China 1897 (Jan) 3c 'Red Revenue' (without overprint)
One of the best example of this rare and iconic stamp.
This is one of the greatest and most desirable rarities in Chinese philately. A exceptionally rare and desirable stamp with less than 100 in existence.
In China in 1896 it was decreed that they would start issuing revenue stamps (in this instance for a new tax and not for postal use).
British printer Waterlow & Sons were awarded the contract and provided stamps far superior in quality to those being produced in China at the time.
The new tax was met with strong objection and it was abandoned before it had even come into force thus leaving a substantial number of these revenue stamps with no need for them. Until a plan could be hatched they were stored in the Shanghai Customs Statistical Department.
Fortuitously around the same time the Imperial Post Office wished to start offering new services which included handling parcels and this would require high value stamps. There existed a risk that when they issues these new stamps forgeries could be made and the post office would lose substantial sums. These unused revenue stamps were the perfect solution as no examples had been sold and with such high quality production it would be near impossible to make a believable fake. The decision was made and most of the stock was overprinted (additional text over the top of the original design) with $1 and $5.
Not all the stamps were overprinted though and a small number remained in their original form. It is not possible to give a definitive figure on how many have survived but there are certainly less than 100 known and it is unlikely more than a handful will ever surface after 123 years. It is also important to note that most of the discovered examples are in poor condition as they were stored in less than ideal conditions during the Cultural Revolution - this was when stamp collecting was banned for being bourgeoisie in the eyes of Chairman Mao.
Guide Price £65,000
1897 (Jan). 3c deep red revenue stamp without surcharge. Chan R1
Very well centred for issue with part original gum (hinge remainder on reverse). A better example than most. A rare stamp of the highest calibre.