This 1907 issue from the French post offices in China belongs to the “Type Mouchon” definitive series, overprinted to reflect updated currency values in local Chinese denominations. The base design, engraved by Louis-Eugène Mouchon, features the seated figure of the French Republic holding a tablet inscribed Droits de l’Homme ("Rights of Man"), symbolizing enlightenment and justice under the French colonial ethos. Originally printed in blue with a face value of 25 centimes, the stamp has been overprinted in black with the text 10 CENTS along with its equivalent in Chinese characters (仙 十), to denote its new value in the Chinese currency system used in treaty ports. The additional overprint CHINE anchors its geographic specificity, as part of the French extraterritorial administration in China during the early 20th century. Typographically printed and perforated 14 x 13½, the stamp measures 20 x 24 mm. The current specimen is used, showing a circular date stamp across the overprint, with the reverse carrying a faint pencil mark and minor hinge traces but no significant damage. It is catalogued as Michel FR-CH 35I, Scott FR-CH 61, Yvert et Tellier FR-CH 79, and Stanley Gibbons FR-CH 80. Combining symbolic artistry with fiscal pragmatism, this stamp represents a period where colonial empires shaped global postal systems and ideologies through such hybrid issues.
Estimate "$45 – 65"