1897 red revenue block will headline Hong Kong stamp auction

Interasia Auctions will hold its sale of Asian Stamps and Postal History in Hong Kong on November 1-4, featuring a rare 1897 red revenue block of four.

The lot displays a small figures surcharge 2c on 3c, one of only nine blocks in existence that display this variation.

Interasia red
The red revenue stamps were temporarily introduced by the Chinese government in 1897

It carries an estimate of $231,807-283,320.

The red revenue issue was introduced by the Chinese government as a temporary measure due to delays in printing official government stamps.  

Two were produced, the small and large figure surcharges, of which the smaller is the original and rarest. Around 32 specimens are known to exist.

A single sold for $890,000 in July last year.

A Large Dragon cover sent from China to Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1881 is likely to prove another highlight, with a valuation of $103,025-128,782.

It's one of only 10 Large Dragon examples to feature the correct franking and is marked with a number of circular date stamps from the different stages of its journey.

Other lots on offer include a 1926 Yunnan Province overprint on a 6c brown junk that is valued at $77,269-103,025.

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