China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. master die proofs, large format, set of nine, made by R.A. de Villard from his original drawings for the accepted designs on thin semi-transparent paper. A very fine and rare set of these elusive proofs.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000

According to Major James Starr, there were only ten such sets of the original proofs on thin paper, and six of these sets had scored lines across the design, meaning that only four unaltered sets of the original proofs could exist. Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. reprints of the master die proofs, large format, set of nine, in later lithographic prints on thick cream wove paper, fine.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. imperforate plate proofs in colours of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, the 12ca. (minute black speck) from the lower left corner of the pane, very fine and fresh. A brilliant and exceptional set.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000 Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 12ca. with additional 6ca. shade, imperforate plate proofs in colours of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, the 9ca. and 12ca. with sheet margins, fine to very fine and fresh, the 3ca. has grease mark in top left corner, and the 9ca. and 12ca. have a few small faults.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 6ca. imperforate plate proofs in colours of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, in complete panes of twenty with sheet or interpane margins all round, the 1ca. and 5ca. each showing marginal "guide cross" on one side, superb colours and large margins, mostly probably originally mounted on archival pages with old-time hinge strips in the lower margins, the gum of which has seeped through this delicate paper, except barely so on the 5ca. and 6ca., overall fine to very fine. A rare and nigh impossible assembly to replicate.
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

Expertisation: Peter Holcombe certificate (1995), which does not mention the gum staining, since he considered this irrelevant for such panes. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 24ca. rose carmine, imperforate plate proof in colours of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, in complete pane of twenty-five with sheet margins all round, showing marginal "guide cross" at left, lustrous colour on such brilliant delicate paper, neat vertical fold in margin between 2nd and 3rd row of stamps, and small barely perceptible water stain at foot of last stamp, very fine and wonderfully fresh. An exquisite and immensely rare pane; of the highest exhibition calibre.
Estimate HK$ 200,000 - 250,000

References: Shiu-Hon Chan, F.R.P.S.L., The Empress Dowager Birthday Commemorative Issues and Surcharges (Hong Kong, 1996), p. 12. Illustrated.

Auction Record
Sotheby's (Hong Kong), 29.4.1996, lot 186. Est. HK$200,000-250,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$200,000-250,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. imperforate plate proofs of the 3rd printing in colours of the 2nd printing on hard wove paper, all with sheet margin at top, deep bright colours, the 9ca. in the emerald shade, the 12ca. has tiny natural wood fibre in the paper, very fine.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000 Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. imperforate plate proofs of the 3rd printing in colours of the 2nd printing on hard wove paper, the 2ca. is a corner example and the 9ca. with sheet margin at top is in a true green shade (light bends), fine.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000 Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. imperforate plate proofs in black from the re-engraved reserve plates on thick wove paper, all marginal, fine to very fine.
Estimate HK$ 18,000 - 22,000 Est. HK$18,000-22,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$18,000-22,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. imperforate plate proofs in black from the re-engraved reserve plates on thick wove paper, the 12ca. has a light vertical crease, the others are fine.
Estimate HK$ 15,000 - 20,000 Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca. perforated plate proofs of redrawn printing in black on card paper, fine to very fine and fresh.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000 Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, mostly well centred, fine unused with part to much original gum, the 1ca. has corner crease and the 9ca. (some adherences) has a vertical crease at left. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright fresh colours, mostly well centred, fine unused with large part to much original gum, the 9ca. has some adherences and the 12ca. tiny specks in gum. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, well centred, fine unused with much original gum (the 12ca. has gum glazing and other values have glazing on hinge remainders or hinge marks), the 5ca. has light vertical crease. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, well centred, fine unused with much original gum (top values have glazing from hinges), the 24ca. has ungummed area at left. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. fresh bright colours, well centred, fine unused with part to much original gum (glazing from hinge marks or remainders), the 1ca. without gum. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$7,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-8,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. deep bright colours, fine unused with much original gum, the 1ca. to 3ca. have small faults and all but the last two have hinge remainders. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, fine unused with part to much original gum, the 2ca. has a small corner defect. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca (with large red printing ink blot in foliage at lower right), bright colours, well centred, mainly fine unused with part to much original gum (the 4ca. regummed), a few small perf. tones. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. good colours, mainly fine unused with part to much original gum, the 4ca. oxidised and the 24ca. has a small corner crease. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, fine unused with much original gum, except the 24ca. which is without gum. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. very good appearance unused with part to much original gum, toned. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. reddish orange interpanneau block of ten (2 x 5) with interpane margin at foot, pale colour, fresh unused with full original gum, rough perfs. at left, nevertheless fine. Chan 22.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 2ca. green interpanneau block of thirty-five, comprised of block of fifteen and pane of twenty, each stamp cancelled by Shanghai seal in blue, small defect in interpane margin, otherwise fine. Chan 23.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 9ca. green, vertical tête-bêche pair, from Pane 2, nice colour, centred within large margins, fine unused with much original gum, trivial corner crease in top right margin and minute age speck on reverse. Chan 28g.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000