China, Proofs : 1878 Large Dragon 1ca. yellow-green [9], 3ca. vermillion--red [26] and 5ca. chrome-yellow [22] showing broken plate variety at left from Setting VA, all imperforate on vertically laid paper, bright colours, the 1ca. with good to large margins, the 5ca. with large to ample margins, slight thinning, and the 3ca. with large margins all around but repaired. An exceptionally rare set. Ex Portugal Post Office archives.
Estimate 80,000 - 100,000

There are very few examples known of these proofs on laid paper, which all come from the later printings and unknown Settings. Est. HK$80,000-100,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$80,000-100,000

China, Proofs : 1878 Large Dragon 3ca. vermilion-red imperforate on vertically laid paper, unknown Setting [15], bright fresh colour, good to large margins, extremely fine and rare.
Estimate 40,000 - 50,000

Expertisation: Signed Peter Holcombe.

Provenance: Laurie Franks, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 20.10.1983, lot 855
"Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4720
Jane and Dan Sten Olsson, Interasia (Hong Kong), 1.4.2017, lot 7.

For the collector seeking one of the few perfect sets of these rare laid paper proofs which exist, the above represents an ideal replacement for the repaired 3ca. in the previous set (lot 52). Est. HK$40,000-50,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$40,000-50,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, Setting I, a complete sheet of twenty-five with selvedge all round, bright colour on pristine white paper, well centred, very fine unused with much original gum, some gum missing in margin at right, a few reinforced perfs. in margin at left. A brilliant sheet. Chan 1.
Estimate 300,000 - 400,000 Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. yellow-green, Setting I, a complete sheet of twenty-five with selvedge all round, delicate pastel colour, well centred, fine unused with practically full original gum, a few light horizontal bends in margin at top. Chan 1.
Estimate 280,000 - 320,000 Est. HK$280,000-320,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$280,000-320,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, Setting I, a complete sheet of twenty-five with selvedge all round, bright colour on fresh white paper, well centred, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, light creasing and small red mark in margin at foot. Chan 1.
Estimate 280,000 - 320,000 Est. HK$280,000-320,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$280,000-320,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, Setting I, a complete sheet of twenty-five with selvedge all round, vibrant colour on brilliant white paper, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, minor rust spot in margin at top right, light diagonal creasing in outer selvedge at top right. Chan 2.
Estimate 400,000 - 500,000 Est. HK$400,000-500,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$400,000-500,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. chrome-yellow, Setting I, a complete sheet of twenty-five with selvedge all round, deep rich colour on bright white paper, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, light horizontal creasing/bends in margin at top. A splendid sheet. Chan 3.
Estimate 800,000 - 1,000,000 Est. HK$800,000-1,000,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$800,000-1,000,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., bright colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., brilliant colours, fine to very fine and fresh unused with part to much original gum, the 1ca. has minute inclusion in margin at foot. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 9,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$9,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$9,000-12,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., vivid colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with original gum, except the 3ca. which is without gum, the 5ca. has a violet owner's handstamp on reverse. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., the 1ca. large hole perfs., bright fresh colours, well centred, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, the 5ca. has short perf. at top. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., deep bright colours, fine unused with large part to much original gum, the 3ca. has blunt and toned perfs., and the 5ca. has improved perfs. at top. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., the 5ca. deep colour and heavy impression, fine unused with much original gum (the 1ca. disturbed), the 5ca. has light uniform gum toning. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca., deep colours, fine appearance unused with part to much original gum, various tones. Chan 1-3.
Estimate 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. bistre, cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. without year date, Chefoo seal and Tientsin small type 1 seal respectively, fine to very fine strikes, the 5ca. has light diagonal crease. Chan 1-3b.
Estimate 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. bistre (rough perfs.), cancelled by Chefoo seals, the 3ca. in blue, fine strikes, the 5ca. has light corner creasing at lower left. Chan 1-3b.
Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, fresh colour, excellent centring, cancelled by light Ichang seal and part "Customs/Hankow" double-ring d.s. of "Mar 25 87" in red, fine and unusual. Chan 1.
Estimate 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, two examples, each centrally cancelled by practically complete Ichang seal, fine. Chan 1.
Estimate 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, contrasting shades, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of 1879 in red and black, fine appearance, both have some trimmed perfs. Chan 1.
Estimate 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. deep green [5], plate variety broken frame at top left corner, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Dec 31 79", pulled perfs. at bottom right, otherwise very fine and choice. Chan 1c.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

Provenance: W.S. Kong, Interasia (Hong Kong), 15.12.2012, lot A82. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, rough perfs., deep bright colour, centrally cancelled by "Post Office/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "3 Mar 79", fine strike, a few small faults. Chan 2.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, lovely clear colour, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "Jul 11 81", fine. Chan 2.
Estimate 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, deep bright colour, centrally cancelled by boldly struck "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Nov 12 79", a few short perfs. at bottom left, extremely fine strike. Chan 2.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, rough perfs., centrally cancelled by practically complete "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Jan 15 80", extremely fine and outstanding strike. Chan 2.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, deep colour, well centred, cancelled by nearly complete "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Oct 22 80", very fine. Chan 2.
Estimate 2,800 - 3,200 Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200