This pair of early imperial Chinese stamps belongs to the first Customs Post “Large Dragons” issue printed on thick paper in 1883. Denominations of 3 candarins in red and 5 candarins in yellow are represented, both printed using typographic methods and issued on rough, thick paper with perforation 11½. These stamps were used domestically and internationally under the Qing Dynasty and are among the earliest attempts to modernize China’s postal system. The dragon design symbolizes imperial authority and cosmic power, and the clean layout and Chinese-English bilingual inscriptions reflect the era's dual administrative structure. These stamps are catalogued as Michel CN-IM 2III–3III, Scott CN-IM 8–9, Stanley Gibbons CN-IM 8–9, and China Stamp Society CN-IM 11–12. Condition: Fine used examples, one with a legible black circular cancellation, on stamps with intact perfs and lightly toned gum typical of thick paper issues. Estimate "$180 – 220".