Description
China 1912 Coiling Dragon With “Republic of China” overprint
China 1912 Coiling Dragon stamp with “Republic of China” overprint — a classic and historically important Chinese philatelic issue:
What It Is
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After the 1911 Xinhai Revolution ended the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China, Chinese postal authorities needed to update existing Imperial “Coiling Dragon” stamps (originally issued under the Qing) to reflect the new government.
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To do this quickly, they overprinted “中華民國” (“Republic of China”) vertically on stocks of the Coiling Dragon design rather than issuing entirely new stamps.
About the Coiling Dragon Design
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The Coiling Dragon series depicts a highly detailed dragon motif — a classic Qing definitive design previously used on Chinese stamps. Overprinting these issues in 1912 marked the transition from empire to republic.
Types of Overprints
There are a few varieties collectors seek:
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Republic of China vertical overprint (standard)
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Characters “中華民國” applied vertically in red (often in Kai or Song script) over the Coiling Dragon stamp.
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Appears on various denominations — from low values like ½c, 1c, to higher values.
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Catalogue listings in specialised China catalogues include Scott CN-IM numbers (e.g., CN-IM 164 for the 1c song script).
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Provisional Neutrality + Republic overprints
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Some early 1912 issues were initially overprinted with “臨時中立” (“Provisional Neutrality”) before being replaced by Republic of China overprints.
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There are rare examples with both overprints (Provisional Neutrality and ROC), valued by specialists.
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Local or unofficial overprints
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In some areas postmasters made their own local “ROC” overprints on Coiling Dragon stamps; these are separate collectables distinct from the official Statistical Department issues.
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