Hong Kong – Scott # 94, used

Description

Hong Kong – Scott #94 (1903) Used

This is the 1903 Ten Cents Lilac & Ultramarine issue of Hong Kong (Scott #94), part of the King Edward VII definitive series produced by De La Rue & Co. of London. The stamp features a finely engraved profile portrait of King Edward VII, framed by a decorative geometric border and bilingual inscriptions—“HONG KONG” at top and “香 港” (Hong Kong) in Chinese characters along the sides.

Printed in a two-color combination of lilac and ultramarine, this issue stands out for its crisp contrast and refined craftsmanship. The design embodies the colonial aesthetic of early 20th-century British Empire issues, blending regal formality with utilitarian postal function.

This example is used, bearing a clear circular HONG KONG postmark, neatly struck across the portrait and dated within the Edwardian period.

Technical Details:

• Issue Date: 1903

• Denomination: 10 Cents

• Color: Lilac & Ultramarine

• Watermark: Multiple Crown CA

• Perforation: 14

• Printer: De La Rue & Co., London

• Condition: Used; legible postmark, good centering, solid perforations

Historical Context:
Following the death of Queen Victoria, Hong Kong’s postal issues were updated to feature King Edward VII, reflecting the shift in British monarchy. The 1903 series (Scott #83–#98) represented a comprehensive new set of denominations used throughout the colony’s trade routes and administrative correspondence.