Collection & Research

After a reign for 34 years, Emperor Kuang Hsu died in November 1908. The following year Emperor Pu I succeeded him, known as Emperor Hsuan Tung. To commemorate the first year of his reign, there is issued a set of commemorative stamps with The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of Temple of Heaven in Peking as the central design and with two dragons on both sides. In each stamp, English texts of “Waterlow & Sons, Limited, London” are printed at bottom portion, which means that is produced by Waterlow & Sons Company in UK. Total stamps are printed in 4,000,000 pieces, half products are shipped to Shanghai at end of July 1909 (Mid 6th month of the 1st year of Emperor Hsuan Tung), distributed by Customs Statistical Department. Each post office could sell them after received those distributed stamps. These stamps are very popular and stopped to sell at October 1, 1910 (the 28th day of the 8th month of the 2nd year of Emperor Hsuan Tung), withdrawn since April 1, 1914 (Republic 3rd Year).