Issued on March 24, 1912, this 4 cent brick red stamp from the Coiling Dragon series is among the earliest issues of the newly founded Republic of China. Featuring an overprint in Sung characters signifying “Republic of China,” the stamp retains the iconic coiling dragon motif, bridging imperial symbolism with the dawn of a modern republic. Printed by the Custom Statistical Department in Shanghai in collaboration with Waterlow & Sons Ltd. using gravure printing, the stamp has no watermark and was produced with variable perforations. This 4 cent denomination served standard domestic postal needs during a period of national transformation. As part of a transitional series marking the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the rise of republican governance, the stamp holds both political and philatelic importance. It is cataloged as Michel CN-IM 98, Scott CN-IM 150, Stanley Gibbons CN-IM 196, Yvert et Tellier CN-IM 87, and China Stamp Society CN-IM 173. Condition Mint never hinged with strong original color, full gum, and clean margins. Estimate "$85 – 110"