China 1897 (Jan) 3c 'Red Revenue' (without overprint)

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One of the best example of this rare and iconic stamp.

This is one of the greatest and most desirable rarities in Chinese philately. A exceptionally rare and desirable stamp with less than 100 in existence.

In China in 1896 it was decreed that they would start issuing revenue stamps (in this instance for a new tax and not for postal use).

British printer Waterlow & Sons were awarded the contract and provided stamps far superior in quality to those being produced in China at the time.

The new tax was met with strong objection and it was abandoned before it had even come into force thus leaving a substantial number of these revenue stamps with no need for them. Until a plan could be hatched they were stored in the Shanghai Customs Statistical Department.

Fortuitously around the same time the Imperial Post Office wished to start offering new services which included handling parcels and this would require high value stamps. There existed a risk that when they issues these new stamps forgeries could be made and the post office would lose substantial sums. These unused revenue stamps were the perfect solution as no examples had been sold and with such high quality production it would be near impossible to make a believable fake. The decision was made and most of the stock was overprinted (additional text over the top of the original design) with $1 and $5.

Not all the stamps were overprinted though and a small number remained in their original form. It is not possible to give a definitive figure on how many have survived but there are certainly less than 100 known and it is unlikely more than a handful will ever surface after 123 years. It is also important to note that most of the discovered examples are in poor condition as they were stored in less than ideal conditions during the Cultural Revolution - this was when stamp collecting was banned for being bourgeoisie in the eyes of Chairman Mao.

Guide Price £65,000

1897 (Jan). 3c deep red revenue stamp without surcharge. Chan R1

Very well centred for issue with part original gum (hinge remainder on reverse). A better example than most. A rare stamp of the highest calibre.

China Imperforate pair of a 'Large Dragon' 3c from 1883

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One of the most important varieties of the ‘Large Dragon’ issue of China.

Only 3 verified pairs are known to exist (a fourth pair is rumoured). This example is one of only two which are not defective and has graced some of the most respected collections of China ever assembled.

Imperial China had a long and rich history of an organised postal system - after all it is a vast country to manage. This system was however for the exclusive use of the government and their officials though and citizens had to use private couriers for personal use.

In 1878 a postal service was established for ‘the masses’. ‘Large Dragons’ were the first stamps issued in China from 1878 onwards. The initial offering was of 3 types of stamps in different denominations (these being 1, 3 & 5 Candarins). There were various printings using different paper and a variety of perforations. These stamps were from the 1883 printing using ‘think paper’ and with ‘clean cut perforations’.

In 1885 these stamps were replaced by a similar design but in a smaller format - these are know (for obvious reasons) called ‘Small Dragons’).

£POA

1883 thicker paper, clean-cut perf, 3ca brown red. SG 8d. Catalogue £150,000.

Variety imperforate between stamps from an unknown setting. Lightly folded between stamps in margin. Cancelled by central black seal (with additional small part strike at foot).

Guy du Vachat cert from 2009 included

Provenance. Sir Percival David, October 1970. Beckerman Collection, November 1996. Huang Ming Fang, June 2003.

The other examples are;

(15/10) from setting XII, Warren Kauder and Meiso Mizuhana Collection.

(Unknown setting) Ferrary, Hnd and James Starr collections (this example is defective at top).

£Price on Application

PRICE. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t publish asking or realised prices. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation.

1968 8f Chairman Mao’s ‘Inscription to Japanese Worker Friends’.

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Considered to be one of the great rarities of the Cultural Revolution.

An iconic stamp that was prepared for use but not issued.

In 1962 Chairman Mao received a delegation of Japanese workers sympathetic to the Communist ideas of his China. In response to this Mao wrote an ‘inscription’ to Japanese workers to encourage them in their quest to bring Communism to Japan.

In 1968, on the sixth anniversary of the workers visit, it was decided that this inscription would be committed to a stamp and issued throughout China. The Japanese government heard of this and strongly objected on the basis it might inspire an uprising. China complied with this and the stamp was officially withdrawn from issue.

It was customary for the Chinese to issue stamps well in advance of their official release so they had already been sent out. Whether because of an administrative error or a calculated decision some stamps had been sold to the public at a post office in Hubei Provence before the message had been. received. These stamps have become one of the greatest rarities of Chinese stamps from the Peoples Republic era.

To highlight the importance of these stamps. In 2011 a block of 4 of these stamps sold at auction in Hong Kong (by InterAsia auctions) for a record $1,151,630!

China 1968 PRC GEN ISSUES SG Yang W84 8f Mint

One fractionally short perf at left mentioned for accuracy only. Very fresh unmounted with original gum.

Guide Price £70,000.00

We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.