China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. green, Setting I, horizontal pair [1-2], centrally cancelled by Shanghai seal, fine to very fine, faintest traces of rust in margin. Chan 1.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. yellow-orange, Setting I, horizontal pair [8-9], cliché [8] with long stroke of "Dah", fine unused with much original gum, the left stamp has light diagonal creasing at top left Chan 3, c.
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 5ca. yellow-orange, Setting I, horizontal pair [1-2], cancelled by part "Customs" double-ring d.s. of Newchwang, cliché [1] has pulled perf. at left, otherwise fine. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. yellow-orange, Setting II, block of four [7-5/16-24] from the top left corner of the sheet, lightly cancelled by Tientsin seals in black, fine to very fine, small corner creasing in top left corner.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000

Provenance: "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 29.9.1988, lot 4088. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, the nearly complete reconstruction of the twenty positions comprised of horizontal strip of three [3-5-25] with small part of sheet margin at right, pairs (9, with [2-20], [8-1], [1-15], [2/10], [10-17], [13/23], [26/6], [9/21], and [11-21]), and singles (2, clichés [19] and [24]), cancelled by Peking seal in blue or Shanghai seal in black, mainly fine to very fine appearance, a few faults (one stained and another with internal defect). Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000 Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. deepish green on pelure paper, heavy impression so characteristic on this soft delicate paper, as well as typical slight offset on reverse, unused without gum, light central vertical crease, otherwise fine. An impressive example of this rare paper variety. Chan 4c.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. green, Setting III, two horizontal pairs [25-18] and [16-23], originally forming a strip of four, cliché [25] shows plate variety two breaks in frame line at bottom left and cliché [16] variety prominent break in frame line at foot, bright colour on pristine white paper, the first pair is extremely fine mint and the second is very fine unused with much original gum, the left stamp [16] in second pair has faint traces of foxing in margin at foot. Chan 4, e, f.
Estimate HK$ 25,000 - 30,000

Provenance: Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 45, for the first pair. Est. HK$25,000-30,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$25,000-30,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. green, Setting III, horizontal pair [21-11], bright colour contrasted by complete centrally struck "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Nov 24 82" in red, small pulled perf. at right, nevertheless very fine and choice pair. Chan 4.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000

Provenance: E.D. Finney, H.R. Harmer (New York), 5.7.1952, lot 297
Dr. Robert C.H. Lee, J.R. Hughes (San Francisco), 16.11.1963, lot 26. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 3ca. brown-red, clear colour and impression on bright white paper, near perfect centring, very fine and fresh mint. Chan 5.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 3ca. brown-red, Setting VI, vertical pair [17/16] with sheet margin at top, lovely delicate colour on fresh white paper, excellent centring, cancelled by two strikes of Shanghai seal, lower stamp has insignificant short diagonal crease of no consequence to this very fine positional piece which contains the key position for determining this Setting. Chan 5.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000

The 1882 wide margin issue of the 3 candarins was printed in a sheet format of fifteen (5 x 3). There were two Settings, the only difference being that cliché 16 from Setting VI was replaced by cliché 24 in Setting VII. The other clichés must have remained locked in the printing plate during this substitution, because there is no discernable shifting of clichés between the two Settings. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 5ca. yellow-ochre, deep rich colour, near perfect centring, extremely fine and wonderfully fresh unused without gum. A flawless example of this difficult stamp. Chan 6.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Expertisation: Signed "AD" (Alberto Diena) in pencil.

Provenance: Philip Ireland, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 25.5.1989, lot 2067. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. green, clean-cut perfs., Setting VI, complete sheet of twenty comprised of two rejoined vertical blocks of ten (2 x 5), the latter block has variety central vertical row of perforations double, bright colour on pristine white paper, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, a few shortish perfs. at top and foot merely mentioned for accuracy. An outstanding and unique showpiece. Chan 7.
Estimate HK$ 300,000 - 400,000

Provenance: and Auction Record for left block
Godfrey Mellor, Robson Lowe (London), 15.5.1969, lot 2156
Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 85
Robson Lowe (London), 10.6.1975, lot 624
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 15.5.1997, lot B19

Provenance for right block with central vertical row of perfs. double
Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 33
Giuli Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40590
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 15.5.1997, lot B19.

References: Philip W. Ireland, China. The Large Dragons 1878-1885 (London : Robson Lowe Ltd., 1978), pp. 47-48.
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, "The Large Dragon Issue (Largest Recorded Multiples)", Journal of Chinese Philately, No. 246 (Vol. 34, No.1, October 1986), pp. 12, 15. Illustrated.
James B. Whang, ed. Whang's Illustrated Collection of the Large Dragons of China 1878-1885 (Taipei, 1993), p. 281.

Historically, these blocks of ten resided in two different collections until the Beckemans were able to reunite these in their original sheet format.

There was a similar vertical block of ten from the left half of the sheet in the Major James Starr collection (Sotheby's, 11.9.1991, lot 23).

There was also a block of four [6-19/22-20] with the double perforation variety along central row of perfs. in the Richard Canman collection (Stanley Gibbons, 19.10.1972, lot 93). Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. bright green, clean-cut perfs., Setting V, horizontal pair [9-8], unused with traces of gum, light rust spots mainly on reverse but showing on front in margin at bottom right. Chan 7.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. green, Setting VII, vertical imperforate pair [15/10], which actually is an imperforate between pair with perforations trimmed on all four sides, of very good appearance unused without gum, just touched at top right corner. A rare variety. Chan 7c.
Estimate HK$ 40,000 - 50,000

Provenance: H.R. Harmer (London), 3.11.1952, lot 18
Dr. Robert C.H. Lee, J.R. Hughes (San Francisco), 16.11.1963, lot 5
Geotge Alevizos (Santa Monica), 12-13.10.1981, lot 1872.

According to our records, there are only five imperforate between pairs with perforations intact which have survived. There are a further five pairs which have had the perforations trimmed (one has subsequently been reperforated) and one pair with perforations at sides only. Est. HK$40,000-50,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$40,000-50,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red, clean-cut perfs., unknown Setting, horizontal pair [?-25], cliché [25] with horizontal bar in "H" of "China" completely missing and lower half of left vertical bar also missing, centrally cancelled by Peking seal in blue leaving the plate variety clear, very fine and fresh appearance, a few small faults including 2mm. tear at top of right stamp. A remarkable and highly striking example of this plate variety. Chan 8, f.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red, clean-cut perfs., Setting VIII, vertical pair [4/18], boldly cancelled by near perfect central strike of Peking seal in blue, fine to very fine. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red-brown, rough perfs., Setting XII, vertical pair [20/23] with complete sheet margins at left and foot, deep rich colour on white paper, tiny defect in margin at lower left of bottom stamp, lightly foxed perfs., otherwise very fine. Chan 11.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000

This and the following four lots comprise a complete reconstruction of the 3 Candarins, Setting XII. There is one complete mint sheet of twenty (clean-cut perfs.) with full selvedge recorded. Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red-brown, clean-cut perfs., Setting XII, block of four [9-15/14-17] with complete sheet margins at top and left, of fine appearance unused with much original gum which is climatically toned, also a few age spots, otherwise fine. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000

Provenance: Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 105. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red-brown, clean-cut perfs., Setting XII, block of four [13-5/6-1], bright colour on fresh white paper, well centred, fine to very unused with much original gum, a few short perfs. of no significance. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Godfrey Mellor, Robson Lowe (London), 15.5.1969, lot 2158
Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 106
"Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4760. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red-brown, clean-cut perfs., Setting XII, block of four [14-17/10-25], deep bright colour on pristine white paper, slightly uneven impression at right, particularly well centred, very fine unused with much original gum, a few shortish perfs. at right. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000

Provenance: Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 49
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Geneva), 24.10.1984, lot 40601. Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. red-brown, clean-cut perfs., Setting XII, block of nine [25-24-26/11-3-21/4-8-18], with complete sheet margins at right and foot, fresh bright colour on white paper, light staining in margin at foot of lower left stamp and in part of selvedge below, fine to very fine unused with much original gum. A significant and appealing multiple. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

Provenance: Paul Hock, Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 108. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion, clean-cut perfs., Setting XIII, horizontal strip of three [8-26-1], neatly cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. of "Jun 19" without year date, very fine appearance, a few faults including surface abrasion in lower right corner. Chan 8b.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000

This is a distinct dull vermilion shade unique to this Setting and is only known used with the "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. without year date. Only sixteen of the twenty positions of this Setting have been identified to date. The largest recorded multiples are two strips of four and two strips of three. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion [4], clean-cut perfs., variety semi-circle to right of lower left "3", deep rich shade, choice centring, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 8c.
Estimate HK$ 12,000 - 15,000

The "semi-circle" variety occurs after Setting XIII. Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion-red [4], clean-cut perfs., variety semi-circle to right of lower left "3", cancelled by Tientsin seal in blue, fine to very fine. Chan 8c.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion [4], rough perfs., variety semi-circle to right of lower left "3", fresh colour, excellent centring, cancelled by two strikes of Peking seal in blue, fine to very fine. Chan 11f.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000