China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. bright colours, well centred, the 1ca. shows plate variety break in frame line at bottom, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 1d-3.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000 Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. bright fresh colours, well centred, the 1ca. is in the dark green shade, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 1b-3.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000 Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. bright colours, the 3ca. is rough perfs., fine and fresh unused with traces (5ca.) to much original gum. Chan 1-3.
Estimate HK$ 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. nice colours, well centred, the 3ca. [12] shows constant plate flaw part of dragon's lower right claw missing, fine unused with much original gum, the 1ca. has light tones and paper hinge remainder. Chan 1, 2d, 3.
Estimate HK$ 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. fresh colours, well centred, fine unused with part to large part original gum, the 3ca. has a few lightly foxed perfs. Chan 1-3.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red [12], showing constant plate flaw part of Dragon's lower right claw and inner frame line missing, deep rich shade, well centred, very fine unused with much original gum, a striking example of this plate variety in a later stage of progression. Chan 2d.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. yellow-orange, rough perfs., bistre-orange shade, Setting I, vertical pair [15/20] with sheet margin at right, fine appearance unused with much original gum, light diagonal gum creasing. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper, a splendid set of pristine mint horizontal pairs, comprising :

1ca. bright green, clean-cut perfs., Setting V, horizontal pair [9-8]
3ca. red-brown, clean-cut perfs., Setting XII, horizontal pair [24-26] with sheet margin
5ca. lemon-yellow, rough perfs., Setting V, horizontal pair [7-2]

All display exceptionally bright colours on pristine white paper, excellent centring, and are "post office" fresh mint with practically full original gum, extremely fine and of a peerless quality seldom encountered. "Sans pareil". Chan 7-9.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 1.10.1983, lot 66. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion-red [4], clean-cut perfs., variety semi-circle to right of lower left "3", bright colour on fresh white paper, outstanding centring, very fine and fresh unused with large part to much original gum. Chan 8c.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000

The "semi-circle" variety occurs after Setting XIII. Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. yellow-green, clean-cut perfs., Setting VII, vertical pair [8/7], bright colour on white paper, very fine and fresh unused without gum, barely discernable horizontal crease at foot. A notable example of this rare variety. Chan 7c.
Estimate HK$ 450,000 - 550,000

Provenance: James B. Whang, Christie's Swire (Hong Kong), 2.11.1994, lot 1573
M.F. Huang, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 21.6.2003, lot 58.

References: James B. Whang, ed. Whang's Illustrated Collection of the Large Dragons of China 1878-1885 (Taipei, 1993), p. 280.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE 1 CANDARIN IMPERFORATE BETWEEN PAIRS WITH INTACT PERFORATIONS WHICH HAVE SURVIVED.

There are a further five pairs which have had the perforations trimmed and one pair with perforations at sides only. Est. HK$450,000-550,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$450,000-550,000

China, Customs Dater : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green and 3ca. brown-red, each centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chefoo" double-ring d.s. of "May 9 80" and "May 26 80" respectively, the 3ca. has lightly foxed perfs., very fine and choice strikes. Chan 1, 2.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, Customs Dater : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chefoo" double-ring d.s., the 1ca. and 5ca. are "Jan 29 79" and "Jan 11 79" dates respectively and the 3ca. is "Aug 24 81", the 3ca. has a couple of lightly aged perfs. at top and the 5ca. (rough perfs.) has small faults including 1mm. split in margin at foot, fine strikes. Chan 1-3.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, Customs Dater : 1882 Large Dragon wide margins 3ca. brown-red, pale shade, well centred, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chefoo" double-ring d.s. of "Sep 26 83", lightly foxed perf. at top, fine nearly complete strike. Chan 5.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, Seal cancellations : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. each centrally cancelled by large part to complete strikes of the seal, fine to very fine. Chan 1a-3.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, Seal cancellations : 1882 Large Dragon wide margins 3ca. brown-red and 1883 thick paper, clean-cut perfs., 3ca. brown-red, centrally by seals, the former has a short perf. at left, fine to very fine. Chan 5, 8.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, Seal cancellations : 1883 Large Dragon thick paper, clean-cut perfs., 1ca. to 5ca., each centrally cancelled by seals, the 1ca. has lightly reduced manuscript line at right, fine to very fine. Chan 7-9.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, Seal cancellations : 1885 Large Dragon thick paper, rough perfs., 1ca. to 5ca., each with complete or practically so central strike of the seal, fine to very fine, the 1ca. has small split at foot. Chan 10-12.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, Post Office : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, cancelled by "Chinkiang/Post Office" double-ring d.s. of "26 Mar 79", fine to very fine practically complete strike. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, Post Office : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, rough perfs., cancelled by "Chinkiang/Post Office" double-ring d.s., good strike, toned. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, Post Office : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. orange, rough perfs., clear colour, cancelled by "Chinkiang/Post Office" double-ring d.s. of "7 Feb 79", fine light strike. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, Customs Dater : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, large holes perfs., centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "Sep 21 81", fine to very fine. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, Customs Dater : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. yellow-orange, rough perfs., centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "Apl 16 79", fine to very fine. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, Customs Dater : 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. yellowish bistre, rough perfs., lovely distinctive colour, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "Jun 11 79", fine to very fine bold strike. Chan 3 (approaching 3b).
Estimate HK$ 3,500 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,500-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,500-4,000

China, Customs Dater : 1883 Large Dragon thick paper, clean-cut perfs., 3ca. vermilion-red, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring d.s. of "Mar 1 86", fine to very fine. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, Customs Dater in red : 1885 Large Dragon thick paper, rough perfs., 1ca. green, cancelled by part "Customs/Hankow" double-ring d.s. of "Dec 16 89" in red, fine. Chan 10.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500