NEW YORK, NY.- Zurich Asia will hold its forthcoming Hong Kong auction on 27 & 28 February 2016 at Harbour Plaza Hotel North Point. Over 3,200 offerings will be presented including treasures from the collection of Dr Chiu Chi Shing, a well-known Hong Kong philatelist. Of particular note, this marks the first time that Zurich Asia dedicates an individual section to banknotes and coins with a separate catalogue. Public viewing will be held from 25-26 February between 10am and 6pm.

Leading the sale is an exceedingly rare 1873 surcharged in red 1 candarin on 8 cents grey blue Shanghai Small Dragon stamp in mint condition (Est.: HK$700,000-800,000/ US$89,744-102,564, Lot 31). Once an important item in the prestigious Beckeman Collection, this magnificent offering is one of the only four recorded copies. This exceptional stamp comes with a 2007 Experts & Consultants certificate and is expected to draw great interest from collectors.

An 1897 Dowager large figures surcharged 10 cents on 12 candarins brown orange "Golden Dragon" stamp with full original gum is equally noteworthy (Est.: HK$500,000-600,000/ US$64,103-76,923, Lot 306). As one of the rarest stamps of Chinese philately, only thirteen mint copies of Golden Dragon have been recorded and the present lot is an outstanding item. A 2012 Experts & Consultants certificate is also included.

Further gems include a 1949 South Shensi area cover from Anhong to Lanchow, bearing rouletted perf. Shennan Chairman Mao stamps on reverse including a large block of fifteen $10 blue green and a vertical strip of three $50 orange (Est.: HK$400,000-450,000/ US$51,282-57,692, Lot 4157A). It is an extraordinary cover with such a large multiple of stamps. The stamps are tied by bisected characters 'SHENSI/ANHONG' and bilingual 'LANCHOW' arrival circular date stamps. The front is also tied by the same bisected characters circular date stamps.

The sale will also present a selection of highly sought-after large figures surcharges red stamps, highlighted by an 1897 $5 on 3 cents example in mint condition and with pencil signature on reverse (Est.: HK$300,000-400,000/ US$38,462-51,282, Lot 429A).

Another featured offering is an extremely rare block of four 1897 Dowager small figures surcharged 10 cents on 6 candarins brown stamps with horizontal imperforate between variety. It is one of the two recorded blocks of four such stamps (Est.: HK$280,000-320,000/ US$35,897-41,026, Lot 290).

A block of ten 1895 Perak $100 elephant design stamps with 'Revenue & Revenue' inscriptions is a great rarity of Malaysian philately presented in this sale. With no known previous record in auctions, the present lot is truly a unique multiple. It comprises two vertical strips of five which have split apart from an original block of ten with unmounted mint (Est.: HK$180,000-200,000/ US$23,077-25,641, Lot 1889).

Collectors will be delighted to find a 1931 Land Bank of China 1 Yuan banknote with serial number A900254C in perfect uncirculated condition in the Coins & Banknotes sale (Est.: HK$60,000-80,000/ US$7,629-10,256, Lot 4621). The front of this interesting lot features a detailed vignette at left of a mountain trail leading to hilltop pagoda at left and a large house in arched border at right center. This offering is of spectacular quality with strong original paper and fresh inks.