This striking German colonial issue originates from the Deutsches Reich and was used in the German Post Offices in China during the early 20th century. The base stamp depicts the Imperial Palace (Berlin Reichspost Building), printed in vivid carmine red with ornate corner designs. To adapt it for overseas use, it was surcharged “½ Dollar” in Gothic script and additionally overprinted “China” in bold black lettering. These surcharges were necessary because local postal rates were based on foreign currency rather than German Marks.

Such overprints belong to the well-known “China Overprints” series, which is highly collectible due to its historical significance in illustrating Germany’s influence in East Asia. Clean strikes of the surcharge and strong color impressions are especially desirable among collectors today.