Issued on March 24, 1912, this 7 cent brown carmine stamp belongs to the early Republic of China “Coiling Dragon” series, distinguished by its overprint in Sung characters. Featuring the imperial dragon in a transitional republican context, it represents the symbolic continuity between dynastic tradition and the new era following the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Printed using gravure by Waterlow & Sons Ltd. in London and the Custom Statistical Department in Shanghai, the stamp has variable perforations and lacks a watermark, aligning with early republican postal standards. The denomination of 7 cents was commonly used for heavier or international mail. This example bears a clear cancellation from Shanghai, one of the Republic’s major administrative and commercial hubs. It is listed as Michel CN-IM 100, Scott CN-IM 152, Stanley Gibbons CN-IM 198. Condition Fine used with legible cancel, intact perforation, and vibrant color. Estimate "$80 – 100"