Sale 72 The Jane and Dan Sten Olsson Collection of Large Dragons Sale 4

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. green, rough perfs., Setting VII, vertical pair [15/10], superb bright colour on white paper, very fine and fresh unused with large part to much original gum, some small adherences. A rare variety which ranks among the finest of the few recorded pairs. Chan 7c.
Estimate HK$ 500,000 - 600,000

Provenance: Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 35
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Zurich), 24.10.1984, lot 40598
"Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4757
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.11.1996, lot A25.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE 1 CANDARIN IMPERFORATE BETWEEN PAIRS WITH INTACT PERFORATIONS WHICH HAVE SURVIVED.

There are a further five pairs which have had the perforations trimmed and one pair with perforations at sides only.

This imperforate between pair [15/10] and the imperforate between pair [14/25] from the E.H. Finegan (Harmer, Rooke, 14.10.1937, lot 105) and Sir Percival David (Robson Lowe, 6.4.1971, lot 610) collections originally formed a block of four.