Sale 76 The People’s Republic of China and Liberated Areas

Interasia’s June 23-24 auctions of China, Hong Kong and Asian stamps and postal history will take place at the Habour Plaza North Point in Hong Kong. The two day 2,000 lot sale includes another offering of China and Hong Kong stamps and postal history, with important Ching Dynasty and Republic, substantial postal history with an original missionary correspondence, Taiwan, Local Posts, People’s Republic of China and Liberated Areas, Hong Kong with a specialized study of Postal Fiscals and Revenues, Treaty Ports, and Macau.

Day 1:  23 June 2019

Day one (June 23) commences with the early postal history of the Customs and Imperial Post periods (lots 1-35), featuring two rare examples of mail matter from Taiwan and Korea. Among the Large Dragons (lots 36-61) is what is considered to be the rarest and most remarkable of the essays and proofs: the unique complete sheet of the 5 candarins brownish ochre with trial perforation, originally owned by Sir Robert Hart, later Sir Percival David, and ultimately the Beckemans. There are also four Large Dragons covers in the auction, the undoubted highlight of which is the Large Dragon-Small Dragon mixed franking sent from Chinkiang to Denmark through the French Post Office in Shanghai. Among the Small Dragons (lots 62-70) is the remarkable double rate combination cover from the Chinese Imperial Post Office in Seoul. The 1894 Dowager Empress Birthday (lots 71-111) features the magnificent set of the Second printing in marginal or corner blocks of four offered intact. The 1897 New Currency surcharges (lots 112-245) are replete with rare multiples and varieties, including the small figures surcharge 10c. on 9ca. with surcharge double and a fresh marginal mint example of the famous “Golden Dragon”, the only such recorded with sheet or interpane margin. Two Red Revenue usages on postal stationery cards (lots 272-273) comprise a taxed usage to London and a registered mixed issue usage with the large figures 2c. on 3c. and various other values including C.I.P. 1c. horizontal imperforate between pair. A stunning mint set of the 1914-19 Junk Peking printing in blocks of four and the 1923 surcharged 2c. on 3c. with surcharge inverted are representative of the later issues, but one should also mention the eight exquisite 1942 die proofs in black of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen London printing (lots 400-407).

On the same afternoon and early evening (June 23), there will be a diverse offering of Hong Kong and Treaty Ports, and Macau. The stamps of Hong Kong (lots 1018-1114) include a mint example of the Queen Victoria 96c. olive-bistre and a further offering of modern varieties, with 1983 Hong Kong by Night $1.30 variety silver omitted in a complete sheet and the 1988 Peak Tramway miniature sheet with black omitted in a booklet. We are privileged to offer the renowned collection of Revenues and Postal Fiscals formed by Philippe Orsetti (lots 1115-1225), whose monograph represents the definitive catalogue of this subject. Macau (lots 1451-1613) includes early mail, an extensive offering of “Specimen” overprints, modern varieties, and a specialised collection of postal stationery cards (lots 1549-1587).

Day 2:  24 June 2019

Day two (June 24) includes Local Posts (lots 2086-2116) with a set of the rare Shanghai Double Dragon essays with the values in English lettering rather than Arabic numerals. Taiwan (lots 2117-2156) features rare unused multiples of the 1950 Flying Geese surcharges with the top three values in blocks of six (the two high values with sheet margins). The Foreign Post Offices in China (lots 2163-2302) are highlighted by a splendid array of combination covers, the large part of which are from the Mick Goldsmith collection. Following on from this is the correspondence of Dr. Willis Clarke Noble (lots 2254-2302), a late 19th century American missionary in Paoting who established a public health service there, which comprises mail from both the U.S.A. and China during the 1894-98 period, with much of postal history interest. In addition, there is a fine section of postal stationery (lots 2303-2360). The morning session concludes with a small but interesting section of Thailand (lots 2450-2463).

The Day two (June 24) afternoon session is devoted to the People’s Republic of China and the Liberated Areas, as has been our tradition on the second day. There is a fine representative section of the Liberated Areas, while the issued stamps of the P.R.C. are well represented throughout and showcased by the unissued  large format “Whole Country is Red” cancelled by Liaoning c.d.s., one of four recorded used examples of this great rarity.

Sale 76

China and other Asian Countries

Sunday June 23, 2019  09:30 and Monday June 24, 2019  09:30



Sale 77

Hong Kong & Treaty Ports and Macau

Sunday June 23, 2019  15:00



Sale 78

The People’s Republic of China and Liberated Areas

Monday June 24, 2019  13:30





2019-06-23,  9:30am

Session 1:  Lot 1 - 493,  China and other Asian Countries

Session 2:  Lot 1001 - 1613,  Hong Kong & Treaty Ports and Macau



2019-06-24,  9:30am

Session 3:  Lot 2001 - 2463,  The People's Republic of China and Liberated Areas

Session 4:  Lot 3001 - 3454,  China and other Asian Countries