Hong Kong Rare Stamp Collection | High-priced Purchase of Large Dragon Stamps, Red Revenue, Monkey Stamps, Cultural Revolution Stamps

Why can a single stamp be worth a whole apartment?

In 1968, the Chinese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a stamp titled "The Whole Country is Red." On the day of its release, it was discovered that the map of China on the stamp was missing Taiwan and the islands in the South China Sea. The stamps were immediately recalled and destroyed. However, a small number that had already been sold entered the market. Today, the transaction price of this "misprinted stamp" has exceeded one million Hong Kong dollars.

This is the logic of the rare stamp market — the more "shouldn't exist" a stamp is, the more sky-high its price. And even if it's not a misprinted stamp, early Chinese stamps in good condition also have astonishing recycling value. Gu Jin Jian Bao has been engaged in rare stamp recycling for over fifteen years, with in-depth knowledge of the issuance history, existing quantity, and condition standards of Chinese stamps.

Physical examples of recycled Chinese rare stamps and zodiac stamps

The stories behind these stamps you might not know

Large Dragon Stamps (1878) — The Beginning of Chinese Postal Service

In 1878, the Qing government's customs office began a trial postal service, issuing China's first set of stamps — the Large Dragon stamps. They came in three denominations: one fen silver, three fen silver, and five fen silver, with a coiled dragon as the design. Due to limited issuance and long age, Large Dragon stamps preserved to this day are extremely rare. A complete set (three stamps) in good condition is estimated to be worth tens to hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars in the market. Large Dragon stamps have three printings: thin paper, wide margin, and thick paper, with the wide margin five fen silver Large Dragon being the rarest version.

Red Revenue Stamps (1897) — The Legend of Overprinting for Value Change

Red Revenue stamps were originally revenue stamps used by customs. Due to temporary need for postage stamps, they were overprinted to change their value for postal use. Among them, only about 30 pieces of the "small character one yuan" exist, which is recognized by the Chinese philatelic community as the "first treasure of Chinese stamps." Even the more common "large character two fen" overprinted version has considerable recycling value if in good condition.

1980 Gengshen Year Monkey Stamp (T46) — The "Coin King" of Zodiac Stamps

The Gengshen Year Monkey stamp issued in 1980 was China's first zodiac stamp. Designed by the famous painter Huang Yongyu, it features exquisite engraving and vibrant colors. With an issuance of only 4.43 million stamps, and due to the low popularity of stamp collecting at the time, a large number of Monkey stamps were used for mailing or improperly stored. The existing quantity of new stamps in good condition is extremely small. A full sheet of 80 Monkey stamps is an extreme rarity. When appraising Monkey stamps, special attention should be paid to the condition of the gum (presence of yellow spots), completeness of perforations, and whether there are creases or fingerprints on the stamp surface.

Cultural Revolution Stamps — Special Products of a Special Era

Stamps issued during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) carried strong political connotations. Some varieties were urgently recalled due to political sensitivity, resulting in extremely small existing quantities. In addition to the aforementioned "The Whole Country is Red," the "Large One Red" (an unissued trial print) is even rarer. Complete sets of Cultural Revolution stamps such as "Long Live Chairman Mao" and "Revolutionary Literature and Art," if in good condition, also command significant recycling prices.

Mei Lanfang Stage Art Stamps (1962) — The Intersection of Art and Collection

The J94 Mei Lanfang Stage Art Stamps is a set of eight commemorative stamps issued in 1962, plus a miniature sheet. The miniature sheet had an issuance of only twenty thousand copies, making it one of the rarest varieties among New China stamps. The stamps feature classic stage photos of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang as their design, exquisitely designed and meticulously printed. From both artistic and collection value perspectives, they are a masterpiece of Chinese stamps.

Old J and T Stamps — Underestimated Treasures

Commemorative stamps (prefix J) and special stamps (prefix T) issued between 1949 and 1967 are collectively known as "Old J and T Stamps." This batch of stamps covers significant events and natural scenery in the early days of the People's Republic of China. Many varieties had a much smaller issuance than the later J and T stamps, but their market prices have long been underestimated. In recent years, as collectors gradually recognize the scarcity of these stamps, their prices have steadily risen.

Cultural Revolution Stamp The Whole Country is Red Recycling

Stamp Condition: The Value Gap in "Small Squares"

Stamps are small in area, but their condition has a greater impact on price than any other collectible. Our appraisers evaluate condition based on the following dimensions:

Perforations: Whether they are complete, or if there are short or missing teeth. Damage to perforations caused by careless tearing will significantly reduce value.
Gum: Stamps with original gum (OG) are much more valuable than those without. For popular varieties like the Monkey stamp, the intactness of the gum can even lead to more than double the price difference.
Stamp Surface: Presence of yellow spots, water stains, creases, fingerprints, or ink marks. The value of new stamps (unused) is usually much higher than used stamps (with postmarks).
Blocks of Four and Sheet Stamps: Blocks of four (four stamps connected and uncut) and full sheets command a significant premium due to the greater difficulty in preservation.

During appraisal, we use high-magnification magnifying glasses to meticulously inspect the above details and provide a fair condition rating based on international stamp grading standards. If you are unsure which series your stamps belong to or how much they are worth, please refer to our Rare Stamp Market Trends column or send us photos directly.

Recycling Process

Stamps are small in size and light in weight, so photo appraisal is the most convenient method. Take a photo of the front of the stamp with your phone (ensuring the design and perforations are clearly visible). If it's a new stamp, you also need to photograph the gum condition on the back. Then, send it via WhatsApp 98342057. Our appraisers will respond with a preliminary appraisal range during business hours.

If you have a large quantity (e.g., a full stamp album or many loose stamps), we recommend arranging an on-site appraisal to avoid having to photograph each one. Gu Jin Jian Bao offers free door-to-door service throughout Hong Kong — if you also have old Renminbi, silver dollars, or gold to deal with at the same time, we can handle it all in one go.

Payment methods: Immediate cash, FPS instant transfer, bank check. For details, please refer to Gu Jin Jian Bao Service Scope and Contact Information.

Take a photo now for a free online appraisal!

Further Reading