China, Small Dragon 3ca. bright mauve, imperforate plate proof on thin horizontally laid paper without watermark, deep bright colour, good to large margins, thinned at top, fine and fresh appearance. Rare. Ex Portugal Post Office archives.
Estimate 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1885 Small Dragon rough perf. 12½ 1ca. to 5ca., fine to very fine and fresh unused with large part to much original gum. Chan 16-18.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1885 Small Dragon rough perf. 12½ 3ca. mauve, centrally cancelled by "R" in oval h.s. in blue of Tientsin, two intersecting diagonal creases, fine strike. Chan 17.
Estimate 900 - 1,200 Est. HK$900-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$900-1,200

China, 1888 Small Dragon perf. 11½-12 1ca. to 5ca., fine unused with much original gum. Chan 19-21.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1888 Small Dragon perf. 11½-12 1ca. bright green pane of twenty with sheet margin at left, position 9 [4b] two frame breaks at right, position 14 [1] broken frames at top left and lower left, and position 15 [2] smaller size cliché, fine unused with much original gum, top left stamp has paper adherence, a few split or reinforced perfs. Chan 19, b, d.
Estimate 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1888 Small Dragon perf. 11½-12 3ca. mauve with imperf. sheet margin at left (8mm.), bright colour, well centred, fine and fresh appearance unused with much original gum, light horizontal crease and non-contemporary manuscript notation in margin. Chan 20var.
Estimate 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, 1885-88 Small Dragon issues, a selection of cancellations including seals with Ichang and Newchwang (3), Customs daters for Korea (2) and Wuhu in red, Custom House oval h.s. for Wuhu (2), and London arrival d.s., mainly fine strikes, a few faults (14).
Estimate 3,500 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,500-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,500-4,000

China, 1885-88 Small Dragon issues, a used assembly with some interesting cancellations, including Customs daters for Chinkiang (2), Kiukiang in red, Seoul and oval Taku, and framed registered h.s. Fair to fine, some faults/defects (60).
Estimate 3,500 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,500-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,500-4,000

China, 1890 (3 Nov.) envelope to Berlin (21.12) bearing on reverse Small Dragon 1888 perf. 11½-12 3ca., cancelled by Peking seal in blue, matching "I.G. of Customs/Peking" double-ring origin d.s., "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring transit d.s. of "Nov 5 90" in violet and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. of "Nov 10 90" in black alongside, the stamp additionally tied by arrival c.d.s., and on front Germany Eagle 20pf. cancelled by "Kaiserlich/Deutsche/Postagentur/Shanghai" c.d.s. (14.11), fine and appealing usage. Chan 20.
Estimate 25,000 - 30,000

Expertisation: Double signed Bothe BPP. Est. HK$25,000-30,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$25,000-30,000

China, 1893 (14 July) envelope to Shanghai (18.7 Local Post arrival) bearing Small Dragon 1888 perf. 11½-12 3ca., cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, with "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. (type C) on reverse, fine. Chan 20.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000

Expertisation: F.Z. Chun guarantee handstamp.

References: Customs Daters (1875-1913), Philatelic Writers' Club (Taiwan, 2008), p. 252. Illustrated. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1896 (15 Jan.) envelope to Paris (4.3) bearing Small Dragon 1888 perf. 11½-12 3ca., cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, matching "Customs/Tientsin" double-ring origin d.s. and "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring transit d.s. (26.1) on reverse, in combination with France "Chine" 25c. cancelled by "Shang-hai/Chine" c.d.s. (29.1), fine usage. Chan 20.
Estimate 20,000 - 25,000

The sender apparently affixed a 3 candarins stamp to pay the domestic postage to Shanghai and his own 25 centimes stamp for transmission through the French Post Office. Standard procedure was to affix 9 candarins of Chinese stamps at the post office through which the letter was being sent and in exchange for this the equivalent amount of foreign stamps would be applied by the Customs Post Office. Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000