Philatelic Study Group:
Hong Kong Security Markings and Perfins
Group II : Printed Initials
Compiled & augmented
by Philippe Orsetti & Peter Pugh
from an original list provided by the
Hong Kong Study Circle
and from information received from members and collectors.
(First publication October 1992, 10th revision as of January 31, 2008)
       
Note 1:  Initials are recorded the way they are struck,  i.e. capital or lower-case letters,
space or not space between letters and fonts as similar as possible.
However, if a name is preceeded by (**), it means that the authors have not seen the marking
and the name may not reflect its exact appearance.
Note 2: An S in the first column (S) indicates that a scan of this marking is displayed on the website.
Note 3: The column (Known) indicates that the marking is known on cover (C), on document (D),
on postcard (PC), on postal stationery card (PS), on piece (P), or on wrapper (WR)..
Note 4: In addition to their primary function of being a "Security Marking", firm's markings initials struck on postage stamps
could have been used for one or several purposes at the same time, such as:
- Cancel late mail
- Fiscal matters
For completeness, we have attempted to record all the firm's names with an indication of their specific function when possible.
When it is conclusive that a marking was used for fiscal reason only, it is highlighted in red for convenience.
When a security marking has been found used for fiscal purposes also, it is highlighted in blue.
S       Type Size Frame   Marking Name      Letters Source          Dates Known Remarks
Height Color earliest  latest
S 1 11x10 unframed A.B./& Co -.. Adamson Bell & Co. 4 black HK 1863 1874 C
S a 11x10 unframed A.B./& Co -.. Adamson Bell & Co. 4 black HK 1887 1888 thick letters
S b 11x10 unframed A.B./& Co -.. Adamson Bell & Co. 4 red HK QV
S c 11x10 unframed A.B./& Co Adamson Bell & Co. 4 black HK QV Round C, no dot on Co
S d 11x10 unframed A.B./& Co Adamson Bell & Co. 6 violet HK QV
S e 11x10 unframed A.B./& co-.. Adamson Bell & Co. 4 black Shanghai QV S1 cancel
S f 11x11 unframed A B /& Co Adamson Bell & Co. 4 purple Shanghai QV S1 cancel
2 10x12 unframed A./C.  C./Co. American Chinese Commercial Company 2 black HK QV KE
S a 10x12 unframed A./C.  C./Co. American Chinese Commercial Company 2 violet HK 1903
S 3 10x8 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK  4-3 blue HK QV early slanted, serif
S a 10x8 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK  4-3 black HK QV early slanted, serif, (formaly 3c)
b 10x8 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK  4-3 green HK QV early slanted, serif
S d 14x7 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK 3 black HK QV early vertical, serif
e 11x11 unframed A. K. / & C (**) Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK 2.5 black HK QV vert, serif, probably same as 3d
S f 11x7.5 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK 3 blue HK QV vertical, no serif, round o
S g 11x7.5 unframed A K / & Co Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK 3 black HK QV vertical, no serif, round o
S h 20x3 unframed A. K. & Co. Arnhold Karberg & Co. HK 3 black HK B62
S 4 40x5.5 unframed A.S.W.&Co.Ltd A.S.Watson & Co. Ltd. 5.5 violet HK 1894 PS also on postal statio.
S 4A 14x5 unframed B. &. C 5 black HK 1905
S 5 15x15 diamond B&Co-.. Barretto & Co. 5 violet HK 1894 KE C face or gum side
S 6 24x4.5 unframed B & Co. Bradley & Co. 4.5 violet Swatow QV 1920 face or gum side, serif, round (offset up) o 2.5mm
S a 26x4 unframed B & Co Bradley & Co. 4 violet Swatow QV KE diag up, long serif, round C, round o
S b 24x5 unframed B & Co Bradley & Co. 5 red Swatow 1909
S c 23x4 unframed B.& Co. Bradley & Co. 4 violet Swatow QV KE diag up or down, no serif, round o 3mm
S c1 23x4 unframed B.& Co. Bradley & Co. 4 violet HK QV KE diag up or down, no serif, round o 3mm
S d 14-19x4 unframed B & C0 Bradley & Co. 4 violet Swatow 1902 diag. down, serif, no dot CO, oval 0  3.5mm
S e 20x2.5 unframed B & Co. Bradley & Co.(see also type 7f and 7g) 2.5 violet Swatow QV diag. up, serif, stop
S f 21x3.5 unframed B. & Co Bradley & Co. 3.5 violet Swatow 1885 1901 diag. down, no serif, round o 2mm
i 23x5 unframed B & Co (**) Bradley & Co. 5 black 1917 backstamp on 4c CHINA
S j 19x3.5 unframed B. & Co Bradley & Co. 3.5 violet Swatow 1901 diag down, no serif, round 0  2mm
S k 19x3.5 unframed B. & Co Bradley & Co. 3.5 violet HK 1901 diag down, no serif, round 0  2mm
S l 23x4 unframed B & Co Bradley & Co. 4 violet Swatow KE no dot, no serif, round C, round o
S m 23.5x5 unframed B & Co. Bradley & Co. 5 violet Swatow KE front or gum side, serif, oval offset 0 3mm
S n 24x4 unframed B & Co Bradley & Co. 4 violet Swatow QV 1903 serif, not dot
7 24x6 unframed B & Co (**) 6 red serif
a 15x4 unframed B & Co (**) 4 violet HK 1891 1894
S b 14x4.5 rectangle B & C o 3 violet HK KE face or gum side
S c 14x10 oval B.& Co. 3 blue HK QV
S d 18x12 oval B. & Co. 3 black Amoy 1890 stop under small o
S e 17x2 unframed B. & Co. 2 black HK 1893 1895 known used wih Singapore cancel
S f 20x2.5 unframed B & Co. Bradley & Co. (same marking as type 6e but different city) 2.5 violet HK QV diag. up, serif, stop
S g 20x2.5 unframed B & Co. Bradley & Co. (same marking as type 6e but different color) 2.5 red HK QV diag. up, serif, stop
h 19x2.5 unframed B & Co. (**) 2.5 violet Shanghai serif
S 7A 37x18 oval B.  &  ? / H.  ? 4 violet HK QV serif
S 8  7x7 unframed B. / I.C. Banque de l'Indo-Chine 3 violet HK QV KE
S a  7x7 unframed B. / I.C. Banque de l'Indo-Chine 3 violet Shanghai QV KE
S b 25x16 double oval B. I. C. Banque de l'Indo-Chine 4 violet KGV probably fiscal
S 9 18x10 oval B M Boite Mobile (French maritime marking, not a security marking) 5 black QV serif
BR&Co.    (see RB & Co.)
S 11 15x10 oval B & S Butterfield & Swire 3.5 violet HK B62 B is 3.5 while & S is 3mm
S a 18x12 oval B & S Butterfield & Swire 6 violet serif, probably fiscal
b 20x12 rectangle B & S (**) Butterfield & Swire
S c 22x11 oval B.  &  S. 5 violet probably fiscal
S d 14x9 oval B. & S. 3 blue Shanghai 1890
S e 14x9 oval B. & S. 3 blue HK B62 serif
S f 14x9 oval B. &S. 3 violet HK B62 S close to &
S g 18x10 oval B. & S. 3.5 violet QV
S 12 20x12 oval C & Co-.. Carlowitz & Co. 5 purple 1894 also in blue, probably fiscal
S a 17x11 oval C & Co Carlowitz & Co. 6 black HK 1894 serif
S b 17x11 oval C & Co Carlowitz & Co. 6 blue HK 1888 1894 PS, C serif
c 17x11 oval C & Co Carlowitz & Co. 6 red HK 1890 serif
S d 17x11 oval C & Co Carlowitz & Co. 6 violet HK 1890 serif
S e 12.5x3 unframed C & Co. Carlowitz & Co. 3 violet   1895 1900 no dot after C
S f 13x3 unframed C. & Co. Carlowitz & Co. 3 violet HK 1895 diag up or down, dots
S f1 13x3 unframed C. & Co. Carlowitz & Co. 3 violet Shanghai 1895 diag up or down, dots
h 22x4.5 rectangle C & Co (**) Carlowitz & Co. 4.5 purple HK 1897
S i 17x11 oval C & Co Carlowitz & Co. 6 violet Shanghai 1888 serif
S j 14x3.5 unframed C & Co 3.5 violet HK QV 1st C being 3.5mm
S 13 36x12 rectangle C. & Co 4 violet HK 1894
13A 39x12 rectangle C. and Co 4 violet HK
S 14 21x4 unframed C.B.&.C Cruz Basto & Co. (probably) 4 violet HK KE 1909 diag up or down, serif
S a 21x4 unframed C.B.&.C Cruz Basto & Co. (probably) 4 black HK KE 1906 diag up or down, serif
S b 21x4 unframed C.B.&.C Cruz Basto & Co. (probably) 4 red HK KE 1906 diag up or down, serif
S c 21x4 unframed C.B.&.C Cruz Basto & Co. (probably) 4 violet HK KE 1906 diag up or down, serif
S 15 12x8 oval C B I Chartered Bank of India 2 violet HK 1903 1910
a 12x8 oval C B I Chartered Bank of India 2 purple HK 1909 1910
S b 20x9 oval C. B. I. Chartered Bank of India 3 pur./blue HK 1907 1910
S 16 24x12 oval C.B.IA&C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & Co. 3.5 black HK 1885 1890 diag up & inverted
S a 24x12 oval C.B.IA&C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & Co. 3.5 blue HK 1885 1890 diag up & inverted
S b 24x12 oval C.B.IA&C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & Co. 3.5 violet HK 1885 1890 diag up & inverted
S 17 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 violet HK 1891 1898 serif, CBIAC 17mm
S a 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 purple HK 1891 1898 serif, CBIAC 17mm
b 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 blue HK 1891 1898 serif, CBIAC 17mm
S c 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1892 1899 serif, CBIAC 16mm
S d 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 blue HK 1892 1899 serif, CBIAC 16mm
S e 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 purple HK 1895 serif, CBIAC 16mm
S f 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 black HK serif, CBIAC 16mm
S g 24x11 oval C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 violet HK 1894 no serif
S h 25x15 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet Shanghai 1901 1903
S i 25x15 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1900 1901 C
S j 25x15 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 blue HK QV 1900 C
S k 23x13 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1898 KE
S l 24x12 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1898
S m 22x12 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1898 1904
S m1 22x12 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet Shanghai 1898 1904
n 28x18 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 violet HK 1898
S o 16x8 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 1.5 violet HK KE  
S p 34x18 diamond C.B.I.A.C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 4 violet HK 1898 serif
S q 28x4 unframed C. B. I. A. C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 4 violet Shanghai 1902 serif
r 26x13 oblong C.B.I.A.C. (**) Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 6 rect. & half circle
S s 24x12 oblong C.B.I.A.C. Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 4 violet HK 1897 C rect. & half circle, no serif
t unframed C.B.I.A.C. (**) Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 4 black HK QV KE
u 25x15 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3 blue Amoy 1900
S v 25x13 diamond C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 violet HK 1898
S w 3.5x18 unframed C B I A C Chartered Bank of India Australia & China 3.5 violet HK QV
S 18 20x4 unframed C.B.P.So. China Baptist Publication Society 4 violet Canton 1912 C
S a     x2.5 unframed C  B  P  So China Baptist Publication Society 2.5 violet Canton KE no serif
S 18A 44x15 double rect. C . C . E . C.C. Edwards. Amoy 4 violet Amoy 1899 C serif
S 19 19x12 unframed C.F.I.Co-../ LIMD.. China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 4 violet HK QV KE
S a 19x12 unframed C.F.I.Co-../ LIMD.. China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 4 red HK QV
S b 19x12 unframed C.F.I.Co-../ LIMD.. China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 4 blue HK QV
S c 19x12 unframed C.F.I.Co-../ LIMD.. China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 4 black HK KE
S d 18x10 unframed C.F.I.C0./LIMITED China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 3.5 violet HK KE
S e 22x10 unframed C.F.I.Co-../ LIMD.. China Fire Insurance Co. Lted 4 purple HK QV serif
19A 17x7 unframed C.I.M. (**) Chinese Imperial Mail (?) 7 violet Swatow QV diagonal
S a 13x5 unframed C.I.M. Chinese Imperial Mail (?) 5 violet Shanghai 1902
S 20 21x7 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 7 purple HK diag. up or down,serif, also in distinct violet
a 21x7 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 7 purple Foochow QV
S b 19x3.5 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 3.5 violet HK 1875 1881 diagonal down
S c 19x3.5 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 3.5 blue HK diagonal down
S d 19x3.5 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 3.5 violet Shanghai S1 1892 diagonal down
S e   x10 rectangle C M B Chartered Mercantile Bank 5 violet Foochow QV
S f 12x7 unframed CMB Chartered Mercantile Bank 7 red Canton
S g 30x oval C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 4 violet HK 1900 serif
h 21x7 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 7 purple Shanghai QV
S i 9.5x3 unframed C.M.B. Chartered Mercantile Bank 3 violet Shanghai 1889
S 21 21x1.5 unframed C.M.B.of I. Ld. Chartered Mercantile Bank of India Ltd. 1.5 violet QV diagonal, serif, fiscal?
S 22 19x8 rectangle C N E P COMPTOIR NATIONAL D'ESCOMPTE de PARIS 4 violet QV fiscal ?
S a 20x9 rectangle C N E P COMPTOIR NATIONAL D'ESCOMPTE de PARIS 4 black QV fiscal ?
S 23 19x18 unframed C   N / S   P Chung Ngoi San Po 3 black HK 1903 1907 up or side, on corners
a 19x18 unframed C   N / S   P Chung Ngoi San Po 3 red HK
S b 16x18 unframed C      / S +4 Char. Chung Ngoi San Po 3 black HK KE 4 vertical Chin. Char.
S 24 20x10 oval C. P. R. Canadian Pacific Railways 2.5 violet HK QV serif
S a 20x10 oval C. P. R. Canadian Pacific Railways 2.5 red HK 1900 1901 serif
S a1 20x10 oval C. P. R. Canadian Pacific Railways 2.5 purple HK 1900 1901 serif
S b 19x10 oval C. P. R. Canadian Pacific Railways 2.5 violet HK 1905 1906 serif
S c 15x3 unframed C. P. R. Canadian Pacific Railways 3 violet HK KE serif
S 24A 20x2 unframed C  R  &  SO 2 violet Canton 1913 PC serif
S 25 24x11 oval D. &  Co.. Davidson & Co. 3 blue HK QV (1880) serif, any direction
a 24x11 oval D. &  Co.. Davidson & Co. 3 violet HK B62 serif, any direction
S b 24x11 oval D. &  Co.. Davidson & Co. 3 purple HK QV (1880) serif, any direction
c 11x2.5 unframed D. & Co. (**) Davidson & Co. 2.5 violet HK 1910
S 26 12x8 unframed D.& Co./LTED Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2.5 violet HK 1899 1907 C, PC
S a 12x8 unframed D.& Co./LTED Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2.5 violet Shanghai 1899 1900
S b 12x8 unframed D.& Co./LTED Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2.5 black HK 1899 PC
S c 10.5x6 unframed D & Co/LTD Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2 violet HK 1905 1907 PC serif narrow letters
S e 17x2 unframed D. & Co.,Ld. Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2 violet HK 1909 1911 PC serif, one line
S f 17x2 unframed D. & Co.,Ld. Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2 violet Foochow 1910 serif, one line
g 17x2 unframed D. & Co.,Ld. (**) Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2 violet Amoy    
S h 11x6 unframed D.& Co., /Ltd. Dodwell & Co. Ld. 2 violet HK KE serif
S 27 12x3 unframed D.A.B. Deutsche Asiatische Bank 3 violet HK 1890 1901 serif
a   oval D.A.B. (**) Deutsche Asiatische Bank       "Late Fee Paid" around initials
S 28 19x6 unframed D.A.B.ooxxx Deutsche Asiatische Bank 6 blue 1890 Fiscal marking, 00 is followed by 3 digits
29 24x4 unframed D.A.G & Co. (**) 4 violet HK 1902
S 30 13x12 unframed D.C / & Co-.. Dodwell, Carlisle & Co. 4.5 purple HK 1893 1899 C
S a 13x12 unframed D.C / & Co-.. Dodwell, Carlisle & Co. 4.5 purple Foochow 1894 1899
S b 13x12 unframed D.C / & Co-.. Dodwell, Carlisle & Co. 4.5 black Shanghai 1897
S c 13x12 unframed D.C / & Co-.. Dodwell, Carlisle & Co. 4.5 black HK 1897
S 31 18x3 unframed D. M. & Co. D. Musso & Co. 3 violet HK B62 1891 serif
S 31A 17x10 oval D. M. L. Dodwell Motors Limited 3 violet HK 1948 on 10c revenue stamp
S 32 17x3 unframed D   P Daily Press 3 black HK 1907 1909 Wr sans serif
S a 18x3 unframed D   P Daily Press 3 black HK 1899 1907 sans serif, highest recorded value: 30c
S b 18x3 unframed D   P Daily Press 3 black HK QV 1911 serif
S c 19x3 unframed D   P Daily Press 3 black HK QV KE C sans serif
S d 15-17x3 unframed D   P Daily Press 3 black HK QV 1911 serif
S 32A 15x3 unframed D. P. W. 3 violet KGV
33 17x13 oval D. SS (**) 2.5
S 34 20x13 oval D.S.S. / H. David Sassoon, Sons & Co. 2.5 black HK QV also fiscal
S a 20x13 oval D.S.S. / H. David Sassoon, Sons & Co. 2.5 red HK 1895 serif
S b 20x13 oval D.S.S. / H. David Sassoon, Sons & Co. 2.5 violet HK QV
34A 17x3 unframed D S C H (**) David Sassoon & Co. HK 3 violet HK 1895 serif, horizontal
35 9x5 unframed D & O/Ltd (**) 2 purple HK KE
S 35A  7x4 unframed ES Edouard Schellhass and Co. 4 blue QV
S a  7x4 unframed ES Edouard Schellhass and Co. 4 red QV
S b  7x4 unframed ES Edouard Schellhass and Co. 4 black QV
S 36 12x3 unframed E-S-C. Edouard Schellhass and Co. 3 purple HK 1895 serif, slanted, hyphens
S a unframed E. S & Co. Edouard Schellhass and Co. 4 purple HK QV
37 unframed E S C & Co (**) 2 purple HK KE
S 38 15x2.5 unframed E.S.K. & Co. E. S. Kadoorie 2.5 purple HK 1911
39 27x3 unframed F.W.E & Co (**) 3 violet HK 1900 serif, diagonal up
40 13x3 unframed G. & Co. Gilman & Co. 3 purple HK 1895    
S a 20x4 unframed G. & Co. Gilman & Co. 4 violet HK 1893 1905 C, PC serif, diagonal up or down
S b 16x7 unframed G & Co. Gilman & Co. 7 violet HK KE serif, diagonal up
41 15x9 oval G.B.I. (**) 2.5 KE
42 21x13 oval G.B.S. (**) 7 violet HK 1897 serif, probably #46e
S 43 15x2 unframed G. F. & Co. George Fenwick & Co 2 purple HK 1900 1902 serif, diagonal up
S a 16x2.5 unframed G. F. & Co. (**) George Fenwick & Co. 2.5 black HK 1903 1909 serif, diag down
S 44 14x4 unframed G.I.& Co-.. 4 violet HK QV serif G&I, horizontal
a 14x4 unframed G.I.& Co-.. 4 violet Shanghai QV serif G&I, horizontal
44A 18x4 unframed G I Co (**) 4 violet Amoy 1902
S 45 24x4 unframed G. L. & Co. Gibb, Livingston & Co. 4 purple HK 1908 1912 serif, diagonal up
a 24x4 unframed G. L. & Co. Gibb, Livingston & Co. 4 purple Swatow 1907 serif, diagonal up
S b 26x4 unframed G. L. & Co. Gibb, Livingston & Co. 4 purple HK 1907 1908 serif, diagonal up
S c 15x3 unframed G. L. & Co. Gibb, Livingston & Co. 3 violet HK 1913 no serif
S d 25x5 unframed G. L. & Co. Gibb, Livingston & Co. 5 violet HK KE serif, diagonal up
46 10x4.5 unframed G.R.S. (**) 4.5 black HK 1897 probable oval frame
a 20x13 oval G.R.S. 4.5 black QV
S b 20x13 oval G.R.S. 4.5 purple