China, 1897 Red Revenue 3c. red without surcharge, perforation 13-13½, excellent colour on crisp white paper, particularly well centred, fine to very fine unused with part to large part original gum, hinge remainder and one perf. a trifle short at foot. A splendid and noteworthy example of this rare stamp in the traditional rich red colour. Chan R1.
Estimate HK$ 400,000 - 500,000

References: Directorate General of Posts, Ministry of Communications. The Revenue Surcharges China 1897. Vol. I (Taipei, 1984), No. 13, p. 2. Illustrated.
Huang Kuang-Sheng, A Treatise on the Extant Copies of the 3 Cents Red Revenue Stamps without Surcharged with Illustrations (Taipei, 1981), No. 31. Illustrated.

LESS THAN 100 UNSURCHARGED STAMPS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED.

Auction Record
Earl P.L. Apfelbaum (Philadelphia), 8.6.1976, lot 2354

The 3c. stamp inscribed "China" and "Revenue" was originally produced in 1896 by the London printers Waterlow & Sons as a revenue stamp for Customs Department use, following an initial request by Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs, to James D. Campbell, the Customs Commissioner in London, in November 1895. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 and perforated on three different machines and are line perforated 12-16. Waterlow & Sons shipped the 650,000 stamp order to China in September 1896. The 3c. revenue stamp was, however, never put into use, because of local opposition to the taxation scheme that the stamp was intended to serve.

At about the same time (1897), China was preparing to introduce a new silver dollar currency and a national postal service, the Imperial Post, supplanting the Customs Post, and a new definitive stamp issue reflecting these changes was ordered from printers in Japan. When the new issue was delayed because of production difficulties at the Japanese printers, the 3c. revenue stamps were surcharged by the Shanghai Customs Statistical Department as a stop gap measure in the first months of 1897 - producing the iconic and preeminent issue of Chinese stamps, the Red Revenues - as also were existing stocks of the Empress Dowager issue.

A small number of the 3c. Revenue stamps, though, were not surcharged, including examples which were presented to officials, as well as 761 stamps that were later transferred to the General Post Office. Of the latter, the entire stock, except for ten stamps which had been given to the Chinese Postal Museum, was tragically destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, as recounted to Dr. Chang Min-Sheng by Mr. Wu Feng Gang, a former Director of the Postal Museum. In addition, a few unsurcharged 3c. red Revenue stamps were retained by the printer Waterlow & Sons. It is thought that less than 100 unsurcharged 3c. red Revenue stamps exist today, making these a rare and important element in the Red Revenue issue. Est. HK$400,000-500,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$400,000-500,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 17, showing "kiss print" with non-coincidental doubling of Chinese surcharge and complete offset on reverse, centred to top, deep colour though a little oxidised (fresh on reverse) and diagonal gum crease at top, fine unused with much original gum. Quite striking. Chan 84var.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 14, showing "kiss print" with non-coincidental doubling of Chinese surcharge and complete offset on reverse, centred to top, uniform toning, otherwise fine unused with much original gum. Quite striking. Chan 84var.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 17, surcharge misplaced to left, well centred with large margin at top, fine to very fine and fresh unused with large part to much original gum, hinge remainder. Chan 84.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 19, clear colour, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh mint, the few usual gum skips. Chan 84.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 7, bright colour, centred just to top right, fine and fresh unused with much original gum, some gum loss at top. Chan 84.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 12, clear colour, well centred, fine and fresh unused with large part to much original gum, hinge remainder and small paper adherence, some slight gum disturbance. Chan 84.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 5, variety comma for stop, good colour, centred to lower left, fine and fresh unused with part original gum, hinge remainders. Chan 84e.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, position 15, inverted "s" in "cents", bright colour on white paper, centred to lower left, fine unused with part to large part original gum, paper hinge remainders and a few lightly foxed perfs. Chan 84g.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, perf. 13½, rough perfs., cancelled by Shanghai pakua in brown, fine. Chan 84.
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,500 Est. HK$1,200-1,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 2c. on 3c. red, variety surcharge inverted, position 2, deep colour centred just to right, fine appearance unused with traces of original gum, tissue paper adherences on reverse and some gum residue on front at foot of stamp, a highly collectible example of this popular variety. Chan 84i.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000 Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge 4c. on 3c. red, position 21, radiant colour on pristine white paper, exceptional centring within unusually large even margins, very fine and wonderfully fresh unused with much original gum, hinge remainder which has been subject to gum glazing, as well as the slightest of such glazing also in other areas. A superlative example of this rare stamp. Chan 85.
Estimate HK$ 150,000 - 200,000

Expertisation: Signed AD (Alberto Diena) in pencil. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue small figures surcharge $1 on 3c. red, a superlative example, bright exquisite colour on wonderfully fresh white paper, centred within good to large margins, unused with much original gum, small hinge remainder, very fine and a peerless example of this legendary world rarity. Chan 86.
Estimate HK$ 4,000,000 - 5,000,000

Provenance: Eugene Klein, 7.7.1944, lot 366 (pair)
Saul Newbury, Robert A. Siegel (New York), 6.2.1962, lot 418. This is the left stamp of a horizontal pair, which was later split into two singles.
"Twyste", Spink (Hong Kong), 20.11.2005, lot 1081.

References: Huang Kuang-Sheng, A Treatise on the Extant Copies of the Small One Dollar with Illustrations (Philippines, 1975). This is listed as example number A-7 of the 32 extant Small One Dollar.
The Revenue Surcharges China 1897, Vol. I (Taipei: Directorate General of Posts of Taiwan, 1987), p. 39. It is listed as type III, number 10.

ONLY 32 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED OF THIS ICONIC STAMP, WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE RAREST REGULARLY ISSUED STAMP OF CHINA, AND RANKS AMONG THE GREAT WORLD RARITIES.

This is type A with the "1 Dollar" of the surcharge partly covering the word "Revenue". The type A and B ("1 dollar" completely covering the word "Revenue") stamps all come from a right surcharge plate of twenty-five. The type C ("1 dollar" above the word "Revenue") comes from the other surcharge plate. Est. HK$4,000,000-5,000,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000,000-5,000,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 20, fresh colour on brilliant white paper, particularly well centred within huge margins, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, hinge remainder. A choice example. Chan 87.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 7, good colour, well centred, fine unused with much original gum, a few slightly blunt perfs. at foot. Chan 87.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 3, clear colour, well centred, fresh unused with part to large original gum, hinge remainder and slight central thinning, otherwise fine. Chan 87.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 15, large box of Chinese character, showing slight offset on reverse, bright colour, well centred within large margins, fine and fresh unused with part to large part original gum, hinge remainders (some paper). Chan 87a.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 6, large box of Chinese character, showing slight offset on reverse, deep colour, well centred (just to top), fine unused with part original gum, hinge remainders. Chan 87a.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 5, crack on right side of central character "One", bright clear colour, particularly well centred within enormous margins, minute speck on reverse just showing through in margin at lower right, nevertheless very fine unmounted mint. Chan 87b.
Estimate HK$ 2,200 - 2,600 Est. HK$2,200-2,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,200-2,600

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red (2), positions 6 and 14, the former with large box of Chinese character, deep bright colours, well centred, fine and fresh unused with part to much original gum, one has hinge remainders (a trifle glazed). Chan 87, a.
Estimate HK$ 3,500 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,500-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,500-4,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, block of eight (4 x 2) from the top left corner of the sheet with selvedge on two sides (Pane 1), positions 1-2-3-4/6-7-8-9, position 6 with large box of Chinese character, deepish colour, particularly well centred, very good to fine appearance unused, regummed and reduced toning. Chan 87, a.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000 Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, a complete pane of twenty-five (5 x 5), from the top left corner of the sheet with selvedge on two sides (Pane 1), representing the complete setting with the constant varieties, positions 6, 15 and 16 large box of central character, position 5 crack on right side of central character "One", and position 25 "one cent" 3mm. below Chinese character, good colour on white paper, well centred, last vertical row has slight oxidisation at right, mainly fine unused with much original gum, gum skips throughout, folded along two horizontal rows of perfs. and some reinforced splitting. A splendid pane. Chan 87, a, b, d.
Estimate HK$ 120,000 - 150,000 Est. HK$120,000-150,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$120,000-150,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, a complete pane of twenty-five (5 x 5), from the top left corner of the sheet with selvedge on two sides (Pane 1), representing the complete setting with the constant varieties, positions 6, 15 and 16 large box of central character, position 5 crack on right side of central character "One", and position 25 "one cent" 3mm. below Chinese character, nice colour, well centred, some blunt perfs. at right, very good appearance unused with part to large part original gum, affected by moisture resulting in some staining, light tones and varying degrees of gum disturbance, another scarce pane. Chan 87, a, b, d.
Estimate HK$ 70,000 - 90,000

Expertisation: signed T.C. Chen/Cathay guarantee handstamps (2) in selvedge. Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, position 20, well centred, cancelled by two part strikes of "Customs/Ichang" c.d.s. of "Feb 25 1897", toned, scarce cancellation. Chan 87.
Estimate HK$ 1,000 - 1,200 Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

China, 1897 Red Revenue large figures surcharge 1c. on 3c. red, horizontal pair, positions 4-5, the right stamp shows crack on right side of central character "One", fresh clear colour, particularly well centred, cancelled by pakua, light peripheral toning, otherwise fine. Chan 87.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000