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Auction: 12005 - Fine Stamps and Covers of China and Hong Kong
Lot: 1734

Hong Kong British Post Offices in China 1922-27 4c. carmine-red handstamped "specimen" type GB23, fine and lightly mounted mint. A very rare specimen stamp, possibly only two being recorded. Photo Estimate HK$ 20,000-25,000 Quote from K.L.Perrin (1972), "More rarely found are the 2c. and 4c. Script CA with italic specimen overprint. This pertains to the October, 1927, printing, which comprised of these two denominations, of which the G.P.O. retained five sheets as ´registration etc. specimens´. This must have been an error on the part of the G.P.O., since there was no change of colour or watermark from the 1922 printing, and it also ran counter to the policy of not ordering specimen overprints on lower values. It is presumably for this reason also that the ´imprimatur´ sheets of these two stamps have survived and can be seen in the Postal Museum. I have only recorded one copy (4c.)."

Sold for
HK$160,000