Sale 72 The Jane and Dan Sten Olsson Collection of Large Dragons Sale 4

China, Proofs : Large Dragon with Extra Circle removed 1ca. dark green imperforate on thin wove ungummed paper, Setting II, an astounding block of four [1-12/7-21] with 7.5mm. sheet margin at left and 10mm. sheet margin at top, constant small dot of printing ink in sheet margin above cliché [12] and typical misalignment of the clichés in the second row, extraordinarily deep colour and characteristic overinked impression, on bright white paper, large to huge margins, extremely fine and choice. A veritable gem.
Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 300,000

Provenance: Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 89
Philip Ireland, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 25.5.1989, lot 2098.

ONE OF ONLY THREE BLOCKS RECORDED IN THIS COLOUR FROM SETTING II.

This is a distinctly rich dark shade. Our reconstruction of eighteen of the twenty-five positions shows very poor alignment of the clichés in the second row. From the examples found to date, there must have only one sheet of twenty-five printed in this colour. Only three blocks are known to date - a block of nine and two blocks of four. These three blocks all appear to join.