China 1899 (9 Jan) Shanghai Wei Hai-Wei Courier Post: 5c emerald, horizontal pair imperforate between, SG4b.
A fresh unused pair without gum. A few shortish perforations at foot, which barely detract from overall quality.
A local post rarity in this colour variety and particularly rare as a mint pair.
Wei Hai-Wei is located in Shantung Province. Along with the nearby island of Liu Kung Tau, it was leased to Great Britain in July 1898. The postal services there were inadequate and G.L. Ferguson of Conabe & Co. introduced an overland courier post to Chefoo. Although Wei Hai-Wei was not a Treaty port its stamps are collected with the issues of those ports.
The Wei Hai-Wei courier post closed in March 1899 when a Chinese Imperial Post Office opened there.
