| Whether you are a beginner or an old hand at | | | | The Imperial Post Office, established in1897, ran |
| collecting postage stamps, China stamp collecting | | | | until 1911. In between, many remarkable stamps |
| can be very enjoyable. China's exotic past and | | | | were issued and the use of overprinting to |
| quixotic recent history will expose you to many | | | | recharge discontinued stamp stock created many |
| different eras. It is a history that spans from | | | | rare collectibles. What followed over the next 40 |
| stamps produced as the 2,000 year-old Imperial | | | | years was a period of political turmoil, replete with |
| era drew to a close to the stamps rich in history | | | | a Japanese occupation, war-created hyperinflation |
| and cultural content used by modern China today. | | | | and a victory by Communists revolutionaries in |
| Unless one lives in China, collecting Chinese stamps | | | | 1949. The strife helped to create a treasure |
| presents a challenge from the onset. Researching | | | | trove of stamp collectibles that reflect the times. |
| and learning about philatelic China can be | | | | Stamps produced during the last half of the 20th |
| enlightening in its own right, presenting an | | | | century reflected domestic China. The use of |
| opportunity to learn more about one of the | | | | propaganda and nationalism throughout the period |
| world's oldest and most intriguing cultures. Native | | | | make stamps issued some of the most |
| Chinese have discovered the joys of China stamp | | | | interesting in the entire philatelic world. The |
| collecting as well, as it has become a huge | | | | 'Cultural Revolution' alone produced extraordinary |
| pastime for millions of hobbyists. | | | | examples of Soviet realism art. |
| The history of Chinese stamps begins in 1878, | | | | China stamps represent a virtual historical |
| with the issuance of the 'Large Dragon' series. | | | | narrative of the Chinese travails from its Imperial |
| This was the first public mail service, descended | | | | past to today's cultural and economic powerhouse. |
| from a private diplomatic courier service for | | | | Collecting China stamps can be rewarding and |
| consular transactions and diplomatic corps | | | | enlightening. |
| communiques. | | | | |