Here We Go China - I Think ?!

Thanks for the better explanation on that Rodney. I guess I am curious what the stamp was actually used for since it wasn't for postal use. Also, the one I have seems to have a cancel on it. At first I thought it might be an overprint, but now I am thinking it is more like a cancel of some sort.

Raising funds for the needy.

Chinese history records many famines, especially in the North of China, near the Huang Ho or Yellow River. But
the books of history have never recorded such a famine as that which occurred in 1919-21, during which time over
ten million lives were lost! Every society, guild and association in China raised funds for the succour of the needy
in the famine-ravished districts, and the Post Office helped in this good work by the issue in 1920 of three specially
surcharged stamps. The stamps used were the 2c., 4c. and 6c. of the 1915 issue, surcharged to the new postal values
of 1c., 3c. and 5c. These stamps were sold at their original face values, but could only be used at their surcharged
value for prepaying postal matter. Thus 1c. was contributed by every surcharged stamp used.

In 1921 a series of eight Famine Relief stamps superseded the issue of 1920. The 1920 issue of stamps had a
franking value, but this new issue had none. The design of the stamps shows wild geese in flight on the shores of
the river Hwang Ho.

The red character on the stamp is 'Huang' 'yellow', as in Huang Ho/Yellow River. From the small bit of the next character on the left that I can see, the next character could well be 'Ho' 'river'.

A point of rather grim interest about that stamp is that it was issued imperforate like that due to the destruction of much of Tokyo in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_G...earthquake). The government printing works was among the casualties.

Historically, large earthquakes have hit the Kanto region (basically, Tokyo and surrounding areas) every 70 years or so on average. As the last great earthquake in the Kanto was the 1923 one, we are well overdue for another. And it hardly bears thinking about what flattening modern-day Tokyo would mean to Japan and the rest of the world. (Not to mention my business as a Japanese translator )

If you look in the index of the Scott catalogues, you can often find these tricky ones. If you're looking at the index in Vol. 1 or any of Vols. 3-6, "Canton, French Offices" is shown to be in Vol. 2. If you're looking at the index in Vol. 2, then it shows the proper page number where you can find those issues. Your stamp is French Offices Abroad, Canton #49.

Ryan

Many Thanks Ryan. I do use the indexes quite often. I did even end up on that page at one point, but didn't find it. I have it now. Again, many thanks.

I think we have now covered every stamp on this post that I asked about. Many thanks for everyone's great support and input. It was also an interesting learning experience. Cheers. Marc