First Postage Stamp Appraisal

Republic of China First Peking Issue Postage Stamp (1 Cent)

This item is a postage stamp from the Republic of China, likely part of the First Peking Issue, featuring a dominant orange-brown or sepia tone. The stamp is perforated along all four edges, indicating it was separated from a sheet. Its dimensions appear to be standard for a historical postage stamp, likely around 20-30mm square, although precise measurements are not available from the image. The central design features a stylized profile, possibly of a figure like Sun Yat-sen or General Chiang Kai-shek, encircled by a laurel wreath. Above this central motif, a sun emblem, representing the Kuomintang (KMT) or the national emblem of the Republic of China, is prominently displayed. The corners of the stamp contain numerical and textual denominations. In the bottom left and right corners, the number '1' is visible within a rectangular box, indicating a one-cent (分, fen) denomination. The upper left corner shows the character '分' (fen), and the upper right corner likely shows '壹' (yi), which is the formal character for 'one.' At the bottom center, there are vertical Chinese characters '中華民國郵政' (Zhōnghuá Mínguó Yóuzhèng), which translates to 'Republic of China Post.' The stamp shows clear signs of use, including a prominent circular postmark with visible cancellations over the central profile, obscuring some of the finer details of the portrait. There are also smaller, irregularly shaped dark marks which could be additional cancellation remnants or minor staining. The paper exhibits some discoloration consistent with age, and minor scuffing or handling wear is apparent. The overall condition suggests it is a used, circulated stamp, likely from the early to mid-20th century, probably dating from the 1910s to 1930s based on the design and context of Chinese philately.