This rare block of four from the 1897 Empress Dowager's Birthday issue features the prominent black overprint of "2 cents" on the original 1 candarin green Dragon stamp, with the notable typographic variety known as the “S” error in “cents.” Issued during China’s transition toward a decimal currency system under the Qing Dynasty, this stamp embodies a pivotal era of postal reform and modernization. The block is lithograph printed on thin white paper and carries a clear, centrally struck postmark from Swatow (abbreviated “S”), dated to September 1897. Swatow, a key treaty port in southern China, played an important role in foreign trade and postal communication at the time. The original Dragon motif, rich in imperial symbolism, is overprinted in Western script to align with international postal practices, and the surcharge was applied locally during a short-lived transitional period. This issue is catalogued as Michel CN-IM 18IV, Scott CN-IM 58, Yvert et Tellier CN 25C(B), Stanley Gibbons CN-IM 80, and China Stamp Society CN-IM 76. Condition Very fine used block of four with full margins and sharp perforations; the overprints are crisp and complete, and the Swatow cancel is bold, legible, and well-centered. Estimate "$400 – 475"