Hong Kong Queen Victoria 20 Cents on 30 Cents Surcharge

Hong Kong · 1891 · 20 Cents on 30 Cents

This stamp features a definitive portrait of Queen Victoria, common to British colonial issues of the era. It is a provisional issue, created by surcharging a 30 Cents stamp with a new value of 20 Cents to meet postal demand. The design is notable for the overprint which alters its face value.

Issued during the British colonial period in Hong Kong, this surcharge was a practical measure to adapt existing stamp stock for a needed postal rate, reflecting the administrative and economic activities of the colony.