China Coiled Dragon Surcharge, London Print, Half Cent, Inverted Surcharge
Republic of China · 1912 · ½ cent
A block of four unused stamps featuring the coiled dragon design, originally from the Qing Dynasty, surcharged '中華民國' (Republic of China) and '半分' (Half Cent) in Song font. This specific block exhibits an inverted surcharge variety and includes selvage.
These surcharged stamps were issued during the transitional period following the 1911 revolution, allowing the newly established Republic of China to utilize existing Qing Dynasty stamp stock. The inverted surcharge represents a significant and sought-after philatelic error from this era.
Printing Method
Typography
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Honmingjun" title="User:Honmingjun">Honmingjun</a> · License: Public domain
Estimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
