Hong Kong – Scott # 54, used
$100.00
Hong Kong Scott #54 (1882), 50¢ on 48¢ lilac Queen Victoria, used. Bold black surcharge over De La Rue keyplate issue with bilingual inscriptions. Attractive and collectible transitional surcharge from early colonial Hong Kong.
1 in stock
Description
Hong Kong Scott #54 (issued 1882) is a 50-cent on 48-cent lilac Queen Victoria surcharge from the classic De La Rue keyplate series. Produced during a transitional postal period, this issue features a bold black “50 CENTS” overprint applied to surplus stocks of the earlier 48¢ lilac stamps. The design presents the finely engraved left-facing profile of Queen Victoria, surrounded by a rectangular frame with Greek key motifs, “HONG KONG” at top, and bilingual inscriptions “半木先時” (denoting “fifty cents”) and “香港” (“Hong Kong”) along the sides.
This used example shows a clean, legible circular cancel with the overprint sharply struck and well-centered. The lilac color remains fresh, and the perforations are intact. These surcharged issues were emergency measures to accommodate revised postal rates and shortages of certain denominations, making them popular among specialists in overprints and provisional issues. Scott #54 is particularly sought after for its aesthetic appeal, overprint clarity, and historical context within late 19th-century Hong Kong postal reforms.
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