1947 China Inflation Cover, ,300 European Airmail Rate in effect only 11 Days

Description

1947 China Inflation Cover
,300 European Airmail Rate
In effect only 11 Days
from Oct. 2nd to Oct. 12th, 1947
1947 China Inflationary Period registered airmail cover canceled: " SHANGHAI 9 / 10 / 47 / 19 / 海上 " [Shanghai 9 October 1947 1900 (7 p.m.) 上海 (Shanghai)]. It is addressed to Vienna (Wien), Austria, in Europe, and also bears Austrian receiving censor markings. Its ,000 franking covers the very short term European airmail rate of ,300 (per 5 grams) in Chinese National Currency in effect only 11 days (from 2-12 October 1947), the required surface rate and the registration fee.
The previous European airmail rate had been ,100 (per 5 grams) in effect for three months from July 1, 1947 to October 1, 1947. These two airmail rates were the last European airmail rates based on a “per 5 gram” weight unit. While seemingly only a modest airmail rate increase of 0 for the 11 days of its life (October 2-12, 1947); the next day (October 13, 1947) the real costs of inflation set. The international airmail rate dramatically increased to ,500 (per 10 grams) and the inflationary period cycle started to set in.  Airmail carriers had demanded more for handling even the least weight letter.
In addition to the new ,300 European airmail rate, the ,000 in franking includes the surface rate of ,100 (per 20 grams) and the registration fee of ,600, both of which had been in effect for more than 7 months since 7 March 1947. Like the new European airmail rate, these too would only remain effective until 13 October 1947. Since real postal inflation could no longer be stemmed, the surface rate and registration fee dramatically increased. On October 13, 1947, the surface rate went from ,100 (per 20 gram) to ,500 (per 20 grams) with the registration fee jumping from ,600 to ,000.
The ,300 European airmail rate and the additional franking on this cover are rates identified in Frank Walton's detailed work, " 空航 Chinese International Airmail 1931-49 Exhibit ," published by the China Stamp Society. Although that work has hundreds of pictures of covers with various rates, it contains no picture of a cover with this ,300 rate. We know of no other cover with this short term ,300 European airmail rate in existence. If anyone has any information about another cover using this ,300 (per 5 gm) European rate, we would appreciate it if you would send us a message. The cover could contain any combination of stamps and does not have to be just a single stamp for franking as here. Better yet, send a scan if you can get one. We do not care the source as the picture will speak for itself.
Hyper-inflation then really started with airmail rates to Europe racing through 10 more increases over the course of less than a year to 0,000 (per 10 grams) by 21 August 1948. In other words, over the period of inflation, the airmail rate increased more than one thousand fold, from 0 to 0,000. This cover represents the Nationalist's the final effort to keep postal rates from running wild. Here the Nationalist's unsustainable effort would last only for 11 days (from 2 October 1947 to 12 October 1947).
The envelope is made of very thin paper typical of the era to keep the weight down for lower airmail rates. A small part at the left side of the front is missing, apparently from initial opening. That does not affect the stamp, the postal markings or other writing on the cover.
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