This 5 centimes green stamp, issued in 1894 for use by French post offices in China, represents the very first overprinted issue of its kind under French extraterritorial administration. The stamp belongs to the “Type Sage” design, named after Jules Auguste Sage, with engraving by Louis-Eugène Mouchon. It features allegorical female figures embodying Peace and Commerce, flanking the denomination tablet in a design rooted in classical republican symbolism. Overprinted in bold red with the word “CHINE”, this adaptation marked the stamp’s official use in French-operated postal agencies within Chinese treaty ports such as Shanghai and Tientsin. Printed typographically on greenish tinted paper and measuring 20 x 24 mm, it was perforated 14 x 13½ using comb perforation. The present example bears a clean circular date stamp from Shanghai, enhancing its postal authenticity. On the reverse, minor hinge disturbance and a faint red ink offset are visible, along with a small purple dealer's notation. As the first listing in all major catalogs for this series—Michel FR-CH 1, Scott FR-CH 1, Yvert et Tellier FR-CH 1, and Stanley Gibbons FR-CH 1—this stamp holds a foundational place in the postal history of French colonial presence in East Asia. It is not only historically significant but also aesthetically striking, with the vivid red overprint sharply contrasting the green base.
Estimate "$50 – 70"