Hong Kong – Scott # 78, used

Description

Hong Kong Scott #78 (issued 1903) is the 20-cent brown and red King Edward VII definitive from the ornate De La Rue “Crown and Scroll” series. This beautifully engraved bi-colored stamp presents a left-facing portrait of King Edward VII in brown within a rich red ornamental frame. The detailed design features “HONG KONG” across the top, “TWENTY CENTS” at the bottom, and vertical Chinese inscriptions “廿先” (“twenty cents”) and “香港” (“Hong Kong”) along the sides, all surrounded by decorative corner scrollwork.

This used example shows a bold, boxed cancellation dated 1905, striking clearly across the vignette while preserving much of the underlying detail. The colors remain strong and well-contrasted, with clean perforations and balanced centering. Stamps from this Edwardian series were widely admired for their refined engraving and stately presence, reflecting Hong Kong’s importance as a British trade center at the turn of the century. A choice piece for collectors of Hong Kong, British Commonwealth, or Edward VII issues.