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Auction: CSS46 - Fine Stamps of China and Hong Kong
Lot: 6592

Korea
1884 Moon Issue, enlarged essay of the 5m. value (72x86mm) in Indian ink on white paper, cut to size and mounted on thin greenish buff card with hand-drawn printer's guides. This design varies slightly from the issued stamp, mainly in the central feature, top and bottom panels.


A rare and highly important item of this ill-fated first issue. No otther essays of ths issue have been recorded. Photo

Essays which were accepted for the issued stamps were usually retained by the printers. However, it was not unusual for unaccepted designs to be returned to the designer; in this case, Saito Chuzo. The seal below the design is not his and is probably a collector's mark.

This essay was found in the collection of a Spanish missionary who spent some time in Korea and in China, where he remained until the 1930's. He died in the 1950's and this has remined with the family since then.

Estimate
HK$50,000 to HK$100,000