Issued in 1897 during the Qing Dynasty to commemorate the Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday, this 4 cents surcharged stamp was originally part of the 1894–1897 Dragon series and bears a lithographed design in pink showing a coiled dragon, representing imperial authority and celestial power. The stamp was overprinted in black with small figures and the new Western denomination "4 cents" to facilitate postal reforms and international compatibility during a transitional period in Chinese postal history. Printed by lithography on unwatermarked paper with a rough perforation gauge of approximately 12, it is cataloged as Scott IM 31, Michel CN-IM 19II, Yvert CN 19, Stanley Gibbons CN-IM 40, and CSS CN-IM 46. This example bears a well-struck circular cancellation with legible characters and is in fine condition with slightly rough perforations and moderate centering, typical of this issue. Estimate "$120 – 160"