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Auction: 7005 - Quintin Tan China Dowagers Collection
Lot: 245

1897 New Currency Surcharges Redrawn Designs A set of archival proofs on presentation sheets, annotated by R.A. de Villard, each features the intermediate size de Villard proofs. The pages are endorsed "Sheet no.16" bearing pairs of proofs of 1ca. and 2ca. plus 3ca. and 4ca., "Sheet no.17" bearing pair of 5ca. and 6ca., the third, "Sheet no.18" with strip of 9ca., 12ca. and 24ca.; each value is further illustrated with an imperforate block of four from the second printing and an issued stamp from the first printing. A few small marks from the glue used barely detract from this unique historical set of documents. These would be a pivotal addition to any collection. Photo Estimate HK$ 400,000-600,000provenance: Ellery Dennison, November 1988 exhibtied: Russian Philatelic Society in Shanghai, February 1943 literature: China Clipper, vol.15, page 208, September 1986 This set has long been desired by collectors. During its first public appearance in 1943 many expressed a keen interest to buy them. The owner refused to make any sale and even forbade the taking of any photographs. Ellery Dennison was rather vague about the time he acquired these, other that to say that he had owned them for many years. At the auction of his collection in Zurich, they were purchased by Quintin Tan, who, realising their importance, had been prepared to pay four times the estimated value and was delighted not to have to go to his limit. Although several articles have since been written in China Philately, Postal Service Today and other journals, these sheets had not been shown to the public again. A similar set of documents, but for the Coiling Dragon issue, was owned by So Y Tong, another Philippine collector. The inclusion of these in his exhibit in Rocpex 1981 prompted Ellery Dennison to find his set and prepare his article for the China Clipper. The So Y Tong collection was sold by Christie´s in November 1994

Sold for
HK$1,000,000