Issued on May 1, 1942, during the Japanese occupation of central China, this airmail stamp is a striking example of wartime postal overprints that adapted existing Republican-era Chinese issues for use under the puppet regime’s new currency and administrative system. The base design originates from the iconic “Plane over the Great Wall” series and depicts a monoplane soaring above a detailed engraving of the Great Wall, printed in yellow-brown and originally valued at 200 cents. The overprint, applied by the occupying forces, converts the denomination to “60 sen” in red Japanese-style numerals at upper right, while also marking “35” in black with red bars at upper left—possibly denoting a previous transitional surcharge. The central horizontal overprint in Chinese reads “附已費空航函信本日寄,” roughly meaning “Airmail postage paid, mailed today.” Printed via engraving by the Commercial Press Ltd. in Hong Kong, the stamp is without watermark and perforation varies across print runs, as seen in this example. Measuring approximately 43 x 25 mm, the stamp reflects the layered authority and conflicting national identities at play in occupied regions during World War II. Catalogued as Michel JP-CC 6, Scott CN-IM 9NC7, Yvert CN-OJ PA7, Stanley Gibbons JP-CC 7, and CSS AM55, this overprinted airmail issue is of high historical and philatelic interest, representing a rare intersection of Chinese nationalist design and Japanese imperial postal control. The current specimen is unused with original gum and minimal hinge disturbance, well-centered with fresh color and clearly legible overprint.
Estimate "$90 – 120"