China – imperial post issues

With the notable exception of the Red Revenue surcharges, all issues to the 1897 issues have been forged.

Forgeries, often with forged cancels, can be hard to distinguish.  File:China 5c dragon.jpg|1878 5c value File:China 1 cand dragon.A.webp|1882 1 candarin value File:China 1c small dragon1888.jpg|1888 1c small dragon File:China 1894 1c.jpg|1894 1c value File:China 2c 1894.jpg|1894 2c value with Shanghai cancel 
 * Beginning in 1878, China issued its first stamps, three values with a dragon design, simply inscribed CHINA. These are called the Large Dragons.
 * The 1878 issue was printed on thin paper, designs printed a maximum 3.25mm apart.
 * The 1882 issue was printed on very thin to pelure paper, designs printed 4.5mm apart.
 * The 1883 issue was printed on medium to thick paper, designs once again printed a maximum 3.25mm apart.
 * In 1885, a smaller design was issued, perf 12½ and a yinyang watermark. In 1888, they were issued perf 11½-12. These have ink that appears to have bled and can have washy colors.
 * In 1894, a new lithographed series was issued. While genuine are not sharply printed due to the lithographic process, forgeries (also often with fake cancels) are often muddy with lots of poor inking. There are also forgeries on relatively thick paper that are very clearly printed, unlike the genuine. Forgery perfs can gauge differently from the genuine.
 * In 1897, a new printing was released, with colors noticeably duller and paler and white gum thinly applied. The same points on the 1894 issue apply to this issue.

 File:China 5c on 5c small dragon.jpg|5c on 5c small dragon, small numerals File:China 1 0n 1 2nd print wide spacing.jpg|1c on 1c, large numerals, wide (2½mm) spacing, on 1897 new printing File:China 2con2c lg wide first ptg.jpg|2c on 2c, large numerals, wide spacing, on 1894 printing File:China 10on12 large wide, first printing.jpg|10c on 12c, large numerals, wide spacing, on 1894 printing File:China 30c on 24c 2nd print wide space.jpg|30c on 24c, large numerals, narrow (1½mm spacing), on 1897 new printing File:China 2c red revenue.A.webp|Large 2c value File:China lrge dollar.jpg|Large $1 value File:China sm dollar.jpg|Small $1 
 * In 1897, the litho designs of 1894 and the smaller dragons of 1888 were surcharged with new values with small serifed arabic numerals 2½mm below the Chinese character group. Some values also exist with the numerals 4mm below the Chinese characters. Again, see the forgery characteristics for the 1894 issue for this and the following surcharges.
 * Later in 1897, heavier surcharges were issued with larger sans serif arabic numerals. This was used on both the 1894 and 1897 printings. These arabic numerals are 2½mm below the Chinese character group.
 * Later in 1897, a new setting of the surcharges was issued, now with the arabic numeral 1½mm below the Chinese character group.
 * Also in 1897, the previous surcharge was also printed on 2c and 3c values printed from new litho stones. The 2c base stamp has a thick base to to the "2", the 3c base stamp has larger "3"s.
 * Also in 1897, the last surcharge was also struck on the small dragons of 1888.
 * Also in 1897, 3c red engraved revenue stamps were surcharged with new values, bilingually. These are the Red Revenue issues. The 2c, 4c, and $1 values come in two different types. The Red Revenues cannot be be accurately forged since the engraved base stamp is and has been extremely rare.

 File:China halfc imperial chi A.webp|1897 1c IMPERIAL CHINESE POST File:China imperial post 1c.A.webp|1898 1c CHINESE IMPERIAL POST File:China engr Tienanmen 2c.jpg|1909 2c Tienanmen 
 * In August 1897, a new lithographed definitive series was issued with three different designs, all inscribed IMPERIAL CHINESE POST. The dollar values are in two colors each.
 * In 1898, the designs were slightly modified, engraved and now inscribed CHINESE IMPERIAL POST. These were watermarked with the yin yang symbol.
 * In 1900-06, the previous designs were issued unwatermarked.
 * In 1903, a diagonal bisect of the 2d value was used provisionally from Foochow, with a boxed control overprint reading Postage / 1 Cent / Paid. There are numerous forgeries especially on piece.
 * In 1905-10, new values plus old values in new colors were issued.
 * In 1909, a Tienanmen design was issued inscribed CHINESE EMPIRE / HSÜAN TUNG FIRST YEAR.
 * By January 1912, the emperor was deposed and the Republic of China was created.

Special delivery
Special delivery stamps existed in four parts, the leftmost to be signed and returned to the originating post office. The middle two parts were to be attached to the letter, cancelled, and the right section retained by the deivering office. The rightmost part was cancelled and given to the recipient. (to be continued) 



Postage due
 File:China 5c due ovptd first.jpg|1904 5c overprint File:China halfc imperial chi A.webp|1904 ½c value File:China imp post brown due.jpg|1911 2c value 
 * In 1904, contemporary definitives were overprinted bilingually POSTAGE DUE and Postage due trad.png.
 * In 1904, small blue engraved stamps were issued with "CHINA" at top and "POSTAGE DUE" and "IMPERIAL POST".
 * In 1911, 1c and 2c values in the above designs were issued in brown. Other values were produced but never used.