China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca., imperforate plate proofs in colours resembling the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, horizontal pairs with sheet margins on one side, bright fresh colours, large even margins, the 4ca. slightly oxidised, the 6ca. has a few light rust spots, and the 9ca. and 24ca. (a couple of age spots) are creased in the margin between the stamps, a very fine and charming assembly.
Estimate HK$ 35,000 - 45,000 Est. HK$35,000-45,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$35,000-45,000

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 1ca. to 6ca. in interpanneau pairs with sheet margins at top and the 9ca. to 24ca. in horizontal pairs, the 9ca. (deep colour) and 12ca. with sheet margins at left, vivid colours, large margins, four of the low values have usual horizontal creases in outer extremity of sheet margins at top well clear of stamps, very fine and an exquisite assembly.
Estimate HK$ 50,000 - 60,000 Est. HK$50,000-60,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$50,000-60,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1ca. to 24ca., imperforate plate proofs of the 3rd printing in colours of the 2nd printing on hard wove paper, with additional shade of 2ca., resplendent colours, mainly large margins all round, the low values are mostly corner examples (the 2ca. has marginal corner crease), 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 in black from the re-engraved reserve plates on thick wove paper, extremely fine.
Estimate HK$ 25,000 - 30,000 Est. HK$25,000-30,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$25,000-30,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. bright colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. deep bright colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, the 5ca. and 6ca. each have a lightly foxed perf. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. fresh colours, well centred (the 9ca. centred to foot), fine to very fine unused with large part to much original gum, the 3ca. has light tones on reverse at top. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. excellent colours, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, the 3ca. has uniform toning and the 9ca. small paper adherence. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. nice colours, mostly well centred, fine and fresh unused with part to large part original gum, the 6ca. has light uniform toning. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 9,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$9,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$9,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. reddish orange, horizontal pair, variety imperforate between, deep bright colour, well centred, fine to very fine and fresh unused with much original gum. A superlative example of this rare variety. Chan 22c.
Estimate HK$ 60,000 - 80,000

Provenance: Ellery Denison, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 23.11.1988, lot 1026
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong). 14.5.1988, lot A34.

LESS THAN TEN PAIRS ARE RECORDED OF THIS VARIETY. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 2ca. green with interpane margins at top and right, variety imperforate top margin, very fine appearance unused without gum, horizontal crease in margin at top just outside frame line and fox mark in margin at foot. Chan 23c.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 3ca. orange-yellow, horizontal pair, variety imperforate between, dazzling colour, characteristic centring to top left as are examples from this pane, fine and fresh unused with much original gum, short perf. at foot. Chan 24c.
Estimate HK$ 25,000 - 30,000 Est. HK$25,000-30,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$25,000-30,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 4ca. rose-pink with imperforate gutter margin at left, centrally cancelled by Shanghai seal in blue, toned, as is often the case for this variety, which is otherwise fine. Chan 25var.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 6ca. brown, vertical pair, variety imperforate between, excellent colour, well centred, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, hinge remainders. An outstanding example of this extremely rare variety. Chan 27c.
Estimate HK$ 120,000 - 150,000

Provenance: Quintin Tan Kok Tin, Spink (Hong Kong), 21.1.2007, lot 38.

ONLY FIVE VERTICAL IMPERFORATE BETWEEN UNUSED PAIRS ARE RECORDED OF THIS VARIETY. THERE IS ALSO A USED PAIR. Est. HK$120,000-150,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$120,000-150,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 9ca, bright green, vertical tête-bêche pair with sheet margin at left, from Pane 1, deep colour, well centred, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, light tone spot on gum of no importance. Chan 28g.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 9ca. bright green, vertical tête-bêche pair, from Pane 3, fresh colour, choice centring, fine unused with much original gum, hinge remainders. Champion handstamped guarantee. Chan 28g.
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, horizontal tête-bêche pair, from Pane 2, bright colour, well centred, fine and fresh unused with much original gum. Chan 28j.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, Chefoo : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. each centrally cancelled by Chefoo seal, fine to very fine strikes, the 24ca. has light tones. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, Hankow : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 3ca. 5ca. and 12ca., cancelled by "Customs/Hankow" double-ring d.s., mainly fine part to practically complete strikes, the 1ca. uniformly toned and the 12ca. is discoloured and has a tear. Chan 22-24, 26, 29.
Estimate HK$ 2,500 - 3,000 Est. HK$2,500-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,500-3,000

China, Ichang : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 9ca. bright green, centrally cancelled by practically complete Ichang seal, fine to very fine. Chan 28.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000 Est. HK$1,500-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,500-2,000

China, Kiukiang : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 2ca. green, horizontal pair, centrally cancelled by "Customs/Kiukiang" double-ring d.s. of "Jan 18 97" in red, very fine. Chan 23.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,500 Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, Newchwang : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 2ca. and 4ca. to 24ca., centrally cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s., very good to fine strikes with legible dates, the stamps are fine and well centred, the 24ca. has manuscript offset from envelope on reverse, scarce cancellations. Chan 23, 25-30.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, Newchwang : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 2ca., 3ca. and 6ca. to 24ca., cancelled by Newchwang seals, the 2ca. lightly toned and the 9ca. has small defect in margin at top right, fine to very fine strikes. Chan 23, 24, 26-30.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, Peking : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. centrally cancelled by Peking seals in blue, the 2ca. has small hole at top and the 12ca. has interpane margin at right but light uniform toning, otherwise fine to very fine. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, Shanghai : 1894 Dowager Empress 1st printing 1ca. to 24ca. centrally cancelled by Shanghai antique seals in blue, mainly fine to very fine, the 4ca. oxidised, the 6ca. thin and the 24ca. has some lightly foxed perfs. Chan 22-30.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000