Buy China Stamps

Japanese Occupation China Stamps

Upon the invasion of Manchuria by the Japanese in 1931, the newly created Manchukuo state created and disseminated its own stamps in China. With the arrival of World War II, many Chinese stamps, older issues, were surcharged.

As the Nationalist government struggled with Communist forces at the end of World War II, postal authorities were able to release issues honouring these events:

• President Lin Sen, who died in 1943
• The anniversary of Chiang Kai-Shek in October 1945
• The Allied victory in 1945

Imperial China Stamps

Imperial China Stamps have become a point of great interest to stamp collectors the world over and many online stores have a large section dedicated specifically to this unique sector of philately. Whether you are just starting a China stamp collection or already collect stamps and are starting to consider choosing from the diverse and colorful China stamps available, you will not be disappointed in their connection with history.

The postal service in China began using official government-issued stamps in February 1897 with the establishment of the ‘Imperial Chinese Post Office.’ Prior to that, the Chinese postal service was reserved for subscriber mail and for official correspondence within the diplomatic and governmental service as part of the Customs Postal Service.

The initial stamps utilized by the new Imperial Post Office consisted of overprinted versions of stamps used by the defunct Customs Postal Service. New stamps for the brand new national postal service were printed and distributed only in the latter part of 1897. Surviving stamps from before this period are of course very valuable finds.

Dragon, Carp, and Wild Goose China Stamps

The new stamps issued by the Imperial Post Office, with the words ‘IMPERIAL CHINESE POST’ inscribed, commenced sale in August of 1897, offered in prices ranging from one half cent to five dollars. Etched with images of a dragon, carp and wild goose, respectively representing the low, middle and higher value stamps, the lithographed issues used watermarked paper. These first Imperial China stamps were actually printed in Japan.

The next year brought about subtle changes in the appearance of the three stamp versions with printing switching to London and the inscription changing to ‘CHINESE IMPERIAL POST’. The watermarked paper was thicker and the lithographic quality of the inscriptions improved.

New prints issued in 1899 saw the commencement of non-watermarked stock for the stamps, which continued untill the abolishment of the Empire in 1911. The use of the three basic values continued with some cosmetic changes, including the change of some of the colors used.

Emperor Xuantong Commemorative Stamps

The Imperial China Post Office issued its first commemorative stamps in 1909, marking the anniversary of Emperor Xuantong’s first year of reign. Stamps depicting the ‘Temple of Heaven’ in Beijing were issued in three different values with distinctive colors.

Chinese Stamps for Tibet Occupation

Beginning in 1909 until the latter part of 1911, Imperial China occupied Tibet, resulting in the Dalai Lama fleeing to India with his government. The Chinese Post opened five offices in Central Tibet during the first two years, followed by several more in eastern Tibet in 1913 and 1914. The Imperial Post Office issued a special set of 11 stamps for Tibet in 1911.

In October 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen overthrew the Imperial Dynasty and the Republic of China was established. In 1912 Imperial China and the Imperial Post Office were disbanded. Imperial Post Office stamp issues a coveted inclusion for any Chinese stamp collection. Their rarity and uniqueness as the first modern postal stamps in China make them highly sought after for any serious collector.

Imperial China Stamps continue to delight with both their colorful designs and their strong connection to history. Even modern day China stamps add a complex and dazzling diversity to any stamp collectors treasure.

How to Obtain China Postage Stamps: Building Your New Collection

Putting together a China stamps collection is a rewarding process, but for someone new to the hobby, they may not even have the first idea of how to obtain China postage stamps. They just see all those beautiful designs and get a glimpse of the history of China stamps, and they are hooked. Well—not to worry, my friend, because you as you discover the process of unearthing great finds you will realize that this is where the hobby really becomes addicting.

Here are some great places to find your China stamps.

China Post Office

Buying stamps at post offices in China, or knowing someone who can, is the best way to purchase newly minted stamps. While they may not be as valuable as vintage China stamps or overprints that make for rare China stamps, they are still beautiful and closely tied to the history of this great country. And you mustn’t forget that every stamp was once new. Stamps today will at some point be worth a lot of money, and who knows—you might get lucky and get a hold of a rare error stamp before it is discovered.

Local Stamp Dealers

Though rapidly being replaced by online dealers, there are still many offline shops that focus on collectable stamps- many of whom also conduct business online as well. Finding these dealers in your area can be as easy as an Internet search or browsing through a business telephone directory, and if are ever fortunate enough to visit China you will have a blast exploring these places on foot and searching for good deals.

Internet Stamp Dealers

Perhaps the most popular way to obtain China postage stamps is from dealers that can found on the Internet. Online dealers have virtually replaced the mail order format that was popular in the past.

The great advantage of online catalogs is that you can browse your choices at your own pace, with no pressure, and in the comfort of your own home. Search engines for stamps are available to help you identify stamps that you already have or that you are thinking about buying.

The visual presentation of stamps available can be enhanced with enlarged pictures that highlight details- a feature that may make one dealer preferable to another, making buying China stamps online preferable to many.

China Stamp Auctions

Stamp auctions can be an exciting way to buy collectable stamps. Before trying to participate in an auction you should plan to visit one first and get a solid idea of how the operate. It is important that you be knowledgeable about the stamps you might want to bid on, so do online research and figure out about how much you should consider bidding.

Mail Order

Buying stamps through mail-order catalogues is a traditional way of collecting. Mail-order catalogues, however, are interesting in that they allow you to use the collectable item as its own means of delivery. Catalogues are available at local dealers and can be requested online.

Stamp Shows

Stamp shows offer an opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow collectors. You can find collectors who are hobbyists or serious connoisseurs of very expensive, rare stamps. Finding shows that feature Chinese stamps can present a great opportunity to network and learn more about them.

When considering how to obtain China postage stamps and putting together the beginning of a great collection, you may want to try all of these at one point or another. One of the fascinating aspects of this hobby is how it all ties together. You have to remember that collecting was not the original intent of stamps, so the industry has evolved on its own and is an enigma in itself. Enjoy!

Buying China Stamps Online From Afar

Through internet, China stamp collectors can browse through and obtain China stamps no matter where we are in the world. Unless one lives in China, or receives parcels and letters from China, simply buying stamps at a Chinese post office is not possible. This also rules out soliciting friends and relatives for canceled stamps as well. The most prominent form of researching and purchasing of collectible stamps today is the Internet.

One of the biggest resources buying China stamps online is eBay, the world’s single largest marketplace, but there are now a lot of reputable online dealers who sell stamps from their websites or through stamp auctions. The Internet has made buying China stamps online a very accessible reality.

The best thing about having the internet as a virtual marketplace jam packed with stamp dealers from all over the world is all the resources available on the web. While preparing to make a purchase of rare China stamps, you can stop in the middle of what you are doing and do some quick research using high tech tools and databases to find out to determine if the China stamp price is right.

Thanks to respectable online dealers, we now have knowledge and resources whenever we need them and can shop from the comfort of our own home—because let’s face it, although we would all love to go forage the China marketplaces for those rare finds it is not within everyone’s reality to do so on a whim. Furthermore, having so many people gathered in one place, if you can really call it one place, allows us to quickly compare prices and see if we are getting the best deal possible.

But there are also less respectable dealers out there, so find an honest one and stick with them. Trust is an important thing to have in the virtual business-world, and it is no different among stamp collectors, thought the tight-knit nature of the community weeds out bad dealers pretty quickly.

So, all in all, the fact that buying China stamps has become so easy makes the Internet an improvement on the hobby of collecting Chinese stamps. It’s no longer as frustrating that this rich culture is so far away because we can reach out and touch it through our hobby simply by logging in and researching or hopefully expanding our collections.

Collectible Chinese postage stamps are not necessarily the highest priced- or most valuable stamps, but those who choose to make them the sole focus of their collections cannot be deterred from their fascination with the beauty and history of Chinese philately. Something about buying China stamps is different than buying other stamps—captivating and enriching like no other collection can claim. Even a non-collector can look at one of these compilations and be impressed.