HONG KONG.- Zurich Asia achieved excellent results in its Autumn 2018 auctions held on 29 and 30 September at Harbour Plaza North Point Hotel in Hong Kong. The two-day series sales offered over 2,900 lots of 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 sale. 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$1,357,000 (US$173,974), above the pre-sale high estimate.

Another highlight was an 1885 Small Dragon 1 candarin horizontal pair imperforate between variety in bright colour which achieved HK$632,500 (US$81,090). In fresh mint condition with much original gum, this great rarity is one of the only two pairs recorded.

An 1885 Small Dragon 3 candarins horizontal pair imperforate between and in delicate pastel-like colour complimented by seal cancellation in blue sold for HK$402,500 (US$51,603). There are probably less than five surviving pairs of this Imperial China variety (Lot 224).

A further highlight was a rare 1926 overprinted ‘For use in Yunnan’ in black on second Peking print Junk 6 cents brown stamp, selling for HK$253,000 (US$32,436). Unmounted, it was prepared for use but not issued, and carried a ‘HU SAN’ security violet chop (Lot 1378).