China, 1878, Large Dragons on thin paper, 1ca-5ca complete (Chan 1-3. Scott 1-3), with bright colors and well-centered, each cancelled by seal in blue, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,725 (HK$ 13,580). Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1878-85, Large Dragons, 1ca & 5ca on thin paper, plus 3ca on thick paper (Chan 1, 3, 8. Scott 1, 3, 8a), pastel colors, well-centered, lightly cancelled by seals, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,725 (HK$ 13,580). Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1878, Large Dragons, thin paper, 1ca and 5ca and wide margin 3ca (Chan 1, 3, 5. Scott 1, 3, 5), nice colors, well-centered, cancelled by c.d.s. or seals; the 3ca has light corner creasing, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,700 (HK$ 13,390). Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 1ca green (Chan 1. Scott 1), cliché 5, broken frame at top left corner plate variety, nice color, particularly well-centered, centrally cancelled by light strike of "Customs/Chinkiang" double-ring datestamp of "Jul 28 78", Fine to Very Fine. Scott $725 (HK$ 5,710). Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1878-83, Large Dragons selection (Chan 3, 4, 7, 9. Scott 3, 4, 7, 9), comprising 1878 5ca large-hole perforations, 1882 1ca, plus 1883 1ca (unused without gum) and 5ca; cancelled by seals unless otherwise stated; the 1883 5ca has a small corner crease, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), cancelled by large Tientsin seal; bright color; minor light creasing, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $600 (HK$ 4,720). Est. HK$1,000-1,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,200

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), a lovely, fresh used example, cancelled by near-maximum strike of "Customs/NOV 5/78/Newchwang" dater; few trivial blunted perforations at right, Very Fine, an exceedingly early first-year usage from Newchwang. Scott $600 (HK$ 4,720). Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 5ca orange (Chan 3. Scott 3), nicely centered with strong color, clean paper and sound perforations, with large part "Customs/JUL 1/83/Chinkiang" chop, Very Fine. Scott $600 (HK$ 4,720). Est. HK$1,800-2,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,800-2,200

China, 1882, Large Dragons (wide margins), 1ca-5ca complete, thin paper (Chan 4-6. Scott 4-6), the 1ca cancelled by "Customs/Shanghai" c.d.s. in red, the 3ca with Customs Newchwang cancel and the 5ca with Chefoo seal; lovely fresh colors, well-centered; the 1ca has an insignificant creased corner perforation, the 5ca is flawless, Very Fine, a wonderful set. Scott $2,275 (HK$ 17,910). Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 1ca green, thin paper (Chan 4. Scott 4), an exceptionally fresh and clean stamp with near-perfect centering, o.g., very lightly hinged, Very Fine. Scott $600 (HK$ 4,720). Est. HK$3,200-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,200-4,000

China, 1882-85, Large Dragons, group of three (Chan 5, 8, 12. Scott 5, 8, 9), comprising 1882 3ca, 1883 clean-cut perfs 3ca and 1885 rough perfs 5ca, cancelled by seals, the last in blue, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,525 (HK$ 12,010). Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 3ca brown red, thin paper (Chan 5. Scott 5), wonderfully fresh with bright color on pristine paper, sound perforations and two partial blue seal cancels, Very Fine. Scott $375 (HK$ 2,950). Est. HK$1,000-1,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,000-1,400

China, 1882, Large Dragon (wide margins), 5ca yellow ocher, thin paper (Chan 6. Scott 6), dazzling color of incredible intensity, which is further highlighted by a partial Peking seal cancellation; lightly foxed perforation tip at top, Very Fine, distinctive. Scott $1,500 (HK$ 11,810). Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1883-85, Large Dragons on thick paper, 1ca to 5ca complete (Chan 7, 8, 12. Scott 7-9 vars), cancelled by seals, the 3ca also with trace of violet cancel which is most probably from Customs Taku, Very Fine. Scott $1,625 (HK$ 12,800). Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1883-85, Large Dragons, thick paper, selection of six (Chan 7, 8, 12. Scott 7-9), comprising clean-cut perforations 1ca and 3a (3), and rough perforations 5ca (2); cancelled by seals in blue except the 1ca which is in black; two have small flaws, Fine to Very Fine. Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1883, Large Dragon on thick paper, 3ca vermilion, rough perf 12½, frame broken at top left (Chan 11b. Scott 8 var.), cliché 22 showing plate variety and non-constant unprinted white area variety in Dragon’s lower left jaw and shoulder; part to large part original gum, lovely fresh color on bright white paper, particularly well-centered, Very Fine, a striking variety. Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1885-88, Small Dragons, group of four (Chan 16, 17, 19, 21. Scott 11-13, 15), comprising 1885 rough perf 12½ 3ca and 5ca, and 1888 perf 11½-12 5ca, fresh and well-centered, o.g., Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,310 (HK$ 10,320). Est. HK$2,600-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,200

China, 1885-88, Small Dragons selection of seven (Chan 16, 19, 21. Scott 10, 13, 15), attractive mint or unused group with shades, comprising 1ca (6, 2 are rough perf 12½) and a single 5ca; five 1ca with part original gum; a few small flaws, but mostly fresh, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,090 (HK$ 8,580). Est. HK$2,000-2,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,600

China, 1885, Small Dragon, 3ca mauve, rough perf 12½ (Chan 17. Scott 11 var.), strong color, pristine paper, and wonderful centering, o.g.; paper adhesion on reverse, Very Fine appearance. Scott $400 (HK$ 3,150). Est. HK$2,000-2,800 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,800

China, 1885, Small Dragon, 3ca mauve, rough perf 12½ & 5ca olive yellow, clean-cut perf 11½-12 (Chan 17, 21. Scott 11 var., 15), each cleanly printed with bright color on fresh paper, o.g., hinged, Very Fine. Scott $800 (HK$ 6,300). Est. HK$2,000-2,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,500

China, 1888, Small Dragon, 3ca mauve & 5ca olive yellow, clean-cut perf 11½-12 (Chan 20, 21. Scott 14, 15), good color with clear design, o.g., hinged; 3ca with light overall toning to paper, 5ca light wrinkle at top left from hingeing, nearly Very Fine. Scott $675 (HK$ 5,320). Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

China, 1894, Empress Dowager 60th Birthday, 1st printing, 1ca-24ca complete, imperforate proofs (Chan 22-30. Scott 16-24), in colors of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, four are marginal including the 9ca from the top right corner of the sheet and the 24ca from the top of the sheet, Very Fine, a brilliant and wonderful set. Est. HK$12,000-15,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$12,000-15,000

China, 1894, Empress Dowager 60th Birthday, 1st printing, 1ca-24ca complete, imperforate proofs (Chan 22-30. Scott 16-24), 3rd printing in colors of the 2nd printing on hard wove paper, a magnificent set in corner or marginal pairs; deep bright colors fresh as the day they were printed, Very Fine, an exceptional set of noteworthy quality. Est. HK$40,000-50,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$40,000-50,000

China, 1894, Empress Dowager 60th Birthday, 1st printing, 1ca-24ca complete (Chan 22-30. Scott 16-24), mostly with much original gum, the 1ca without gum; bright fresh colors, well-centered; the 6ca has light toned spots on a few perforations on reverse, Very Fine. Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1894, Empress Dowager 60th Birthday, 1st printing, 1ca-24ca complete (Chan 22-30. Scott 16-24), a lovely, fresh, nicely cancelled set, Very Fine. Scott $1,690 (HK$ 13,310). Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000