GEMS IN MY COLLECTION
Russia used in China : The 1920 Harbin overprint
By Dr. Andrew Cheung FRPSL (H.K.)
Due to shortage of the “cents” denominations, the Harbin Post Office decided to overprint the remaining stock of Imperial Arms issue. The surcharging was done at the local Russian Cathedral printing works in a typographical setting of 50 (5×5 and 5×5) divided into left and right pane. Each sheet of 100 stamps was overprinted twice. There are five values, 1 cent, 2 cent, 3 cent, 4 cent, 5 cent and 10 cent. A single setting was prepared for the word “cents” in the second line, only the denomination was changed in each printing. Released between October and November 1920. Large multiples of this issue and covers are very scarce.
【PLEASE CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE COLLECTION】
Harbin Provisional Overprint – The 1920 Issue
2 cents on 2 kopecks
Left: Previously the largest recorded multiple, now the second largest
Right: One of the two largest recorded multiple of the 2 cents on 2 kopecks
The other block is in Dr. Wen-Shiang Chen (Taiwan) collection
3 cents on 3 kopecks
The largest recorded multiple
