Issued by the Russian Post Offices in China during the final year of the Russian Empire, this typographed 1 Chinese cent provisional overprint is applied diagonally in black on the standard 1 kopek imperial stamp depicting the Romanov double-headed eagle. Printed in orange with comb perforation 14 x 14½, the stamp measures 19 x 25 mm and was designed by Rihards Zariņš. Catalogued as Scott 35, Michel RU-CH 35, Yvert 36, Stanley Gibbons 42, and Unificato 36, this emergency surcharge reflects the shifting currency needs and postal rates in treaty port territories during wartime upheaval and revolution.
This vertical mint never hinged pair includes margin at the bottom with intact tab, showing full original gum and good centering. The overprints are sharply struck and well-aligned. Minor gum wrinkling and a small tear in the selvage do not detract from the overall presentation. Such multiples with original tab are scarce and desirable among collectors of Russian or foreign post offices in China. Estimate "$110 – 135"