Hong Kong – Scott # 118, used

Description

Hong Kong – Scott #118 (1912) Used

This is the 1912 Fifty Cents Slate and Purple issue of Hong Kong (Scott #118), from the King George V definitive series produced by De La Rue & Co. in London. The design features an elegant engraved profile of King George V facing left, executed in rich purple within a slate-gray frame of intricate ornamentation and bilingual inscriptions.

The layout follows the distinctive colonial format of the series, with “HONG KONG” in English across the top and “香港” (Hong Kong in Chinese) vertically on both sides. The denomination “50 CENTS” appears at the base in a bold, serifed font. The color pairing gives this issue a refined gravitas, typical of high-denomination stamps of the early British colonial era.

This example is used, bearing a light circular cancellation that leaves the king’s profile clearly visible. The perforations and design margins remain clean and intact, and the dual-color contrast between the frame and vignette is still sharp and well-preserved.

Technical Details:

• Issue Date: 1912

• Denomination: 50 Cents

• Color: Slate & Purple

• Watermark: Multiple Crown CA

• Perforation: 14

• Printer: De La Rue & Co., London

• Condition: Used; light cancel, well-centered, vibrant dual-color printing

Historical Context:
The 1912 definitives marked Hong Kong’s transition from the Edward VII to the George V series, maintaining the established De La Rue layout while updating the royal portrait. The 50¢ denomination was one of the higher values in the series, most often used on registered international mail and heavier parcels, making genuinely used examples particularly desirable.