A Chinese 1897 large $5 on 3c red revenue stamp will top a sale of Asian stamps and postal history at Dynasty Auctions on April 11-12 in Hong Kong.

The lot is valued at $77,386-103,181 and is one of only a handful to feature the original gum. It sold for $103,791 at Dynasty Auctions last year.

China's large red revenue stamp was issued in 1897

The red revenue series was issued by the Chinese government as a provisional measure due to delays in the printing of the newly commissioned stamps.

They are regarded as the first Chinese national issues as the stamps that they stood in for were produced by the Maritime Customs Department - an organisation largely run by foreign officials.

There were two variations of the red $1 revenue stamp, one small and the other large.

The larger version was introduced as the characters on the small were deemed illegible.

Only 32 examples of the smaller issue exist, making it one of the greatest rarities of Chinese postal history.

In July last year, an example sold for an impressive $890,000 at Interasia Auctions in Hong Kong.

A Chinese 1902 registered red band cover sent from Tsingkiangpu to Beijing is estimated to auction for $25,795-38,693.

It features Chinkiang and Shanghai bilingual circular date stamps and a strike of the Tsingkiangpu dollar dater.

We have a unique and important Hong Kong 95c colour error block of four available.

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