Hong Kong China Overprints

The Second Issue - Multiple Script CA Watermark Varieties

Second Issue Paper Varieties

Only two paper varieties have been discovered on the Second Issue stamps. One is the Inverse Watermark that was found on the 1922 Requisition F 10 cent blue, there are believed to only be a couple of copies of this variety. Additionally, a single mint copy of a 2c value with the watermark inverted appeared at auction in 1993.

Second Issue Printing Varieties

As with the first issue, some printing varieties appear on both the regular Hong Kong and the ‘China’ overprinted issues but most varieties are unique to the overprints.

The definitive work on the subject was prepared by Nick Halewood and David Antscherl in 19951, however while this study exhaustively lists the varieties found on the regular Hong Kong issues, most do not appear on the overprinted issues and so cross-referencing many of the varieties is a challenge.

It is unknown at this time if all of these varieties even appear on the 'China' overprints but it is possible that they do, so they are all listed for research purposes. The varieties are categorized by the following tables.

The Regular Hong Kong Issues have Pillars (12 sets of 4 vertical boxes filled with horizontal lines. They were originally introduced to prevent the paper from sagging but also had the additional advantage of preventing the fraudulent use of the 12 adhesive-sized interpanneau pieces of watermarked paper. These appear to only exist on the 6c issue of the ‘China’ overprints

H&A #	Webb #	Position	Notes
HAG1	1	NW 1-1	HK About 1929 - on 10 cent Defective crown. Distinquished from No 22 by absence of three small white flecks near the beard. Soon repaired or replaced.
	2	SW 1-3	HK Y to E* Right jewel of circlet white
	4	SE 1-6	HK Y to E* Phase I - Orb broken transverseley, the upperhalf coalescing with a damaged cross and the lower with the trasverse line from which it is normally separated. Fifth pearl also deperssed. Phase II - Cross partly repaired and raised. The orb is complete except for a small gap above. Depressed pearl unaltered.
	5	SE 2-1	HK Y to E* Two cuts on right diadem on of which may also cut the middle right pearl
	6	NW 2-3	HK M to E* Left side of orb defective - never corrected. Bar below orb shortened on left. Dot on right eighth scallop usually also present
	10	NE 3-6	HK Y Three middle pearls on right side crushed together
HAG5	11	NE 3-6	HK Z to E* Previous defect imperfectly retouched - two inner pearls smaller than others
	12	NE 4-1	HK A* to E* Thinning of lower part of righ lateral ornament where it joins the circlet.
	13	NE 4-3	HK Y Tow very distinct white patches about upper part of left margin of circlet
HAG8	14	SW 5-1	HK M to E* Second right pearl defective or absent. Also left extremity of diadem often thinned or showing break
HAG9	17	SW 6-1	HK A* to D* A white cross at tip of crown
	19	SE 6-1	HK ? Heavy impression. Possibly due to insertion of new unit at a sloghtly higher level that the rest of the plate.
HAG14	20	SE 6-2	HK M Gap in center of right arch Seen on 4c Req I Not seen on 4c Req F
	21	SW 6-3	HK A* and B* A streak, sometimes colored but sometimes showing partly white, from left margin of right diadem running almost vertically downwards to nearly level with ear. Sometimes very pronounced, other times scarcely visible. Probably due to a crack in the plate.
HAG10	22	SW 6-4	HK Y 1928 - On 1c, 2c and 4c Damage to top of crown. Sometimes all pearls at right almost missing, at other times only those at extreme right almost missing. Scallops on uppright part of medallion often almost lacking. THE DAMAGED TOP OF CROWN
HAG10a	23	SW 6-4	HK A to E* - On 1c, 2c and 4c Previous defect corrected, Distinguished by a white line, covex to right, on right margin of circlet.
	24	SW 6-6	HK A* to E* Damaged crown known only in retouched state, Cross at top larger than usual and irregular. Curve of diadem not quite regular. A white fleck seems fairly constant just above head.
HAG11	25	SW 6-6	HK ? to E* Diagonal cut on second right pearl sometimes involving adjacent diadem (a small defect with a long life)
	26	SW 7-1	HK ? to M Fourth pearl right side almost or quite missing (This image, from Requisition F 4c, shows the beginning of the deterioration of the pearl)
		SE 9-2	Broken crown retouched.
HAG15a	32	SE 9-2	HK G to E* Previous defect repaired. The crown still shows flaws on Requisition F but is fully repaired by the following Requisition.
HAG6	34	NE 10-1	HK Y Pearls damaged on right side. Second and third pearls sometimes missing
	35	NE 10-1	HK Z to E* Previous defect retouched but third right pearl remained slightly raised
	36	SE 10-2	HK Y Cut on cross above circlet from upper right corner to lower left corner. Also fleck below circlet to right.
	37	SW 10-4	HK M to E* White horizontal scratch on flower aove right side of circlet. Usually also a white fleck to left of forehead.
	38	NW 10-6	HK Y to E* Orb defective on right side and bar below also depressed on right side.
HAG2	3	NW 1-3	MSCA Reg N* Joined Pearls
HAG3		NE 1-6	MSCA Reg E* Defective left pearl.
HAG4		NE 3-5	MSCA Broken right arch.
HAG7	8	SW 2-5	Blurred joined pearls and flower.
HAG16		S? 1-6	MSCA Flattened Cross Newly positioned at 1-6 (This may be the same as Webb 4)
HAG17			Broken Circlet, right base
HAG18			MSCA Gap in centre of left arch
HAG20			State I; damaged crown top
HAG20a			State II; damaged crown top

Defects of the Portrait

H&A #	Webb #	Position	Notes
HAG54	40	SW 5-3	HK M Defect on tip of nose, varies a great deal.
	41	SE 6-4	HK M Small white patch about the center of hair parting Seen on 4c Req I and Req F
HAG104	42	SW 6-6	HK ? (!923 - 1924) CIGARETTE FLAW Resembles puff of smoke coming from mouth and varies in appearance. Has been faked! The Cigarette Flaw was previously reported to appear on all issues of the Script issue Requisition F (including the 50c MCA issue included with that Requistion), and Requisition G. However, examination of the sheets retained by the British Library show that the error - what does it show – note is unclear grrr
HAG104	42	SW 6-6	Cigarette Flaw precursor?
HAG53	43	NW 8-6	All? 2 mm cut on scalp from above head downwards to left.
HAG55	44	SW 8-6	All? THE WHITE DOT FLAW Blank area at root of nose which on well marked specimens encroaches on eyebrow and gives a plain background to left. Retouched, possibly in two states, for a smaller flaw appeared for a time.
	45	All 7-3	All 6c and 25c Sheets badly printed. Wooly mark about the tip of the nose.
HAG51	39	NW 1-5	MSCA 2mm Horizontal cut on scalp.
HAG56			White Eyelid
HAG57		NW 7-2	White Cheekbone
HAG58			White temple
HAG59			White forehead
HAG61			White Mustache
HAG62			MSCA Nick on eyelid
HAG63			MCCA and MSCA Eyebrow nicked
		NW 5-1	Indented Eyebrow
		NW 7-2	White cheek and dot on eye. The F Requisition sheet of 1c positions this flaw for the first time.
		?? ?-6	White side of nose
		NW 4-1	Cut at right of neck
			Damaged coupe line

Defects of the Medallion

H&A #	Webb #	Position	Notes
	49	SE 4-6	HK M to E* Thickened Marginal Line in NE section. Constant for many years and never corrected. Varies in degree.
	50	SW 4-6	HK Y to E* Dot or fleck on marginal line by second right scallop (from top).
HAG105	53	SE 7-3	HK ? A Small cut or fleck on medallion at centre foot. An early defect later corrected.
	55	NW 8-3	HK M to E*? Cut from inside medallion through scallop 17L.
HAG150 /150a	67	NW 1-1	HK Z to E* Cut completely dividing R1.
	68	SW 1-1	HK A* and B* R6 crushed flat. Later retouched, as it does not appear in E*.
	70	SE 1-2	HK T to B* R8.
HAG156	71	SE 1-3	HK M to B* R6. (Previously only reported on the multiple crown CA issue, only example known on the script value.)
	81	SW 3-4	HK A* to E* Line between R17 and R18.
HAG184	82	SW 4-1	HK Y to E* L18.
	84	NW 4-4	HK A* to E* R1.
HAG177	88	NE 6-1	HK M to E* L20 and L21.
	89	NE 6-6	HK A* to E* Oblique line between R17 and R18.
	91	SE 9-4	HK Y R8.
HAG151	92	SW 10-1	HK Y R1.
HAG190	93	SE 10-2	HK A* to E* L15.
HAG189	94	SW 10-6	HK M to A* L16.
HAG100		NW 5-2	Dot level with mouth. (Also Bulge in line at mouth) Noted on: 1c, Unknown Requisition 4c, Unknown Requisition
HAG101		NW 1-1	Dot above head.
HAG102		SW 2-6	Dot on coupe line.
HAG106			MSCA Nick on medallion line at 12 o'clock.
HAG107			Two white dots at 9 o'clock.
HAG108			Crack in plate at 9 o'clock.
HAG109			Dot on Medallion line at 3 o'clock.
HAG110			MSCA Defect at right end of coupe line.
HAG111			MCCA Defect on Medallion line at 5:30.
HAG103	51	SW 5-2	Double medallion line.
HAG152		SW 4-1	R2 Damaged with Webb 82.
HAG153		SE 4-6	MSCA China R2-4 Damaged. (Newly positioned)
HAG154	76	NW 2-2	State I R5-6 Damaged .
HAG154a	76	NW 2-2	State II R5-6 damaged.
HAG155		SE 1-1	R5-6 Damaged.
HAG157			MSCA R7 Damaged.
HAG158			MSCA R7-12 Damaged.
HAG159		NW 1-3	MSCA China Req. F R8 Damaged.
HAG160			MSCA R8 Damaged; Webb 70 or 91?
HAG161			MSCA Req.N*? R10-11 damaged.
HAG163			R14 Damaged.
HAG164		NW 9-2	Break between R15-6 Not seen on 1c
HAG165	79	SW 2-6	State I; R17 Damaged
HAG165a	79	SW 2-6	State II; R16-17 Damaged.
HAG166			R17 Damaged.
HAG167	80	NW 2-6	R17-18, l5 damaged.
		NW 2-6	Break between R20 and R21
HAG168	72	NW 1-3	R17-20 Damaged.
HAG169	73	NW 1-4	R17-20 damaged.
HAG170	86	NW 5-5	R16-18, 20 damaged. Not seen on 1c
HAG171	74	NW 1-5	R19 damaged.
HAG172		NW 6-1	R19 damaged. Noted on: 1c Unknown Requisition 4c Unknown Requisition
HAG173			R19 damaged.
HAG174			R20 damaged.
HAG175	69	SW 1-1	L21 damaged.
HAG176			L21 damaged.
HAG178			Break Between L20-21
HAG179		SW 2-5	L19-21 damaged.
HAG180			MCCA L19 damaged.
			L19 damaged
			Break between L18 and L19
HAG181		NW 8-3	L18, 21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c Not found on 1c
HAG182			L18,21 damaged.
HAG183		NE 1-6	L18 damaged.
HAG185		SW 9-4	L18 damaged with Webb 62.
		NE 4-2	Break betweeen L17 and L18
HAG186	90	NW 7-1	State I; L17damaged
HAG186a	90	NW 7-1	State II; L17 damaged.
HAG187			L16-20 damaged.
HAG188			L16-17, 19 damaged.
HAG191	46	NW 2-3	Break between L10-11
HAG192			MSCA L8 damaged.
HAG193			L6 Damaged
		S? 1-6	L5 Damaged - new discovery (Also same as HAG 16)
HAG194			State I; L3-4 damaged.
HAG194a			State II; L3-4 damaged.
HAG195		?E ?-1	L3-4 damaged.
HAG196		SW 6-4	R6-13 damaged.
HAG197		NW 5-2	R11, 15-22, L15-21 damaged.
HAG198	87	NW 5-6	R16, 19-22, l18-19 damaged.
HAG199		NW 7-5	R17-22 L19-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG200	75	NW 1-6	R18-20, L19-20 damaged. Note right end of coupe line.
HAG201		NW 6-2	R18-22 L17-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG202			R19-20, L18-19 damaged.
HAG203		NW 8-1	R19-21, L17-19 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG204	85	NW 5-4	R19-22, L16-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG205	83	NW 4-2	R20-21, L19-21 damaged.
HAG206		NW 6-5	R13-22, L18-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG207	78	NW 2-5	R16-22, L12, L16-21 damaged.
HAG208		NW 5-3	R16-19, 21-22, L14-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG209		NW 6-3	R16-22, L15-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c
HAG210		NW 6-4	R16-22, L15-21 damaged. Not found on Req F 4c

Defects of the Duty Plate

H&A #	Webb #	Position	Notes
HAG370	57	NW 1-3	All - 25c Script NE floral design defective. Three different shades. Scarce on China/HK. The Broken Flower.
	58	NE 1-4	All - 1c Script, possibly MCA Crack in top frame line above N of Hong.
		SW 3-5	6c only F Requisition and only on partial of that requisition Joined Leg
HAG360	60	NE 3-6	All - 20c One leaf from NE floral design almost missing. Small but constant defect.
	61	NE 8-5	HK ? to U* - 5c Top of lower right Chinese character shortened.
HAG290	62	SW 9-4	HK ? - 4c Script Top of lower Chinese character at right broken. SG120(b), The Broken Kong. This does not appear on the sheet of Requisition I
	63	SW 9-4	4c Script, Repaired Broken Kong - appears on both F and I requisitions.
	65	All	1919-1938 - 25c MCA Above corrected in new duty plate without the short stroke. More oval c in CENTS and tails of both 2's more curved.
HAG250		NE 1-4	MSCA Req W - 1c Value Break in top outer frame line at right.
HAG251			1c Value Blob below character 'Cent'
HAG260	66	NE 1-6	MSCA Req. F* - 2c Value Vertical Scratch through top right flower and right stamen to NW of right value tablet.
HAG261	59	NE 2-6	MSCA Req. F* - 2c Value V vertical scratch through top right flower and bottom frame line to SW of right value tablet (Webb 66)
HAG264			2c Value Nick on outside of left inner frame line just below character 'Two' and break in top of character 'Cents'
HAG262		NE 3-6	MSCA Req. F* - 2c Value Vertical scratch through top right flower.
HAG263		NE 4-6	MSCA Req F* - 2c Value Vertical scratch through top right flower.
		NE 5-6	Vertical scratch through top right flower.
HAG300		NE 2-6	MSCA Req. G* - 5c Value State I; right outer frame line damaged opposite character 'Kong'.
HAG300a		NE 2-6	MSCA Req. P* - 5c Value State II; right outer frame line damaged opposite character 'Kong'
HAG300b		NE 2-6	MSCA Req. Q* - 5c Value State III; right outer frame line damaged opposite character 'Kong'.
HAG301		NE 3-6	MSCA - 5c Value Characters 'Hong' and 'Kong' both nicked at top right.
HAG302			MSCA - 5c Value Nick on outside of right inner frame line opposite character 'Kong'.
HAG303			MSCA - 5c Value Scratch through bottom outer frame line , 'N' of 'Cents' etc.
		SE 2-6	Thinned inner frame line\| 1c
			Frame break upper left $1
			50c Printing flaw