World Stamps
Hong Kong FDCs of 1930s-1970s in demand

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller
The market for mint never-hinged and unused hinged stamps of Hong Kong issued from the 1930s to the 1970s is not very strong at present. However, cacheted first-day covers from this period are in strong demand.
Some recent prices realized for these FDCs are informative: the 1937 Coronation issue (Scott 151-153) $50, $125, $400; 1941 Centenary issue (168-173) $150, $240; 1946 Peace issue (174-175) $150; 1948 Silver Wedding issue (178-179) $750, $900; 1949 Universal Postal Union issue (180-183) $180; 1962 definitive set (203-212) $375; 1966 Winston Churchill Memorial issue (225-228) $50, $55; 1967 South East Asia Commonwealth Cable (SEACOM) stamp (236) $21, $88; and 1973 definitive set (Scott 275-288) $500.
As you can see, some prices vary widely for a given issue. We think this is attributable to the desirability of the cachet. Which cachets are more desirable is not readily apparent to a nonspecialist collector, unless there is a cachetmaker catalog and we are not aware of one.
Other factors include addressed covers versus unaddressed (unaddressed are always more desirable); sound, clean and undamaged condition; and registered mail versus regular postage. But we believe that the cachet is the biggest factor in determining the price.
Interest in Hong Kong FDCs tapers off in the early 1970s for commemoratives and a bit later for definitives, probably due to FDCs being more readily available for later issues.
Connect with Linn’s Stamp News:
Sign up for our newsletter
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
MORE RELATED ARTICLES
Headlines
-
US Stamps
Sep 25, 2023, 12 PMNew Scott publications available Oct. 1
-
Auctions
Sep 22, 2023, 1 PMTrio of ‘Hindenburg’ crash covers in Oct. 11-13 Kelleher auction of Commander’s collection of zeppelin flights
-
US Stamps
Sep 21, 2023, 6 PMDeciphering British diamonds on United States covers
-
US Stamps
Sep 21, 2023, 3 PMInside Linn’s: Cover bearing 57 $5 Coolidge stamps sells for $10,800