Hong Kong FDC on "150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Hong Kong

150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong

Date of Issue : 8 December 2012

As early as 1841, a postal bureau was established locally to handle mail items for the British Army and postal matters for the public. In its early days, the Post Office (now also known as Hongkong Post) did not issue stamps but focused on postal service, and mail items were postmarked as a proof of postage payment. It was not until 1862 that Hong Kong had its first stamp issue.

The first set of stamps was released on 8 December 1862 when Hong Kong was under British rule. The stamps came in a set of seven and featured Queen Victoria in profile.

$1.4 stamp : The two-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left. The Chinese term "先時" is the then transliteration of "cents".
$1.8 stamp : The eight-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right.
$2.4 stamp : The 12-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right.
$2.5 stamp : The 18-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left.
$3 stamp : The 24-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left.
$5 stamp : The 48-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right and is accompanied by a QR Code. One can scan the QR Code on the stamp to gain instant access to the webpage of "The 150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong" and browse the stamp information.
$10 Stamp Sheetlet : The 96-cent stamp (highest denomination) from our first issue at the centre of the stamp portion.

(From Hong Kong Post : http://www.hongkongpoststamps.hk/eng/stamps/latest_stamp_issues/2012/20121208b/introduction.htm)