Distinguishing the 50c provincial surcharges

The surcharges all have 50 in roman numerals and Chinese 改作五角 gǎi zuò wǔ jiǎo (zuò is also spelt kuo or tso in earlier transliterations as in Chan & Ma catalogues), 'changed to 50 cents'.

Honan issued both black and red surcharges, but otherwise the surcharges were the same for both.

According to Ma, vertical spacings are measured between 改 and 作 - gai & zuo. See diagram on right.

Vertical spacing, as reported in Ma and Chan catalogues, sometimes disagree.

 Measuring the vertical spacing

Vertical measurements reported in catalogues are sometimes not exactly correct, in my opinion.

Vertical measurements in this table are based on my measurements, using 600dpi scans and GIMP imaging software. Most measurements were done on multiple copies of each type.

Horizontal measurements are not mentioned in the catalogues. They may also be useful (to be investigated).

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Red surcharges V.space / mm Roman Figures '50' lower stroke 改 gai top left stroke 五 wu characters other
General Post Office 5.4 - 5.6 medium-large short, end horizontal unless broken blunt lower end gauge 4 Similar to E.Szechuan & Chekiang
Chekiang 5.0 medium-large longer blunt lower end gauge 4 Spacing between 5 & 0 is wider, equal to spacing 角jiao to 5
East Szechuan 5.0 medium-large short, pointing down sharp lower end gauge 4 Similar to GPO & Chekiang
Honan 5.5 - 5.9 medium, bold, zero circular short - gauge 4 bent lower horizontal stroke of 作 zuo
Hunan 9 small none - smallest Closed box of 改 gai
Kwangsi 7 smaller, lower very short - large top of 5 reaches lower bar of jiao
Kwangtung 7 larger, higher; 0 lower than 5 very short - large top of 5 reaches middle bar of jiao
Kweichow 1st 5.25 largest; 0 is 3.7mm short - large NOTE: the catalogues are wrong;
narrower settings can be found in the same sheet as the wider settings.
There may have been a second printing as well?
But I have retained the 1st & 2nd names for the varieties.
Kweichow 2nd 7-8 largest; 0 is 3.7mm short - large
West Szechuan 1st 6.5 small; taller 0 is 2.8mm short - small -
West Szechuan 2nd 6.5 small; shorter 0 is 2.3mm short - small -
Black surcharges V.space / mm Roman Figures '50' lower stroke 改 gai top left stroke 五 wu characters other
Honan 5.75 bold, circular 0 long - large -
Shensi 7.75 medium size short - large -

 

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