ASG-certified Red Revenue Stamp Realizes More than $13,000 at Auction

A rare Chinese stamp from the Qing Dynasty led the way as hundreds of philatelic rarities certified by Authenticated Stamp Guaranty® (ASG®) were offered at a recent sale. John Bull Auctions' 2023 Winter Auction was held in Hong Kong December 16-19, 2023.

The China (1897) Qing Dynasty Red Revenue Stamp - 1 Dollar Surcharged in Black on a 3 Cent - Large Characters graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG (lot 5179) realized HKD 106,200 (about $13,600). Red Revenue stamps are some of the most cherished collectibles in Chinese philately. They were created as a temporary replacement for other stamps that had been ordered but failed to arrive in time for a new national postal service.

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Another lot that inspired lively bidding was a China 1968 8 Fen - The White-haired Girl graded ASG XF/Superb 95 Mint OG (lot 3514), which realized HKD 47,200 (about $6,100). The stamp celebrates "The White-Haired Girl," a 1950 movie that was later adapted into a ballet and opera.

A group of four of China's most-beloved modern stamps also realized HKD 47,200 (about $6,100). The block of four China 1980 8 Fen - Year of the Monkey stamps graded ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3800) was one of several examples of this stamp in the auction. The zodiac stamp celebrated the Year of the Monkey with an innovative artistic rendering of a monkey that differed stylistically from the stamps that came before it earned acclaim in China and beyond.

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Other ASG-certified highlights in the sale included:

• a group of eight China 1962 Stage Art of Mei Lanfang imperforated stamps, including seven that are ASG-certified (lot 3280), which realized HKD 354,000 (about $45,400)
• a group of eight China 1967 stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3477), which realized HKD 51,920 (about $6,700)
• a China unissued 10,000 Yuan - East China Area Agricultural Production Stamp graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OP (lot 4006), which realized HKD 34,220 (about $4,400)
• a group of eight China 1962 Stage Art of Mei Lanfang stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF/Superb 95 Mint OG (lot 3269), which realized HKD 33,040 (about $4,200)
• a group of 18 China 1960 Chrysanthemum stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3216), which realized HKD 33,040 (about $4,200)
• a group of eight China 1962 stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3268), which realized HKD 25,960 (about $3,300)
• a group of nine China 1968 stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3506), which realized HKD 24,780 (about $3,200)
• a group of 12 China 1960 Goldfish stamps graded ASG VF/XF 85 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3200), which realized HKD 24,780 (about $3,200)
• a group of 16 China 1963 Landscapes of Mount Huangshan stamps graded ASG VF 80 Mint OG to ASG XF 90 Mint OG (lot 3311), which realized HKD 22,420 (about $2,900)
• a China 1980 8 Fen - Year of the Monkey graded ASG XF/Superb 95 Mint OG (lot 3806), which realized HKD 20,060 (about $2,600)

Prices realized included buyer's premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.