The Hong Kong 'China' Overprints

First Issue 1917 - 1921

Stamp Booklet
SG B1

8 x SG 2 2 Cent, 6 x SG 3 4 Cent and 2 x SG 6 10 cent stamps

The stamp booklets for both the first and second issue are shrouded in mystery. While they are listed in Stanley Gibbons with no pricing information, there is no information in any of the standard sources other than the following text from Perrin: "March, 1912, P.M.G. Hong Kong had sent an example to the G.P.O., produced by the Hong Kong Printing Press, to contain 16 c, 12 2c and 12 1c stamps, total price $1. The text on the back gave details of certificates of posting. However, in 1916, the G.P.O. said there would be difficulty in producing them (it is not clear why), and it would prefer them to be made in Hong Kong. It suggested that the cover should show the Royal Arms
and "British P.O. Agencies in China" and that the booklets should contain (as proposed in 1912) 16 4c, 12 2c and 12 1c. P.M.G. Hong Kong then countered with a proposal for 6 10c, 6 4c and 8 2c and the inclusion of a list of postal rates on the back……The G.P.O. agreed (to) the Hong Kong proposal in December, 1916, subject to some adjustments in format and the printing of the booklets in red. However,
it is not known whether they were actually produced, and no examples have been recorded; it seems possible that, as in Hong Kong itself at that time, the scheme was dropped."

The number of booklets actually produced is unknown and this is believed to be the most complete surviving booklet, if not the only surviving booklet.