1897 China Red Revenue Small 2-Cent Surcharge

The 1897 Red Revenue surcharge stamps of Imperial China represent one of the most dramatic and consequential episodes in philatelic history. The "Red Revenue" stamps were created by overprinting and surcharing existing Chinese revenue (fiscal) stamps for postal use, in a remarkable improvisation that produced some of the rarest and most valuable stamps in the entire world. The Small 2-Cent Surcharge is among the more accessible entries in this legendary series, but even common examples command significant premiums.

Historical Context

In the 1890s, the Imperial Chinese Post was undergoing a transition from older postal systems to the modern International Postal Union format. The transition required new postage stamp denominations to meet Universal Postal Union requirements, but production of new stamps took time. The solution, developed under the direction of Sir Robert Hart, Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs, was to overprint existing Chinese revenue stamps with new values for postal use.

The stamps used were Chinese revenue stamps with an elaborate design. To convert them for postal use, surcharges were applied in red ink, giving them the "Red Revenue" name. These stamps were issued in early 1897 and remained in use only briefly before new stamp issues became available.

The Small vs. Large Surcharge Varieties

The 1897 Red Revenue surcharges come in two main varieties distinguished by the physical size of the overprinted characters:

Small Characters (Small Surcharge): The denomination numerals and Chinese characters in the overprint are smaller in size. The 2-cent value in this variety is what the queue identifies as the "Small 2-Cent Surcharge."

Large Characters (Large Surcharge): The same stamps overprinted with larger denomination characters. The Large Surcharge varieties are generally rarer and more valuable.

This distinction matters enormously to collectors. A Small 2-cent and a Large 2-cent carry significantly different values even in identical condition, because their population census figures differ and their production circumstances were different.

Identifying the Small 2-Cent

The Scott catalog number for the Small Surcharge 2-cent Red Revenue is Scott #89. The stamp features:

• The underlying Chinese revenue stamp with its characteristic design elements

• A red overprint with the numeral "2" and Chinese characters indicating the denomination

• The smaller character size that defines this variety versus the Large Surcharge

Scott catalog values and specialized Chinese philatelic references (particularly the Chan catalog, which is the standard reference for Chinese philately) should be consulted for exact identification.

Condition and Grading

Red Revenue stamps are graded using standard philatelic methods, but several specific factors affect their value:

Centering: The underlying revenue stamp and the overprint should both be well-centered. Misregistered overprints (common in field conditions) reduce value.

Overprint clarity: The red overprint should be clear and well-struck. Faint, doubled, or shifted overprints are noted varieties.

Cancellation: Unused (mint) examples command premiums over used copies. Lightly cancelled used copies are more desirable than heavily inked examples.

Margins: Proper margins around all four sides. The stamps were perforated, and short perfs are a grade concern.

Gum: For mint examples, original gum is significant. Regummed or no-gum examples are less valuable than original gum copies.

Value Guide

The Scott catalog value for a mint Scott #89 is in the hundreds of dollars. Examples in exceptional condition or with notable provenance command premiums.

The Extreme Rarities in the Red Revenue Series

The Small 2-Cent Surcharge is not the rarest stamp in the Red Revenue series, but it is a historically important member of a family that includes some of the most valuable stamps in the world. The Large Surcharge varieties and certain inverted or error overprints in the series are among the most prestigious collectibles in philately, with individual examples fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.

This context elevates the entire Red Revenue series in collector regard. Owning even the more accessible Small Surcharge varieties means holding a piece of an extraordinary chapter in Chinese and world philatelic history.

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