An 1886 Chinese large dragon cover realised $563,776 at InterAsia auctions on July 18-20.
The lot headlined the Asian Stamps and Postal History sale in Hong Kong.
 The 1886 large dragon cover was sent from China to Germany |
The issue was released for general sale in China in 1878, making it the nation's earliest postage stamp.
The present lot is attached to a cover sent from the city of Tientsin to Cassell in Germany.
The auction house described it as "a gem for the connoisseur and a highly important Large Dragons on cover registered usage of the utmost rarity and highest exhibition calibre…
"Only three registered large dragons covers are recorded used during the proper 1878-86 period, and only two of these have the complete franking."
A half sheet of 50 1897 red revenue small figures 2c on 3c surcharge stamps made $74,181.
The lot is a reconstruction, meaning that the original pane has been reassembled. This means that it is valued at substantially less than an original pane.
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