China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 1ca green, imperforate proof on wove paper with extra circle removed (Chan 1P. Scott 1), Setting I [21], a splendid example, sharp impression and bright color on crisp white paper, large margins with two enormous sheet margins, practically full original gum, some light creasing, Very Fine. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), the 3ca [12] shows characteristic plate wear to Dragon's lower white claw and the 5ca has sheet margin at right, brilliant colors, wonderfully fresh, unused with practically full original gum, Extremely Fine and an immaculate set. Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), bright colors on fresh white paper, unused with practically full original gum, Very Fine. Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), deep bright colors, well-centered, particularly fresh, unused with much original gum, the first two have light aging on the gum and the 3ca has a light vertical bend, otherwise Very Fine. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1c-3. Scott 1-3), the 1ca [5] has plate variety broken frame at top left corner, vivid colors, well centered, unused with much original gum, the 1ca has some slight aging on the gum and the 5ca has a few lightly toned perfs at top, otherwise Very Fine. Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), vibrant colors, the 1ca in a deep shade, the 3ca and 5ca have rough perfs, unused with much original gum, the first two have some light aging on gum not detracting from the very fine and fresh appearance. Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), deep bright colors and well centered, unused with large part original gum, a few minor faults, Very Fine appearance. Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), marginal blocks of four, lovely colors, the 1ca in a pastel yellow-green shade, the 3ca block [11-12/16-17] has one stamp [12] showing characteristic plate wear to Dragon's lower right claw, excellent centering, mint, the 1ca and 3ca never hinged, the 5ca has a few lightly toned perfs on reverse of no consequence to this extremely fine and desirable set of blocks. Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), blocks of four, the 3ca with sheet margin at right, bright colors, well centered, exceptionally fresh, mint, Very Fine. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), blocks of four, vivid colors, well centered unused with practically full original gum, the 1ca has a light diagonal gum crease/bend affecting the left vertical pair and one 5c has an old-time hinge remainder, another, Very Fine set. Est. HK$60,000-80,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$60,000-80,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 1ca green (Chan 1. Scott 1), Setting I, a complete sheet of 25 with selvedge all around, [21] and [25] each show overinking in one corner, delicate pastel-like color on brilliant white paper, unused with practically full original gum, a few insignificant gum tones on reverse., Very Fine and a magnificent complete sheet. Est. HK$200,000-250,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$200,000-250,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 3ca brown red (Chan 2. Scott 2), Setting I, a complete sheet of 25 with selvedge all around, resplendent color on immaculate white paper, unused with practically full original gum, light creasing in outer selvedge at top and foot, Very Fine and wonderfully fresh. An outstanding complete sheet. Est. HK$300,000-400,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$300,000-400,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), a marvelous block of 10 with sheet margins on both sides, comprising the lower two rows of the sheet, radiant color on fresh white paper, mint, flawless original gum, one stamp in top row lightly hinged and a few split perfs at top, Very Fine and a superlative block. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), a spectacular block of 15 from the top of the sheet with complete selvedge on three sides, deep rich color on pristine white paper, well centered, unused with practically full original gum, Extremely Fine and a stupendous block. Est. HK$200,000-250,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$200,000-250,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), Setting I, a complete sheet of 25 with selvedge all around, dazzling color on bright white paper, tiny age specks on gum or in the paper, [15] has a small surface inclusion, and, as sometimes happens with this value, the top and bottom margins are a bit shortened, Very Fine for this rare sheet, ex Major James Starr. Est. HK$500,000-600,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$500,000-600,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 1ca green, thin paper (Chan 4. Scott 4), horizontal pair, showing two letters/rows of the papermaker's watermark "Monckton Kent", of which remarkably both of the "T"s in each row appear on the stamp, well-centered, unused with part original gum, light staining throughout, nevertheless a remarkable example of the watermark variety on this stamp, Fine appearance. Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 1ca green and 3ca brown red, thin paper (Chan 4, 5. Scott 4, 5), fresh bright colors, excellent centering within large margins, unused with much original gum, the 3ca has a large hinge remainder which has resulted in some aging on the gum, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$3,500-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,500-4,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 1ca green, thin paper (Chan 4. Scott 4), bright color, unused with much original gum, remarkably fresh, Very Fine. Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 5ca yellow ocher, thin paper (Chan 6. Scott 6), fresh color, unused without gum, small unobtrusive gray mark in the Dragon's claw at the lower left, a scarce stamp unused, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$15,000-20,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$15,000-20,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 5ca yellow ocher, thin paper (Chan 6. Scott 6), unusually miscentered well to right, canceled by "Tientsin" type 2 seal, a sound example of this stamp free of the usual faults normally endemic to the nature of this pelure paper issue, Fine. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1883, Large Dragons on thick paper, 1ca-5ca complete, clean-cut perf 12½ (Chan 7-9. Scott 7-9 vars.), excellent sustained colors, well-centered unused with much original gum, the 3ca has paper hinge remainders and the 5ca has inconsequential creasing at foot, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1878-83, an unused trio of Large Dragons (Chan 3,7,9. Scott 3, 7, 7 var), comprising 1878 5ca, 1883-1885 clean-cut perfs 1ca and rough perfs 1ca, part to much original gum, tones and discoloration, Very Good to Fine appearance. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1883, Large Dragons on thick paper, 1ca-5ca complete, rough perf 12½ (Chan 10-12. Scott 7-9 vars.), deep bright colors, well-centered, unused with part to much original gum, the last two have light gum toning on reverse, a scarce issue unused, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$9,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$9,000-12,000

China, 1885, Small Dragons, 1ca-5ca complete, clean-cut perf 12½ (Chan 13-15. Scott 10-12 vars.), deep bright colors, well centered, wonderfully fresh, unused with much original gum, Very Fine and choice. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1885, Small Dragons, 1ca-5ca complete, clean-cut perf 12½ (Chan 13-15. Scott 10-12 vars.), the 5ca with plate variety broken upper left frame and sheet margin at top, excellent colors and centering, unused with much original gum, the 3ca has blunt perf. at right and the 5ca has light uniform toning, otherwise Very Fine. Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500