Stamp Investment Tip: U.S. Offices in China Issues (Scott #K1-18)

From 1919 to 1922, the U.S. issued stamps for prepayment of mail despatched from the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai, China. I view many of these stamps as extremely undervalued, and list their printing quantities and Scott '09 Catalog Values for unused below:


1919 Issue:

K1 2c on 1c Green (355,000; $ $25.00 unused; $70.00 NH)

K2 4c on 2c Rose (355,000; $25.00 unused; $ 70.00 NH)

K3 6c on 3c Violet (113,000;$ 60.00 unused; $ 150.00 NH)

K4 8c on 4c Brown (113,000; $ 60.00 unused; $ 150.00 NH)

K5 10c on 5c Blue (113,000; $ 85.00 unused; $ 220.00 NH )

K6 12c on 6c Red Orange (113,000; $ 85.00 unused; $ 220.00 NH )

K7 14c on 7c Black (113,000;$ 87.50 unused; $ 225.00 NH)

K8 16c on 8c Olive Bister (13,000; $ 70.00 unused; $ 180.00 NH)

K8a 16c on 8c Olive Green (100,000;$ 60.00 unused; $ 160.00 NH)

K9 18c on 9c Salmon Red (113,000; $ 65.00 unused; $ 170.00 NH)

K10 20c on 10c Orange Yellow (113,000; $ 60.00 unused; $ 160.00 NH )

K11 24c on 12c Brown Carmine (50,000; $ 80.00 unused; $ 200.00 NH)

K11a 24c on 12c Claret Brown (8,000; $ 110.00 unused; $ 275.00 NH )

K12 30c on 15c Gray (58,000; $ 87.50 unused; $ 210.00 NH)

K13 40c on 20c Deep Ultramarine (58,000; $ 130.00 unused; $ 300.00 NH)

K14 60c on 30c Orange Red ( 58,000; $ 120.00 unused; $ 280.00 NH)

K15 $1 on 50c Light Violet (14,000; $ 575.00 unused; $ 1,300.00 NH)

K16 $2 on $1 Violet Brown (13,800; $ 450.00 unused; $ 1,000.00 NH)

K16a $2 on $1 Violet Brown, double surcharge (200;$ 8,500.00 unused; $ 14,000.00 NH)

1922 Issue:

K17 2c on 1c Green (10,000;$ 110.00 unused; $ 250.00 NH)

K18 4c on 2c Carmine (10,000; $ 100.00 unused; $ 230.00 NH)

K18a 4c on 2c Carmine, "SHANGHAI" Omitted (Unknown, probably 100 or fewer; $ 7,500.00 unused)

K18b 4c on 2c Carmine, "CHINA" only (Unknown, probably 100 or fewer; $ 15,000.00 unused)

The three overprint errors (K16a,K18a, and K18b) are the key stamps of this set, and they, along with the other better stamps should be expertized prior to purchase. The Offices in China Issues tend to have mediocre centering. I recommend obtaining graded certificates for those which are VF-XF or better, and which catalog over $100.

Many of the stamps issued by various nations for their offices and possessions in China have not experienced the same meteoric rise as the currently hot issues of the P.R.C.. Perhaps this is partly attributable to Chinese nationalism, as the foreign countries that had colonies or spheres of influence in China were there as imperial powers, attempting to suck the lifeblood out of the Chinese people via the opium trade, resource extraction, and other means. Nevertheless, many of the stamps issued by the U.S., Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal (for Macao) and Russia for their Chinese offices/possessions are quite scarce and undervalued, and eagerly sought by the colonies collectors of those countries. Eventually, the Chinese market will take greater notice of them.