Postal history of China is very fascinating as much as intricate if one considers the gradual decay of imperial China, the years of civil wars, the Japanese Occupation in the 1930s and World War II.
Imperial China
Early records from the first millennium BC show evidence of regular governmental postal service during the Chou Dynasty. By the 12th century, organised postal services existed as per Marco Polo’s records. He reported the mailing of private letters by the Min Hsin Chu (a system of letter guilds) and the setting of post stages, as many as 10,000.
The Treaty of Kyakhta in 1727 allowed the regular exchange of mail between Imperial China and Russia. In the 19th century, the Opium War ended the policy of isolation and ‘treaty’ ports opened, allowing some countries to operate their ‘foreign post offices’ from 1844.
In 1865, Shanghai organised its own local post and the Englishman Robert Hart set up a mail service for the Imperial Maritime Customs for carrying consular mail to and from the ‘treaty’ ports. This function was available to the public on May 1878. Hence, China’s first postage stamps, the ‘Large Dragons’ were issued to handle payment, and were inscribed “CHINA” in both Latin and Chinese characters, and denominated in candareens.
Initially, all mail to foreign destinations went through Shanghai, but by 1882, twelve post offices opened. Twelve years later, the postal operations were reorganised, Min Hsin Chu and the Shanghai local post ceased to operate, Customs Port became the Imperial Postal Service (effective 1 January 1897) and the postal system adopted cents and dollars as the new units of currency.
The lack of postage during the first half of 1897 forced the use of existing postage and revenue stock surcharged in cents, with some varieties. The first new stamps, inscribed “IMPERIAL CHINESE POST” went on sale in August 1897 with twelve values, ranging from 1/2c to $5. These lithographed stamps were printed in Japan and used desgns of a dragon, a carp and a wild goose.
The paper was watermarked. The following year, a new series of engraved stamps printed in London were issued in similar designs by using thicker Chinese watermarked paper. The inscription changed to ‘CHINESE IMPERIAL POST’.
New printings commenced in 1899 but used non-watermarked paper and from this run, stamps were in use until the end of the Empire. It’s noticeable that the compliance to the Universal Postal Union saw the introduction of three values and the change of some colours.
The anniversary of the first year of reign of Emperor Xuantong was ideal for the first Chinese commemorative stamp in 1909, printed on 3 denominations and depicting the ‘Temple of Heaven’ in Beijing.
Revolution and Republic
The 1910s – The revolution of 1911 resulted in overprints on the imperial stamps in 1912. Examples of the overprints are that of ‘Foochow’ (neutral post office available to both sides) and ‘Nanking’ and ‘Shanghai’ (indicating part of the Republic of China). Postmasters throughout the country used unofficial overprints.
The first new designs of the Republic were two commemorative sets of 12 each, the first set depicting Sun Yat-Sen and second Yuan Shikai. Both issues were available from 14 December 1912.
Chinese definitive postage stamps made their mark in May 1913 with the release of the ‘Junk design’ stamps. Progressively, the higher issues depicred a farmer reaping rice and the ‘gateway to the Hall of Classics’. Initially printed in London, the stamps were manufactured in Beijing from 1915. The series was re-engraved in 1923.
The 1920s – China produced new commemorative issues, of four stamps each, during the 1920s. These are the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Post Office (1921), the Temple of Heaven / New Constitution (1923), Marshal of the Army and Navy Zhang Zuolin (1928), the Unification of China / Chiang Kai-Shek (1929) and the State Funeral of Sun Yat Sen (1929).
The 1930s and 1940s – In 1931, new definitives depicting Sun Yat Sen and in 1932, the ‘Six martyrs of Kuomintang’ were printed in volumes and were well used in the next several years.
Manchuria was invaded in 1931 by the Japanese and ‘Manchukuo’ issued its own stamps. During World War II, some existing postage stamps from previous issues were surcharged.
Chinese definitive postage stamps made their mark in May 1913 with the release of the ‘Junk design’ stamps. Progressively, the higher issues depicred a farmer reaping rice and the ‘gateway to the Hall of Classics’. Initially printed in London, the stamps were manufactured in Beijing from 1915. The series was re-engraved in 1923.
The 1920s – China produced new commemorative issues, of four stamps each, during the 1920s. These are the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Post Office (1921), the Temple of Heaven / New Constitution (1923), Marshal of the Army and Navy Zhang Zuolin (1928), the Unification of China / Chiang Kai-Shek (1929) and the State Funeral of Sun Yat Sen (1929).
The 1930s and 1940s – In 1931, new definitives depicting Sun Yat Sen and in 1932, the ‘Six martyrs of Kuomintang’ were printed in volumes and were well used in the next several years.
Manchuria was invaded in 1931 by the Japanese and ‘Manchukuo’ issued its own stamps. During World War II, some existing postage stamps from previous issues were surcharged.
Although not the first appearance of Chiang Kai-shek on a stamp, this October 1945 commemoration of his inauguration includes a broader array of nationalistic symbols.
Towards the end of the War, the Nationalist Government was still struggling with the Communist forces. Still, the postal authorities were able to release some commemorative issues on President Lin Sen who died in 1943, the anniversary of Chiang Kai-Shek in October 1945, and for celebrating the Alllied victory.
Needless to say, as with many European countries affected by the War, China experienced increased inflation in 1945 and 1946. The need for postage of higher values necessitated the release of older stamps with surcharges up to $2,000. A new design of Sun Yat Sen was inscribed with the value of $5,000 but in the following year another issue came out with $50,000 that was superceded with the 1948’s $5,000,000 stamp!
In 1948, the ‘gold yuan’ standard was adopted and existing stamps were surcharged with values from 1/2c and up. This currency reformation proved infufficient due to inflation as by early 1949, the overprinted values reached the $5,000,000 mark! In desparation, the government printed undenominated stamps and sold them at the daily yean rate.
Later, the silver yuan standard was adopted and more stamps were overprinted. By August 1949, the Nationalists’ last issues were denominated in silver Yuan.
The postal system of the People’s Republic of China was established in Beijing in that year and was expanded to the liberated areas. This enabled the authority to cease the sale of regional stamps by end of June 1950, with the exception of the Northeast Liberation Area and the Port Arthur & Dairen Post & Telegraph (by end of 1950).
The unified administration issued its first postage stamps in October 1949 that consisted of four with designs of ‘lantern and the Gate of Heavenly Peace’.
The first definitive series were released in February 1950 and featured the Gate of Heavenly Peace against a background of clouds. These stamps came in nine values ranging from $200 to $10,000.
The design was modified several times over the next few years and today, philatelists have identified six issues. By the end of 1950, all provinces were entered into the unified postal service.
Like much of the global economy these days, the center of the world’s multibillion-dollar stamp-collecting market is shifting east. Auction houses are sprouting up in Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing, and rich collectors are catching the bug, especially in China. All of that is helping breathe new life into a hobby—and for some, an investment strategy—that was starting to seem decidedly passé in the West. Without rich Chinese collectors, some experts say, stamp collecting would have continued its long, slow decline from mainstream hobby to near-extinction.
At least a third of the world’s 60 million stamp collectors are now in China, and the number is growing rapidly, Stanley Gibbons says. China, including Hong Kong, has also become a big stamp-trading hub, with at least six auction houses in Hong Kong and another four major houses on the mainland plus several smaller ones, most opening in the past four years. Stamp shows have proliferated, drawing hundreds of thousands of buyers and gawkers at a time when similar events in the U.S. are lucky to break into the five figures.
Online exchanges have also sprouted, with tickers scrolling across the screen like stock markets. Stanley Gibbons says Asian clients now make up 5 percent of the firm’s investments in terms of volume—but almost 18 percent in value, as they spend more.
How much more? Three years ago, two sheets of the first ever-issued stamps for Formosa, the name of the island that later became Taiwan, sold to a Hong Kong collector for HK$10.4 million, or over $1.3 million.
In 2011, a block of four stamps from 1968 called “Chairman Mao’s Inscription to Japanese Worker Friends” sold for more than $1 million at a Hong Kong auction.
The stamps, which feature Chairman Mao’s handwriting declaring that the revolution would succeed in Japan, were printed but never issued—except through a post office in Hebei, China, which started selling them before they were canceled.
This great rarity is understood to be the largest existing multiple and probably the only surviving block of four of the stamp.
Last year, a pair of 1941 stamps that featured Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader who began the Republic of China in the early 20th century, sold for $709,000 at an auction in Hong Kong. Like many other expensive stamps, their value was due to human error: The text and the $2 sign were printed upside down.
Chinese buyers tend to like alternative investments, from art to jade to homegrown liquors—and now stamps. According to a report by the private-wealth division at Barclays, China’s high-net-worth individuals put 17 percent of their wealth in these type of investments, compared to 9 percent of America’s rich and only 7 percent of the British wealthy. Stamps are also a relatively cheap collectible for countries that have new and growing middle classes and the hope is their young population will wish to take up Philately as a hobby, keeping the demand for their country stamps growing.
Fingers crossed!
Philately & Stamps 