HONG KONG.- Zurich Asia concluded its Hong Kong autumn auctions held on 28 and 29 September 2019 at Harbour Plaza North Point Hotel, offering over 2,400 lots of rare philatelic treasures, banknotes and coins.

Stamps from the Liberated Areas of China and the People’s Republic of China were highly sought-after in the sales. The star lot was a complete sheet of 80 stamps of 8 fen from the 1980 Year of the Monkey (“Golden Monkey”), in very fresh condition and shiny gold colour which realized HK$1,058,000 / US$135,641, selling to a private collector in the saleroom.

Another highly coveted philatelic item was a 1922 surcharge in red on 1st Peking printing 2 cents on 3 cents blue-green, in mint condition with full original gum which fetched HK$460,000/ US$58,974. It is believed that there are fewer than 20 copies of this inverted variety existing in the market.

Among the Qing Dynasty revenue stamps on offer was a rare 1897 Red Revenue Large figures surcharge inverted, $5 on 3 cents in mint condition, selling for HK$276,000/ US$35,385.

Another highlight was a 1915 Overprinted 'For use in Sinkiang' on 1st Peking print Junk, $1 black and ochre, with the Chinese character 2nd and 3rd transposed, and very fresh surface colour which realized HK$253,000/ US$32,436. One of the 'Four Treasures’ of the Republic of China stamps, fewer than 20 examples of this variety have been recorded.