Russia China Offices

Russia was the first among the European Powers and America to establish postal relations with China.

In 1689, during the reign of Peter the Great, an agreement with China was reached concerning the transportation of mail, and in 1727 China granted various privileges for trade and postal communications to Russia.

An accord was included in the treaty of 1851 which provided for the mutual delivery of official correspondence, as was another with China in the treaty of 1858, which introduced a regular postal courier service for governmental and missionary correspondence.

1899 Issue

The Main Post-and-Telegraph Administration Chief’s Circular of April 1899 introduced the Russian stamps of the 1889 horizontally laid issue with a large diagonal “Китай“, (China, Cathay) overprint for payment of postage on letters and wrappers submitted to Russian Offices in Shanghai, Chefoo and Hankow. 

These stamps were valid for postage exclusively on correspondence submitted to the three postal establishments mentioned above. 

They were issued in Russian currency because of the almost equal exchange rate between

that and the Chinese currency.

The 2kop. can be found with a greatly shifted overprint.

1904-1908 Issues

The 10kop is missing as it is very rare

NOTE: Further printings were made between 1910 and 1916

Detecting Forgeries

The overprint was typographed at the State Printing Works in St. Petersburg.

In typography, ink rollers are passed over the die thereby applying ink not only on the surface but the sides as well.

As considerable pressure is applied to overprint the paper, ink is squeezed out to the sides of the imprint resulting in a thick darker border.

This may not be visible to the naked eye but a 10x loupe will easily bring out this feature.

Also due to the pressure applied, mint/unused stamps will generally show some embossing on the reverse. Used stamps that were soaked tend to lose this feature.

The inks used on the genuine have a a binder that tends to produce a glossy finish. Holding the stamps to the light at an angle should show this. The forgeries are in dull ink with no shine.

Generally the forger draws an enlarged copy of the imprint and reduces it to approximate the genuine version. As the forgeries are photo reproduced, inevitably, some features of the original are lost.

Forgery angle

This is probably the best way to check

I have seen a note that states “in all genuine stamps from Scott numbers 1- 47 the angle of inclination of the overprint is approximately 57-58 , whereas the angle of the forgeries varies between 38 and 53 usually around 50 being the most common"

Generally that statement appears to be true. I did find a few at 38 but most were in the 51 – 53 range.

However, some forgeries are 57 , while there are some over 59

How-to - my method

1. Scan the stamp

2. Make sure the image is properly inclined

3. Using free IrfanView - go to Edit/Show Paint Dialog and bring up the tool circled

4. Draw a line under the feet of the overprint and the measurement will come up

Forgery Examples

Angles: 51.5, 53 & 53

Fournier Forgery: angle 59.5

Most doubles are forgeries - angle is 53

Genuine Examples

Angles: 57.5, 57.5 & 58

Features of the Genuine Overprint

Note that all the letters are clearly defined with square serifs and straight sides.
1. The top serif of the K extends more on the left side than the right side
2. The right side is is higher and lower than the left.
3. Note the size and shape of the openings.
4. Serifs all have spaces between them. Over-inking may blur this but magnification should provide a view of the edges.
5. The left side of the T is slightly longer.
6. The left side of the A is much thinner.
7. The right side is slightly thicker than the other letter.
8. The sign is very evenly shaped.
9. Note the shape and position of the crossbars. The left one is about 59 , the right one 56

Enlargement of genuine overprint

Typical forgeries

References

The main sources are articles from the Rossica Archives