China, 1897 Large Surcharge on Small Dragon 1c. on 1ca. to 5c. on 5ca. blocks of four, the first two from the top right corner of the sheet and the last from the top left corner of the right pane, with sheet or interpane margins on two sides, strong bright colours and impressions, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, a few tiny age spots on reverse of no consequence. A lovely set of blocks. Chan 34-36.
Estimate HK$ 70,000 - 90,000 Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½ca. on 3ca. to 30c. on 24ca., bright colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with part to large part original gum. Chan 37-46.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½ca. on 3ca. to 30c. on 24ca., deep bright colours, well centred, fine to very fine unused with much original gum (the 10c. on 9ca. with small part gum), the 2c. on 2ca. has blunt corner and the 10c. on 12ca. has small corner crease. Chan 37-46.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½ca. on 3ca. to 30c. on 24ca., deep bright colours, well centred, fine unused with much original gum, the 8c. on 6ca. and 10c. on 12ca. have light tones. Chan 37-46.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½ca. on 3ca. to 30c. on 24ca., excellent colours, well centred, mainly fine unused with part to large part original gum, the 30c. on 24ca. has central paper adherence on reverse with suspicion of patched thinning. Chan 37-46.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½c. on 3ca. orange-yellow, variety surcharge double, Setting B, Pane 2 [18-19], excellent colour, centred to right as is characteristic of the examples with this variety, perfs. at foot are largely trimmed as is normal for a number of the examples from the lower row of the pane, extremely fine and wonderfully fresh unmounted mint. Chan 37k.
Estimate HK$ 160,000 - 200,000

Expertisation: Chen Shih-Jen certificate (1998).

References: Chen Shih-Jen, ed., Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharge. 110 Anninversary of Empress Dowager Jubilee Issue (2004), p. 305. Illustrated.

OF THE TWENTY-FIVE OR SO SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF THIS VARIETY, THERE ARE FOUR PAIRS AND A BLOCK OF FOUR RECORDED.

Interestingly, a block of four can be reconstructed with the pair [14-15] from the M.D. Chow collection (Sotheby's, 29.4.1996, lot 238). Est. HK$160,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$160,000-200,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½c. on 3ca. orange-yellow, variety surcharge double, Setting B, Pane 1 [9], excellent colour, centred to right as is characteristic of the examples with this variety, faulty lower left corner perf., otherwise fine unused with much original gum. Chan 37k.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Expertisation: Signed Herbert Bloch
Signed Peter Holcombe
Chen Shih-Jen certificate (1998).

Provenance: Harmer, Rooke (New York), 9-12.5.1961, lot 1063.

References: Chen Shih-Jen, ed., Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharge. 110 Anniversary of Empress Dowager Jubilee Issue (2004), p. 305. Illustrated.

APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FIVE EXAMPLES OF THIS VARIETY ARE KNOWN TO DATE.

There were two panes of twenty each which received the surcharge double. Examples of the double surcharge variety from Pane 1 show the doubling with misplacement to the upper right, while those from Pane 2 show the doubling vertically misplaced.

Interestingly, the example [10] next to this on the original pane was in the Major James Starr collection (Sotheby's, 12.9.1991, lot 426). Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½c. on 3ca. olive-yellow, vertical strip of three, variety imperforate between, lovely deep distinctive colour, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, hinge remainders and a few small areas of gum glazing. Rare. Chan 37pi.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000

Provenance: Joseph C. Wong, Robson Lowe (Basel), 20.3.1975, lot 1040
"Renaissance", Michael Rogers (Winter Park), 20.3.1999, lot 109. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 1c. on 1ca. reddish orange, variety surcharge inverted, characteristic pale colour, with extraordinarily wide margins on three sides showing portion of adjoining stamp at top, on piece, cancelled by "Customs/W(uhu)" double-ring d.s. of "27 Nov 1897, very fine and of impeccable quality, a gem for the connoisseur. Rare, especially so with this cancellation. Chan 38d.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Sir David Roseway, Robson Lowe (London), 12.11.1963, lot 156.

References: Chen Shih-Jen, ed., Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharge. 110 Anniversary of Empress Dowager Jubilee Issue (2004), pp. 317, 324. Illustrated.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT ONLY TWO SHEETS OF FORTY (I.E., 80 STAMPS) RECEIVED THE SURCHARGE INVERTED. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 1c. on 1ca. reddish orange, variety surcharge inverted, horizontal pair, strong colour for this normally pale shade, outstanding centring, cancelled by two complete or nearly so strikes of Hankow pakua, very fine, sharp paper fold in outer extremity of top margin, very fine. Chan 38d.
Estimate HK$ 70,000 - 90,000

Provenance: Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 12.11.1998, lot B75. Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 1c. on 1ca. reddish orange, variety surcharge inverted, horizontal strip of three, bright colour for what is normally a pale shade, near perfect centring, cancelled by "Hankow" dollar dater of "7 Jul 97", left stamp has inconsequential pre-application wrinking, very fine. Chan 38d.
Estimate HK$ 120,000 - 150,000

Provenance: Godrey Mellor, Robson Lowe (London), 15.5.1969, lot 2240
"Renaissance", Michael Rogers (Winter Park), 20.3.1999, lot 117.

THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THIS VARIETY IS A HORIZONTAL STRIP OF FOUR WITH PAKUA. THE ABOVE STRIP OF THREE IS THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE WITH A CUSTOMS DATER OR DOLLAR DATER. Est. HK$120,000-150,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$120,000-150,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 2c. on 2ca. green, variety surcharge double, Setting A, Pane 1 [15], with "2" over "en" of "cents", characteristic offset of surcharge on reverse, bright colour, outstanding centring, extremely fine and lightly mounted mint. A fabulous example of this rare variety, especially so with the positional "2" over "en" variety. An absolute gem. Chan 39c var.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

Expertisation: Chen Shih-Jen certificate (1998).

Provenance: Brum Pederson, Stanley Gibbons (London), 15.2.1980, lot 1186.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY ONLY ABOUT 30 EXAMPLES WHICH HAVE SURVIVED FROM THE TWO SHEETS PRODUCED. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 2c. on 2ca. green, variety surcharge double, horizontal pair, Setting A, Pane 2 [1-2], characteristic offset of surcharge on reverse, fresh bright colour, well centred with large margin and long perforations at top, "blind" perforations at right and rough separation there has resulted in corner fault at top right, otherwise very fine mint, paper hinge remainder. A highly appealing example of this rare variety in a pair. Chan 39c var.
Estimate HK$ 150,000 - 200,000

Expertisation: Chen Shih-Jen certificate (1998).

The three surviving pairs are :
Setting A, Pane 1, positions 19-20. Ex Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 125
Setting A, Pane 2, positions 1-2. The above lot.
Setting A, Pane 2, positions 5-6. Ex M.D. Chow, Sotheby's (Hong Kong), 29.4.1996, lot 242. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 2c. on 2ca. green, variety surcharge inverted, centred to foot, cancelled by "Shanghai" dollar dater in blue, fine and a particularly desirable example of this rare variety which is seldom ever seen in sound condition. Chan 39d.
Estimate HK$ 80,000 - 100,000

Provenance: James Senior, Robson Lowe (Basel), 6.10.1971, lot 1255.

ONLY ABOUT 20 EXAMPLES OF THIS VARIETY ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED.

Many of the used examples are damaged, since these were roughly torn off domestic letters from Shanghai to Hankow by the postal clerk, Heng Hsueh, who was a stamp collector. Est. HK$80,000-100,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$80,000-100,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 4c. on 4ca. rose-pink, variety surcharge double, distinct clearly visible doubling of the surcharge throughout, characteristic offset of surcharge on reverse, lovely pastel-like colour, fine appearance unused with part original gum, lightly toned. A very rare and significant variety. Chan 40f.
Estimate HK$ 120,000 - 150,000

Provenance: Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 328.

References: Chen Shih-Jen, ed., Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharge. 110 Anniversary of Empress Dowager Jubilee Issue (2004), pp. 296-300.

LESS THAN 35 EXAMPLES OF THIS VARIETY HAVE BEEN RECORDED TO DATE.

Of the one sheet of forty stamps (double pane) produced with this error, only twenty stamps (one pane) have a clearly visible double surcharge. The Agnew collection had a nearly complete pane of nineteen which has been split up, so that today only a block of four remains as the largest multiple (ex Beckeman, Lam Man Yin collection). Est. HK$120,000-150,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$120,000-150,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 4c. on 4ca. rose-pink, vertical pair, variety imperforate between, lovely radiant colour on brilliant white paper, centred just to right, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. An immensely rare variety of the highest quality. Chan 40g.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

LESS THAN FIVE PAIRS ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH ONE IS USED. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 4c. on 4ca. rose-pink, horizontal pair, variety imperforate between, strong bright colour, particularly well centred within large margins, cancelled by "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Jan 2 1897", the day of issue, fine to very fine. A splendid example of this rare variety. Chan 40h.
Estimate HK$ 80,000 - 100,000

Provenance: James Senior, Robson Lowe (Basel). 6.10.1971, lot 1256.

APPROXIMATELY TEN HORIZONTAL IMPERFORATE BETWEEN PAIRS ARE KNOWN, NEARLY ALL OF WHICH HAVE FIRST DAY CANCELLATIONS; HOWEVER, THE BECKEMAN COLLECTION HAD AN EXAMPLE (EX GEORGE SCUDDER, MAJOR JAMES STARR) WHICH WAS CANCELLED BY "SHANGHAI" DOLLAR DATER AND IS ALMOST CERTAINLY A COMMERCIAL USAGE. Est. HK$80,000-100,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$80,000-100,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 5c. on 5ca. dull orange, vertical pair, variety imperforate between, deep rich colour, well centred, very fine appearance unused with practically full original gum, light uniform toning and trivial corner crease at lower left, extremely rare in mint condition. Chan 41c.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

Provenance: Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 333
Quintin Tan Kok Tin, Spink (Hong Kong), 21.1.2007, lot 125.

ONLY THREE UNUSED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED OF THIS VARIETY. IN TOTAL, THERE ARE LESS THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES KNOWN UNUSED OR USED. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 5c. on 5ca. dull orange with imperforate gutter margin at left, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, light barely perceptible diagonal crease in gutter margin. Chan 41d.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 3,500 Est. HK$3,000-3,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-3,500

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 5c. on 5ca. dull orange with imperforate gutter margin at left, cancelled by "Customs/Swatow" double-ring d.s. of "Mar 29 97" in brown, fine. Chan 41d.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 10c. on 6ca. brown, vertical pair, variety imperforate between, excellent colour, centred with especially large margins at top and foot showing portion of adjoining stamp at foot, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, a rare and elusive variety. Chan 43c.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: J. King Horner, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 7.5.1986, lot 2171
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 14.5.1998, lot A98.

PROBABLY ONLY TWO SHEETS WITH THIS VARIETY WERE SURCHARGED, YIELDING SIXTEEN PAIRS. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 10c. on 9ca. bright green, variety surcharge double, position 3, exemplificative colour on bright white paper, well centred, extremely fine unused with much original gum, negligible tone at top. An extraordinary example of this great rarity, irrefutably one of the finest extant. Chan 44f.
Estimate HK$ 300,000 - 400,000

Expertisation: Signed Peter Holcombe.

Provenance: Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 132
Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 225
"Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4852
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 14.5.1998, lot A99.

References: Chen Shih-Jen, ed., Empress Dowager Jubilee and its Surcharge. 110 Anniversary of Empress Dowager Jubilee Issue (2004), pp. 301-304. Illustrated.
Tony T.W. Kwan, "Small Figure Double Surcharge 10 Cents on Empress Dowager 9 Candarins Stamp", Asian Philatelist, Vol. 5 (Oct. 2014), pp. 29-34. Illustrated.

ONLY ONE PANE OF TWENTY WAS PRODUCED WITH THIS ERROR, AND ALL TWENTY POSITIONS HAVE NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED. Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, 1897 Small Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 10c. on 12ca. brown-orange vertical pair, variety imperforate horizontally, bright colour, fine unused with much original gum, light uniform toning and two glazed areas on gum from hinge or protective mount. Chan 45c.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000

Provenance: Bertha Reich, H.R. Harmer (New York), 28.2.1963, lot 1264. Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1897 Large Wide Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing ½c. on 3ca. orange-yellow, variety surcharge inverted, Pane 3, position 3, vivid colour, well centred, cancelled by customary "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. in brown, very fine with full original gum, and a highly desirable example of this rare variety. Chan 47b.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

ONLY ONE SHEET OF FORTY WAS PRODUCED WITH THIS VARIETY, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY ONLY 25 EXAMPLES HAVE SURVIVED. ALL ARE CANCELLED TO ORDER BY THE "CUSTOMS/SHANGHAI" DOUBLE-RING D.S. OF "MAR 24 97" IN BROWN.

The complete left pane (Pane 3) of twenty is illustrated on page 319 of Chen Shih-Jen's seminal work on the Dowagers and their surcharges. This appears to be position 3 from this pane. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1897 Large Wide Surcharge on Dowager 1st printing 8c. on 6ca. brown with interpane margin at left, exemplificative colour, excellent centring, very fine and fresh mint. A choice example of this scarce stamp. Chan 52.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000

Expertisation: Signed Peter Holcombe . Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000