applied to the back of the cover.
KIATING P.O. TOMBSTONE
COVER SEND FROM KIATING TO MANITOBA
A
Kiating Tombstone ties the 10 cents CIP stamp to this cover. A similar usage with the
previous cover, but in this case no French stamp was added. This is due to the agreement
to exchange mail between the Imperial P.O. and the French P.O. came into effect January 1,
1902. French office 3 MAI 02 in Shanghai date stamp alongside. Chungking and Shanghai
Bi-lingual transit cancels applied to the back of the cover.
SHAOHSIEN P.O. TOMBSTONE
RED BAND COVER SHAOHSIEN TO PEKING
The red
band cover was franked by a 1 cent CIP stamp tied by a Shaohsien P.O. Tombstone. A
Shaohsien "3" letter box Tombstone in red alongside was the originate office of
this cover. But in many cases a small office will not canceled the stamp and will leave it
to the P.O. in that jurisdiction to do so. Hangchow transit and Peking arrival cancels
also applied to the cover.
HUAIAN P.O. TOMBSTONE
RED BAND COVER HUAIAN TO PEKING
A Huaian
P.O. Tombstone with two vertical columns beside the post office for year, month and day
written in entries was used to cancel the 1 cent CIP stamp. Chinkiang transit and Peking
arrival cancels alongside.
KIRIN, LIUTAOTUN P.O.
TOMBSTONE
COVER LIUTAOTUN TO U.S.A.
THE 10
cents CIP stamp was tied by a Tombstone cancel with Kirin, Liutaotun; the Province and
town's name in two rows above the word POST OFFICE.
LINGSHANWEI TOMBSTONE
COVER FROM LINGSHANWEI TO GERMANY
An
unusual Tombstone of Lingshanwei without the words post office canceled two 5 cents CIP
stamps to Germany. Redirected and returned to Linshanwei with an "inconnu"
sticker attached. Kiaochow 8 MAR 6 and Shanghai 11 MAR (26) transit Bi-lingual cancel.
Dispatch by French 12 MARS 06 office in Shanghai. Returned Deutshe (German) post 31. 5. 06
Schanghai date stamp and Shanghai Local Post of JUN 4 06.
FOOCHOW "46" LETTER BOX
TOMBSTONE
COVER SEND FROM FOOCHOW TO U.S.A.
The 10
cents CIP stamp was tied by both a Shachi Lunar cancel and a Foochow '46' letter box
Tombstone in red. The letter box Tombstone being the originate office.
It is common practice where a post office will cancel the stamp even if a Tombstone was
already applied to the stamp.
SICHUAN "4" LETTER BOX
TOMBSTONE
RED BAND COVER FROM SICHUAN TO PEKING
A
Sichuan "4" letter box tied the 1 cent CIP stamp to the red band cover. A
regional 'SUN & MOON' type cancel of Chingchow, Bi-lingual Chefoo and oval Weihsien
transits with oval Peking arrival cancels on the back of the cover.
KUTIEN AGENCY P.O.
TOMBSTONE
COVER FROM KUTIEN TO TASMANIA
Two
stroke of the Kutien agency Tombstone ties the CIP stamps to the cover.
Regional 'ARC' type cancels of Siukou & Tanweikai, Bi-lingual Foochow, French office
in Foochow date stamp, Hong Kong date stamp and Tasmania arrivals also applied to the back
of the cover.
