China Secret Marks

I am currently attempting to identify several China stamps. Specifically the 1938-1941 Dr. Sun Yat-Sen issues. Scott's catalog lists the various Secret Marks along with pictures of some of the marks. However, they do not have pictures of the marks on the 30 or 50 cent stamps. Can anyone offer any insight or links? Thanking you in advance.

I'm assuming your stamps are Type III.

Although the secret mark is one way to ID some of the stamps in that set, another way is to check the watermark. The first 1940 set is unwatermarked. The second 1940 set for which there are secret marks is watermarked.

Thanks KHJ. You are correct. The stamp must have a watermark and Perf. 14 to have a Secret Mark. It then appears to me that all A57 stamps with the perf. 14 and the watermark are automatically with Secret Mark, so, what is the point of even mentioning the secret marks in as much detail as they do? I initially missed the mark due to the Secret Mark Illustrations being placed on the page before the Unwmk. Stamp listings and just assumed the Secret Watermarks would be on either variety.

The stamps are known to exist in "other than perf 14". Scott does not catalog these varieties. But in general, your statement is correct -- although...

Actually, I'm not sure every stamp in the 2nd (watermarked) set has a secret mark. I don't remember.

My China collection is archived. Can you do me a favor?

The two 50c stamps have the same Chinese character for "five" as in the 5c stamp. The character in the upper right corner is the character "five" as used for currency. It looks like the "five" on your 50c stamps are connected at the base -- which means no secret mark. Can you check to see if it is watermarked? If the 50c stamp has the same secret mark as the 5c stamp, then I would expect your 2 stamps to be unwatermarked.

Thanks in advance.

k

Yes KHJ they are unwatermarked. It was just me and the way I tried to read the catalog. I just finished the Martyr's Issues and realize if it is a Perf 14 it is the early issue and if it perf. 12.5, 13 or compound you must then check for watermark. Once again, the "Secret Maks" don't really make a difference, with the exception of the 1 cent orange #422 which may not have the "Secret Mark". I would submit that the illustration for the Martyr's Issue secret mark should be placed after the listing of the 1 cent stamp Scott #422 as that is only place where it would make any difference. However, I have checked some of my older catalogs and Scott has always done it this way, so it must be correct.

Thank you for verifying.

k