Sale 75 Asian Stamps & Postal History

China, 1894 Dowager Empress 24ca. rose carmine, imperforate plate proof in colours of the 1st printing on thin native laid paper, in complete pane of twenty-five with sheet margins all round, showing marginal "guide cross" at left, lustrous colour on such brilliant delicate paper, neat vertical fold in margin between 2nd and 3rd row of stamps, and small barely perceptible water stain at foot of last stamp, very fine and wonderfully fresh. An exquisite and immensely rare pane; of the highest exhibition calibre.
Estimate HK$ 200,000 - 250,000

References: Shiu-Hon Chan, F.R.P.S.L., The Empress Dowager Birthday Commemorative Issues and Surcharges (Hong Kong, 1996), p. 12. Illustrated.

Auction Record
Sotheby's (Hong Kong), 29.4.1996, lot 186.