Sale 1220 — Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Thursday, 21 May, 2020
Category — China
CHINA, 1894, 1ca-24ca Dowagers (16-24; Chan 22-30). Original gum, lightly hinged or h.r., 24c with selvage at right, well-centered overall, barest trace of paper toning, otherwise Very Fine, Scott $2,733.00
CHINA, 1897, 9ca Yellow Green Mollendorf Printing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (22 var; Chan 22Ma). Block of four containing two error pairs with selvage at right (also imperforate), full original gum (a little streaky as always on the Mollendorf printing), right pair lightly hinged, left pair appears Mint Never-Hinged, fresh color in the typical pastel shade, a couple trivial gum wrinkles that are consistent with this issue, for strict accuracy we will note two tiny perf thins on the bottom left stamp (truly insignificant)VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT RARITY OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE THAT HAS NOT APPEARED ON THE MARKET IN DECADES.
The 9-candareen and higher values of the Mollendorf issue were printed in panes of 25.. It appears that only ten imperf-between pairs were printed. We are aware of only one other block of four - ex M.F. Huang. When that block was last offered in a 2015 Zurich Asia auction, it was described as the only known block (and realized HK$437,000). That description also noted there are only four examples recorded in total. This block was obviously unknown to them, which is understandable since it has been residing in a family collection for many decades.
The 2010 Chan catalogue prices an imperforate-between pair at $25,000.00 each ($50,000.00 for the two pairs).
CHINA, 1897, 4c on 3c Red Revenue, Small Format (81; Chan 85). Position 13 in the setting of 25, showing broken "n" in "cents.", well-centered, beautiful rich colorVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 1897 SMALL "4" CENT RED REVENUE. MADE EVEN MORE DESIRABLE BY HAVING THE UNRECORDED BROKEN "N" VARIETY.
China specialists have determined that the “Small 4” Red Revenue was the first of the “cents” surcharges on the 3c Red Revenue produced in Shanghai by the Inspectorate General of Customs Statistical Department. A total of 200 “Small 4” stamps were prepared, the 25-subject surcharge form applied four times each to two sheets of 100. Twenty-five of these stamps exist with double surcharge, one in black and one in faint violet. It is believed that violet was the intended color of the surcharge, but due to the poor impression, these 25 and the others were surcharged in black. It was still thought the small Arabic “4” was difficult to see, so the production was halted and a larger and thicker sans-serif “4” was substituted. All of the other characters of the overprint remained the same.
Several blocks of 25 (the complete setting) of the “Large 4” Red Revenue exist. Due to the many constant varieties of the many Chinese characters, the position can be determined. The stamp offered here is from position 13.
This stamp possesses a variety unlike any other, with the “n” in “cents” having a large gap in the right leg, with the lower part of the left leaning “in” toward the left. Close examination reveal this is not merely an inking variety, but a definite break in the piece of type. We compared it three other “Small 4” position 13 stamps, all unused, illustrated in ”The Revenue Surcharges China 1897 (Vol. 1)”. Of these three (one was a double surcharge), one had a broken “n” identical to this stamp, while the other two did not. Our research also located several examples of the “Large 4” from position 13, and none of them had the broken “n”. This suggests that the break took place during the short production of the “Small 4”, and the broken “n” was replaced by a new piece of type at that time.
This variety is not listed in any catalogue, though it is just as prominent (but far rarer) as the 2c surcharge with broken “n” in “cents, which is listed in Chan (No. 84a).
The vast majority of surviving “Small 4” surcharges are unused. Approximately 30 used are recorded. There are four known on cover, all used in 1900.
Scott $75,000.00 (with no premium for the variety).
CHINA, 1897, -1/2c-$5.00 Imperial Post (86-97; Chan 92-103). Original gum except $2.00 and $5.00 unused ($2.00 no gum, $5.00 regummed), couple lower values with dried gum, fresh colors, 10c and $2.00 with light bend, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, Scott $5,534.00
CHINA, 1897, 50c Black Green Imperial Chinese Post, Error of Color (94a; Chan 100a). Block of four with interpanneau gutter at left, original gum, top pair with light h.r., bottom pair lightly hinged, remarkably fresh, with deep color in the unmistakable Black Green shadeVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1897 50-CENTS BLACK GREEN. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN BLOCKS.
Dr. Ma believes this is a color error using ink that was intended for the 10c value. According to M.D. Chow, there were only three sheets (240 stamps) of the Black Green stamp sold. Just a handful of blocks exist today.
Scott catalogue value of $7,000.00 (as four singles) does not accurately reflect the rarity of this block.
CHINA, 1898, -1/2c-$5.00 C.I.P., Watermarked (98-109; Chan 104-115). Original gum, mostly h.r., except $5.00 unused (no gum), well-centered overall, fresh colors, Very Fine, Scott $2,222.00
CHINA, 1900-06, -1/2c-$5.00 Imperial Post, Unwatermarked (110-122; Chan 116-128). Unused (no gum), a few low values with disturbed original gum, attractive colors, 2c, 5c, and 10c with small toned spots on reverse, Fine, Scott $1,876.00
CHINA, 1912, $2.00 Brown Red & Yellow, Foochow Issue (136; Chan 142). Paper h.r., well-centered, brilliant colorsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1912 2-DOLLAR "PROVISIONAL NEUTRALITY". ONLY 96 STAMPS WERE OVERPRINTED FOR USE IN FOOCHOW.
Scott $5,000.00
CHINA, 1912, 50c Yellow Green, Nanking Issue (142; Chan 148). H.r., much better centering than usually found, strong colorVERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1912 50-CENTS "REPUBLIC OF CHINA PROVISIONAL NEUTRALITY". ONLY 87 WERE SOLD FOR USE IN HANKOW, NANKING AND CHANGSHA.
Scott $3,750.00
CHINA, 1912, $1.00 Red & Pale Rose, Nanking Issue (143; Chan 149). Minor h.r., strong rich colorsFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1912 ONE DOLLAR "REPUBLIC OF CHINA PROVISIONAL NEUTRALITY". ONLY 87 WERE SOLD FOR USE IN HANKOW, NANKING AND CHANGSHA.
Scott $6,500.00
CHINA, 1912, -1/2c-$5.00 Statistical Department Overprints (146-160; Chan 152-166). Lightly hinged or h.r., -1/2c-1c, 3c-5c and 10c with extra example showing different shades, lovely colors, Fine-Very Fine, a choice set, Scott $1,827.00
CHINA, 1912, -1/2c-$5.00 Republic Overprints, Waterlow & Sons (163-177; Chan 169-183). Lightly hinged or h.r., wonderfully fresh colors, Fine-Very Fine, a challenging set to acquire in this condition, Scott $2,095.00
CHINA, 1912, 1c-$5.00 Sun Yat-sen (178-189; Chan 184-195). Some values with just slightly toned gum, some with h.r., fresh colors, a few small flaws, $5.00 creased, Fine-Very Fine appearance, Scott $1,984.00
CHINA, 1912, 1c-$5.00 Yuan Shih-kai (190-201; Chan 196-207). Lightly hinged, some values Mint N.H., six values with selvage on at least one side incl. a few partial imprints, bold colors, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive set of his popular issue, Scott $1,183.00
CHINA, 1913, -1/2c-$10.00 Hall of Classics, London Printing (202-220; Chan 208-226). Mostly lightly hinged, couple h.r., bold colors, wonderfully fresh and Very Fine, an uncommonly choice set of these desirable stamps, Scott $4,283.00
CHINA, 1915, $2.00 Blue & Black Hall of Classics, Center Inverted (237a; Chan 245a). Guide line at left, original gum, mild h.r., well-centered for this, strong rich color and highly detailed impression, two insignificant vertical gum bendsVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE AND POPULAR 1915 2-DOLLAR HALL OF CLASSICS WITH CENTER INVERTED. ONE OF THE "FOUR TREASURES OF THE REPUBLIC."
It is now believed two sheets of 50 stamps were issued with the center inverted. However, only a small fraction of those survive today. Though we are unaware of any published census, estimates in the literature of the number known are usually between 30 and 40.
Scott $175,000.00
CHINA, 1915, $5.00 Scarlet & Black, First Peking Printing (238; Chan 246). Lightly hinged, intense colors, Very Fine, Scott $800.00
CHINA, 1915, $10.00 Yellow Green & Black, First Peking Printing (239; Chan 247). Mint N.H., well-centered, deep colors, Very Fine, small handstamp on reverse, Scott $1,100.00
CHINA, 1942, 50c Gray Green, Perf 11 x 13 (498 var; Chan 576a). Without gum as issued, horizontal pair, choice centering, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce perf variety that is seldom seen in multiples, 2010 Chan $600.00 (as two singles)
CHINA, Taiwan, 1952, 10c-$5.00 Chiang Kai-shek, Perforate and Imperforate (1064-1069). Without gum as issued, imperforate stamps with large margins all around, Fine-Very Fine, Scott $861.00
CHINA, 1941, 25c Blue, London Print, Wide Type with Large Type II Overprint (3N5 var). Faintly toned original gum, minor h.r., well-centered, Very Fine, ex Mizuhara, a very rare stamp that is unlisted in the catalogues, probably only one sheet of 50 was printed and less than five recorded
CHINA, Japanese Occupation of North China, 1941, -1/2c-$20.00 Hopei and Shantung Unissued Overprints (Chan JNU18-JNU34, JNU35-JNU50). Complete sets of seventeen and sixteen respectively, mostly all Mint N.H. incl. both $20.00, couple lower values lightly hinged or slightly dried gum, fresh colors, Very Fine, rare sets of these stamps which were prepared but never issued
CHINA, 1945, $200.00 on $20.00 Violet & Blue, Perf 12-1/2 (9N68 var; CSS SN96). Typical dull original gum, deep colors, Fine, this stamp usually comes perf 14, though the perf 12-1/2 variety has been known for at least 25 years, with only seven unused, one used and one on cover have been recorded, it is listed in the recent China Stamp Society catalogue, with a value of $3,000.00
CHINA, Yunnan Province, 1933 25c Blue, London Printing (41 var; Chan Y39). Minor h.r., deep color, Fine, while used examples of the 25c London printing are offered with some frequency, unused copies are very scarce, 2010 Chan $1,200.00
SHANGHAI, 1865-66, 4ca Yellow on Wove Paper, Printing 57 (2). Without gum as issued, large margins all around, fresh color, Very Fine and choice, Scott $1,000.00
SHANGHAI, 1877, 1ca on 9ca Blue (81). Fresh color, cancelled by a light red small garter datestamp, Fine and attractive, Scott $550.00
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