Hong Kong – Scott # 86, used

Description

Hong Kong Scott #86 (issued 1907) is the 2-cent green King Edward VII definitive from the later printings of the distinguished De La Rue “Crown and Scroll” series. This single-color issue features the finely engraved left-facing portrait of King Edward VII, enclosed within an elaborate frame decorated with corner crosses, crown motifs, and bilingual inscriptions. The design includes “HONG KONG” at the top, “TWO CENTS” at the bottom, and Chinese characters “貳先” (“two cents”) and “香港” (“Hong Kong”) vertically on each side.

This used example bears a well-struck circular cancel and retains its strong green coloration, with crisp impression and fine perforations. The simplified one-color printing marked a transition toward more economical production while preserving the artistic elegance of the Edwardian series. These later issues were heavily used for domestic and local correspondence, making clean, well-centered examples desirable among collectors of Hong Kong, Edward VII, or British Commonwealth classic stamps.