Question About The WWI US Parcel Post Parcel Tax - Did It Apply To Or From The Uspa Shanghai?

This sounds to be a simple question yes or no question. But it seems not to be, especially if I need to ask it given what I have learned about the tax. I am referring the the tax of one cent for the first 25 in postage and one cent for each additional 25 cents or fraction there after in effect 12-1-1917 through 12-31-1921.

Do not quote me from Tony's and Beecher's rate book. It does not have the answer, you may think it has the answer in the text and footnote but it does not. It skips Shanghai.

I have found no language anywhere expressly stating the parcel tax did nor did not apply. In the annual postal guides all other places outside of the 48 are discussed except Shanghai with regard to the tax. At most there is an implication.

Can any one help here? I might post on Frajola, but need to find my pass word and user name. Even a usage to or from Shanghai WITH the War Tax would be helpful.

I have managed to ignore this question for 39+ years but yesterday I picked up a return mailing of 25 parcels (totaling not more than 170 pounds) returned to sender in Shanghai which rates correctly for just parcel post postage or parcel post postage and the war tax. For the return of 25 parcels at 170 lbs and no war tax, the postage due collected was $20.40 in US regular Postage.

Thanks and enjoy the eye candy:





Parcel post mail required new payment of postage each time it was forwarded or if returned. If this was sent first class it would have been returned for free. And yes, the war tax was to be collected by documentary stamps, but regular stamps were used when no documentary stamps were available. Collecting the tax was more important than the proper stamp and no parcel could be moved until the war tax was prepaid in full.