Spink is to auction an outstanding collection of Chinese philatelic items that will come under the hammer on 18th January 2019. The sale of “The Lam Man Yin Collection of Small Dragons, Dowagers and 1897 Surcharges” will offer a great number of rarities to collectors’ attention. One of such philatelic items is the “Red Ruby” 30c on 24ca rose-carmine surcharge that ranks among the rarest stamps of China. The lot is to fetch HK$600,000 (or roughly $76,583) at this sale.
The “Red Ruby” 30c on 24ca rose-carmine is one of the treasures of the Dowager surcharges and no used examples have been recorded. Less than 25 examples are believed to exist today. One complete pane was discovered by Adolphus Diercking in the Chungking Post Office. Two blocks of four are known and these are from the same pane. The stunning example of this rarity offered by Spink features bright, fresh colour and shows well centering. The auction house described this lot as follows “this stamp shows typical centering of the examples form this sheet and joins the right side of the stamp illustrated in Chan Shiu Hon's catalogue and to the left of the example in the Ellery Denison collection.”
